SAFETY TIPS FOR GORILLA TRACKING UGANDA – RWANDA
Top Gorilla Tracking tips, Safety Tips for Gorilla Tracking In Uganda & Rwanda, Important things to Note about Gorilla trekking In Uganda and Rwanda, Gorilla Tracking Rules and Regulations.
The question of How safe is gorilla tracking is a concern of many travelers visiting the deeper Africa ( Uganda & Rwanda ) for Gorilla Trekking Adventure Safaris.
While Mountain Gorilla tracking can only be done in 03 Countries In East Africa – Uganda, Rwanda & Dr. Congo, Realm Africa Safaris™ only operates Gorilla Safaris to Uganda and Rwanda for Safety Reasons. Uganda and Rwanda remain the Safest Place to Go Gorilla Trekking In Africa with the Former being the Most affordable Gorilla Trekking Destination in Africa.
Mountain Gorilla Permits In Rwanda Cost a hefty USD1,500 for the traditional 01-hour Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Volcanoes National Park – the Only Gorilla Trekking Destination In Rwanda, and as for Uganda (which boasts of tow National Parks where mountain gorillas can be tracked in either or Both Bwindi Forest NP & Mgahinga Gorilla NP. Mountain Gorilla Permits In Bwindi Forest NP & Mgahinga Park cost USD600 – for the 01-hour Gorilla Trek, or USD1,500 for the Full Day (4 hours with the Gorillas) Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Forest ( Rushaga & Nkuringo sectors)
Uganda has a total of 18 Habituated Mountain Gorilla Families In Uganda. Bwindi Forest National Park has 17 Habituated Gorilla Families, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has 01 habituated Gorilla Family.
HISTORY OF GORILLAS IN AFRICA & WHY THESE SAFETY TIPS FOR GORILLA TRACKING MATTER.
In the 1980’s Mountain gorillas were on the verge of Extinction mainly because of uncontrolled human activities like poaching, and political unrest (war) in Africa which kept reducing the Mountain gorilla numbers at a fast rate.
This caught the attention of Dian Fossey, who built a Karisoke Research Center along the slope of mount Karisimbi on the Rwandan side of the Virunga conservation region and dedicated her life to saving the highly rare endangered primate species whose numbers had drastically dropped to less than 300 individuals across the Virunga massif region which covers borders of Uganda – Bwindi & Mgahinga national park, Rwanda – Volcanoes national park and Congo – Virunga national park.
With the conservation efforts of Dian Fossey, Gorilla tracking became the only feasible way to protect and save mountain gorillas from extinction. The income from the sale of Mountain gorilla permits was used to finance conservation project including supporting research, paying gorilla doctors, procuring medicines, paying park staff as well as benefiting the governments where Mountain gorillas are located.
Local communities neighboring the Gorilla parks have also overtime immensely benefited from gorilla trekking as a percentage of gorilla permit income is directly offered for communal development projects and former poachers have become gorilla guardians, porters, and park rangers passionately guiding tourists through the jungle searching for Mountain Gorilla gorillas.
As we write, mountain gorilla tourism has become an ultimate bucket list adventure experience for thousands of tourists traveling to Africa.
Gorilla Trekking Tours were introduced to assist finance Mountain gorilla Conservation that equally influenced the implementation of Gorilla Rule’s & Regulations that ought to be followed by all visitors on Gorilla Safaris.
GORILLA TREKKING EXPERIENCE – How it all Starts
As a Rule, all Gorilla safaris In Uganda & Rwanda start with a briefing usually as early as 7:0oam EAT. This Gorilla briefing is meant to prepare all trekkers for the ultimate Gorilla trekking Experience.
At this point, your head ranger guide will take you through a set of rules which must be followed during your Gorilla Trekking Adventure Trips through the forest. It’s important that you have a reasonable fitness level to hike to and from the gorillas, be honest and realistic about your fitness and request for a gorilla group you can manage so you don’t strain yourself.
Learn More about Why Gorilla Trekking Fitness is Vital for your gorilla Trek In Africa.
Note:
Your Realm Africa Safaris™ Local Escort driver and guide can be helpful in arranging a shorter trek only if you inform him/her in Advance. Short or Long treks are determined based on where the Gorillas were sighted the previous day you, therefore, must understand that the gorillas keep moving about in the forest and we, for this reason, can’t fully guaranttee the actual length of the trek.
At the briefing point, trekkers have an opportunity to hire a porter to help carry your daypack, so you can hike with ease. This reduces the weight on you and allows you to enjoy your hike without having to struggle much. We also recommend taking a porter as a good gesture for continued Gorilla Conservation.
Learn More about Why it Is Important to take a Porter on your gorilla trek.
Take a walking stick (available at both your Hotel and at the briefing point) this will give you better stability as you hike up and down slippery grounds.
Learn More about Why is it important to take a walking Stick on your gorilla trek
WHAT TO PACK – Dress & pack right for your Gorilla Safaris
We recommend bringing a couple of dull nature colored clothes as they appropriate for gorilla tracking, and wildlife generally. Bright and outstanding colors threaten the gorillas and wildlife.
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Our Snippet recommendation of a packinglist for gorilla trekking includes: rain jacket, waterproof hiking shoes, long trousers like jeans to protect skin from stinging nettles, waterproof pants in case of rain, long sleeved shirt/ t-shirt, garden gloves to protect your hands, apply insect repellent.
Learn More about What to pack for gorilla trekking.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE ON THE TREK WITH ME?
Only 08 Tourists are allowed to visit a Gorilla Group for o1-hour a Day. people can visit a single gorilla group for 1 hour a day. The Mountain Gorilla Groups open for gorilla trekking are Fully habituated and are fairly used to human Visits. However, these gorilla still remain wild and can be dangerous – the reason we like you to adhere to all the Gorilla Rules & Regulation provided by your guide during the trek and at the initial gorilla Briefing and orientation.
Mountain Gorillas don’t work well with intrusion and its for this reason that Gorilla trekking In limited to 08 people per group for STRICTLY 01-hour. However if you would Like to stay longer with the mountain gorillas, then you could consider booking a Gorilla Habituation Experience Safari as opposed to Gorilla Trekking.
Gorilla habituation Safaris admit up to 04 Tourists, and lasts 04 hours with a group of Mountain gorillas (in company of researchers and trained trackers) still undergoing habituation – a process that could last 02 -03 years.
Gorilla Habituation can only be done In Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park – Only in Rushaga & Nkuringo gorilla trekking Regions. Learn More about Gorilla Habituation Experience In Uganda
GORILLA TREKKING RULES & REGULATIONS
Its important for all trekkers to observe the Gorilla Trekking Rules and Regulations;
Do not stare differently into the eyes of the gorillas – Its very tempting since they look just like a human and you want to know what they’re thinking, but don’t dare, Gorilla interprets a direct stare as a challenge – which they are more than willing to respond to by charging at you to protect themselves.
Be submissive in the presence of the gorillas, they like to be in control over their habitant and family.
Keep a distance. The recommended distance is 7 -8 metres away from the gorillas to avoid human to gorilla disease transmission. Mountain Gorillas are very susceptible to human diseases and unlike humans, gorillas have very low immunity However, there has been scenarios where the gorillas have come as close as touch some of our clients On a gorilla trek. Its therefore important to maintain gorilla a good disease free health to avoid transmitting any disease to the gorillas.
NO Flush photography please. Gorillas get aggressive at Camera Flushes.
Don’t litter. Please respect the Gorillas habitat and keep it as clean as you found it.
HEALTH PRECAUTIONS TO CONSIDER
Human to Gorilla diseases have in the past been a major cause to gorilla deaths! Gorillas are very susceptible to human diseases, hence the great need to keep a good distance ( 7 -8 Metres) away from the gorillas.
As much as gorillas are more vulnerable, human being can also get infections from gorillas, hence don’t touch them or dump rubbish in their habitant.
If you feel sick, please refrain from gorilla trekking, some governments of gorilla destinations refund money for failure to trek gorillas if you fall sick and are not able to go gorilla trekking. All Gorilla refunds in this regard are subject to the terms of the government body responsible for gorilla trekking in a country.
The above Safety Tips for Gorilla tracking STRICTLY apply for Gorilla Safaris In Uganda & Rwanda – NOT Dr. Congo. Realm Africa Safaris™ only operates Gorilla Safaris to Safe Destinations In Uganda & Rwanda because of the ongoing Political unrest in Dr. Congo. In the event that the security situation gets better and conducive enough for us to start Operating safe Gorilla safaris to Congo, then be sure we will keep you updated on this.
