During gorilla trekking in Uganda, safety is key for one to make unforgettable African safari memories and turn this mythical encounter into a reality. Keeping a gap of atleast 8 meters from the mountain gorillas or avoiding staring in the deep brown eyes of these primates are some of the measures to curb any possible nasty situations. Request For A Quotation
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is in the dense jungle with thick canopies formed by large trees towering over the undulating landscape. Two Uganda National Parks are open for gorilla trekking that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The Uganda Wildlife Authority has the mandate to control all activities within the parks in Uganda including the gorilla safari habitants. A team of ranger guides and park wardens work towards protecting the vulnerable mountain gorillas, other forest inhabitants and visitors on ground
Before Gorilla Trekking Safety measures
Pack the right gorilla trekking gears: Gorilla trekking is in the wilderness which is rough so pack the right gears like safari hat, garden gloves, insect repellants, sturdy safari boots, rain proof gears and more.
Keep fits Before gorilla trekking: you need to bear some level of fitness before gorilla trekking because the topography of the Kigezi sub area of Uganda where these parks are situated was affected by volcanic forces.
Health check up: You need to be in good health before gorilla trekking as people with communicable infections like flu, cough, covid 19 are requested to remain behind. The mountain gorillas are highly susceptible to human infections which may end in their massive death.
Carry personal travel Documents: at the ranger station before gorilla trekking, tourists are required to present some documents for verification like the pass port, personal identification card and more.
Apply for a Visa in advance: if you are to travel to Uganda and one of the travel documents you must have is a Visa, apply for it in advance to save time on arrival. At Immigration, you can apply for a tourists visa however this may waist sometime especially if your safari is commencing on arrival.
Confirm gorilla permit in advance: It is safer to confirm the gorilla permit before travel to avoid last minute stress. The Uganda gorilla permits sell out because of their limited supply and acquiring one when on ground is very tricky as sometimes this ends in disappointments.
During Gorilla Trekking safety Measures
Attend compulsory briefing: Before gorilla trekking, every tourist must attend briefing at the ranger station where the most recent information about the mountain gorillas is communicated.
Carry packed food and safer gears: While heading to the ranger station, wear the recommended gorilla safari gears, carry your back pack and packed lunch because you are not sure of return time. Do not forget some smacks to much on during breaks as breakfast is taken to early to last the entire time.
Follow gorilla safari ranger guide: During gorilla trekking, follow the ranger guide and do not part from the rest of the group because you may be lost in the dense jungle. The jungle has some unhabituated dwellers that may hurt you.
Keep voice low during gorilla trekking: keep your voice low before finding the mountain gorillas as they are very sensitive to intruders in their vicinity even though they are habituated to bear human presence.
Hire a porter before moving into the forest: porters are from the local community and you can hire one to help lift off your head the burden of carry your gorilla trekking gears. Moving in the forest while searching for the gorillas is quite hectic so you do not need extra weight to weigh you back.
Do not panic if you find other forest dwellers during gorilla trekking: Encountering wild inhabitants like forest elephants is quite scaring however, the ranger guide will give you the right direction to take and avoid encountering them.
The ranger guide carries a safety gears : Before following the trail head, the ranger guide allocated to gorilla trekkers carries a machete and the tourism police officer carries a riffle as some of the emergency weapons. They also keep on constant radio call with other security officers on ground in case of an emergency.
Daily early ranger patrols: every day a team of ranger guide wakes up earlier than others to follow the mountain gorillas where they nested the previous night and estimate direction they may take for the day. These are also keen with tracing possible other intruders that may have moved in the forest and this information is updated to the authorities.
Request for a supporting stick while searching for the mountain gorillas for extra support where necessary.
Safety measures when with the mountain gorillas
- Keep a gap of atleast 8 meters from the mountain gorillas to prevent exchanging any infections. This is to also avoid chances of casing any suspensions.
- Avoid using flash light when with the mountain gorillas as this may push them into hiding. Mountain gorillas are very keen with unfamiliar occurrences in their presence.
- Do not touch or cuddle the mountain gorillas although they are adorable. These are will animals that can charge when provoked. Do not even touch their infants as this may throw the entire group into rage.
- Staring in the deep brown eyes of the mountain gorillas is forbidden as this may scare them.
- Incase you notice something odd about the mountain gorillas, do not panic but wait for the ranger guide to give new guidelines on how to avoid getting involved in the fracas. Sometimes the mountain gorillas are playing, solving family issues, have been attacked by a wild group and more. Adhere to the new instructions.
- Provoking the mountain gorillas may cause them to feel agitated so try to desist from it.
- If the mountain gorillas bridge the gap allowed to be apart from them, try to move back slowly without causing any alarm. Stay still when the mountain gorillas are by passing you and show submission where necessary.
- As you get away from the mountain gorillas, do it without causing any alarm or suspensions.
Health safety Measures during Gorilla Trekking
- Conduct a body check up: Before travelling to do gorilla trekking, do a health check up with a professional to understand the standing of your body if it can hike because mountain gorillas live in high altitude locations. Find out if your body can withstand changes in altitude.
- Carry first aid kit: When packing for gorilla trekking, do carry a first aid kit with emergency treatment prescribed by a professional medical personnel.
- Avoid eating street food: During gorilla trekking safari avoid eating street food because the preparations undertaken are not known. This is to avoid getting food poisoning that may end in missing the gorilla safari.
- Have travel insurance before travelling for gorilla trekking to prepare for uncertainties.
- Wear a clean face mask when with the mountain gorillas as a measure adopted after the covid-19 pandemic. This is to prevent chances of exchanging infections with the wild mountain gorillas.
- Carry and leave nothing in the forest: What ever you find in the forest do not carry it with you because you do not know the extent of infections you may carry with you to the main land.
- Incase you wish to ease yourself, do as the ranger guide to dig a hole for you and cover well beyond recognition.
- Do not share eats with the mountain gorillas and if you want to eat do it in atleast 200 meters away. This is to avoid chances of feeding the mountain gorillas which are wild and must depend on supplies from the forest.
What are the rules of gorilla trekking in Uganda
Attending briefing before gorilla trekking is compulsory for every tourist
Avoid spitting on foliage or the ground while searching to find the mountain gorillas.
Maintain the gape of 8 meters when you locate the mountain gorillas
No using flashlight when taking photos of the mountain gorillas and camera must be sound proof
Leave nothing in the forest during gorilla trekking. Gorillas depend on the forest as garbage may conceal chances of foliage growing.
Making noise while searching for the mountain gorillas is forbidden even when around them as this may scare them to the deeper forest.
Feeding the mountain gorillas is forbidden because they are wild animals that must depend on supplies from the forest.
One hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking.
Maximum 8 tourists are allowed to visit each gorilla family per trek.
Volunteer to stay behind in case you contract any communicable infection that extend to the gorilla trekking time. This is because the mountain gorillas are highly prone to human infections which may end in massive deaths.
Packing list for gorilla trekking safari in Uganda
Sturdy Safari boots
Rain proof gears
A pair of stockings
Warmers
Drinking water bottle
Energy snacks
Some hard cash
Convertible safari trousers and shirt
Insect repellant
Camera
Binoculars
Garden gloves
Waterproof Back pack
Water proof light bag
Note that gorilla trekking in Uganda is in the jungle with a dense network of trails and the environment receives high precipitation. The plants decompose and turn into slippery matter some which makes movements quite difficult so plan in advance