Gorilla Trekking Rules
Rules and Regulations of Gorilla Tracking.
Park authorities in Uganda and Rwanda set up gorilla trekking rules and regulations that visitors must adhere to while trekking. Be assured of happiness on your gorilla adventure when these guidelines and rules are followed.
Before Starting the Trek
Age
1. To take part in a gorilla trek trip, you must be 15 years old and above.
Permits
2. Permits are not to be left behind; ensure that you carry your permit because it is the official document that allows you to take part in the exercise.
Illness
3 Decide not to take part in tracking if you have any infectious ailment, like a cold. The apes’ deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) does not differ from humans. Meaning we can spread diseases to apes if safety guidelines are not followed.
Have a mask on you and turn away if you must sneeze or cough. This safety guideline is to avoid spreading human diseases.
Eight Trekkers
4. Gorilla trekking groups do not exceed eight people per gorilla family each day. Huge gatherings might scare away the mountain gorillas, and they might charge or retreat deep into the thick forest.
No Littering
5. Ask a guide to dig 12 inches deep (30 centimeters) if you must answer a call of nature. This is to avoid disease transmission.
After finding the gorilla group
Keep Distance
6. Distance from mountain gorillas to trekkers should be 32.8 feet (10 meters) at all times.
No Eating
7. Avoid eating, drinking, and smoking while trekking.
8. Have a mask on you and turn away if you must sneeze or cough. This safety guideline is to avoid spreading human diseases.
One-hour time limit
9. Time spent with the mountain gorillas is one hour per day for each gorilla family. If you want to spend more hours with gorillas, you can join a habituation experience in Bwindi.
No Flash
10. Flash photography is not allowed. Visitors should know that flash photography scares away animals.
Keep the forest Clean
11. No leaving litter in the forest.
These guidelines set by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) are very simple to have at your fingertips. Following all the above rules leads to a successful gorilla trekking experience in Uganda’s Gorilla Parks.