Gorilla Habituation Rules – Your Guide to a safe and secure Gorilla Habituation
Gorilla Habituation Rules to Guide you as you trek the Forests of Bwindi :
- Be in reasonable shape and have the level of fitness for the gorilla group you will be habituating depending on the terrain.
- Have no communicable diseases or cold or flu, TB, diarrhea, and any other communicable diseases.
- Confirm you have a valid gorilla tracking permit.
- Attend the habituation orientation.
- Be of recommended habituation age – at least 15 years of age.
- Always wash your hands before you head out to the gorillas.
- Wear appropriate clothing since it is often cool there, a light rain jacket might be helpful, a light backpack where you can put your packed lunch, two liters of water, proper light boots to support your ankles, jeans or long trousers, long-sleeved shirt to avoid getting scratched by branches, gardening gloves made of cotton to pull yourself up on branches, hat. You can obtain a porter to carry your load, and you can purchase a walking stick at the park offices –your guide should be helpful with this.
Gorilla Habituation Rules
- Keep a distance of about 5 to 7 meters which is about 15 feet from the Mountain Gorillas. This way you protect the mountain gorillas from a diseases and illnesses humans may be carrying and not seem threatening to gorillas
- Stay together as a group when you are in the presence of the Gorillas to reduce potential confusion of the gorillas
- Voices need to be kept low and it is best to keep silence and just treasure the moment with the Mountain Gorillas.
- Do not partake of food or drinks and no smoking in the presence of the Mountain Gorillas.
- Don’t stare straight into gorillas’ eyes – this can be seen to be aggressive.
- Don’t ever run from a gorilla – if one approaches you just act submissive and crouch down.
- If you sneeze or cough, turn your head away from the gorillas so as not to spread your germs.
- No flash photography is permitted. Do not make a lot of movement when taking pictures-keep it calm.
- There is no touching or attempting to touch the Gorillas.
- Keep your voices down until you are well out of range of the Mountain Gorillas.
Gorilla Habituation Rules on Health
- Since Mountain Gorillas are closely related to us – humans, they are highly susceptible to diseases carried by humans.
- If you are not well, let it be known and remove yourself from the gorilla tracking team.
- If you need to cough, sneeze, blow your nose, move your head away from the gorilla in order to keep the risk of infection to a minimum.
- No smoking, eating of food or drinking of beverages is allowed in the presence of the Mountain Gorillas.
- If you are ill- cancel your Gorilla Trek – this is best for all concerned including the Mountain Gorillas.
REMINDER:
The Gorilla Habituation rules listed above are there to protect you and the Mountain Gorillas – enjoy your time with the Gorillas of Uganda and or Rwanda.
Gorilla Habituation Rules Gorilla Habituation Rules
