A group of only 08 tourists is only allowed to spend a maximum of 1-hour with a habituated Mountain gorilla group. In this one hour, tourists can visually (not physically) interact with the gorillas taking photographs and observing them go about their daily business – However, this can only last 01-hour and no more – Why is gorilla Trekking only 1 hour?
why is gorilla trekking only 01-hour? Why is gorilla trekking only 1-hour?
Among the rules & regulations governing gorilla trekking is the rule of the amount of time spent in the presence of these amazing Apes – only one (01) hour (no more) is allowed for tourists to view and photograph a group of mountains gorillas. These are the reasons why gorilla trekking is only 1-hour.
- Minimise Disturbance of the Gorillas by Humans: Keeping the time limited to only 01-hour helps to minimise the pressure resulting from human presence. This means that humans only intrude on the gorilla’s peace for only 1-hour thus allowing the gorillas to remain relaxed and be able to go about their daily business without feeling overwhelmed by the presence of viewers surrounding them for over the official 01-hour.
- Reduce the risk of disease transmission from man to the gorillas: Because humans share up to 98% DNA similarity with mountain gorillas, this makes them highly susceptible to contracting a human disease such as flu and colds – risk conservationists are not ready to take. It is for this reason that they limit gorilla trekking to 01-hour as a measure to further reduce the chances of transmission of disease, a 7-meter distance is recommended.
- Reduced Human footprint impact on the flora and fauna in the gorilla safari Park: The longer you spend in the forest, the more footprint effect you cause to the vegetation cover including micro-organisms that get trampled on during the trek through the forest to get to the mountain gorillas.
