Gorilla trekking guidelines are simply a subset of gorilla safari guidelines. In gorilla safari guidelines, we bring you the rules, tips, and regulations that you need to know about gorilla safaris in general. The guidelines are subdivided into health guidelines and safety guidelines.
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Before you think of the gorilla trekking safety guidelines, you have to first consider your gorilla safari safety in general. Gorilla trekking does not exist in a bubble. It involves a lot of movement before you reach the gorilla trekking locations. The general gorilla safari safety guidelines include the following;
Gorilla Safari Food Safety
Food safety is one of the things that might make or break your gorilla safari experience. There is nothing as bad as catching a food-related allergy or getting food poisoning after eating food that your body is not used to.
Always give the tour operator your diet requirements so that they may plan accordingly. Your diet requirements will also determine your accommodation sometimes. Some lodges are not well equipped to offer diet specific-food.
Many travelers simply make their choices based on how low they can get budget-wise without considering their food safety. At the end of the day, due to poor food safety, they end up not enjoying their gorilla trek.
Transport Safety on A Gorilla Safari
There is an important issue you need to put in mind for your gorilla safari transport safety; always give yourself enough time to travel in order to avoid rushing. The gorilla trekking parks are located in mountainous areas, therefore you take most of the time going around mountains.
Your safety will necessarily be affected if you do not plan your trip very well. For instance, opting for a one-day gorilla safari is a bit risky in case any delays come up forcing you into a rush. When you have two or three days for your gorilla safari, you will have enough time to catch up even when issues like lost luggage come up.
There is rarely much to worry about regarding the cars given the fact that most of these cars are manual cars. If the worst happens and brakes break down, the driver will have the handbrake and the strong gear to help stop the car.
All in all, fasten your seat belt and plan the time of your transfer to the lodge near your gorilla trekking sector with a lapse for unforeseen circumstances in order to avoid rushing.
Gorilla Trekking Safety Guidelines
Maintain a 7 meters distance at all times from the mountain gorillas
Keep still in case a gorilla approaches you during your trek. Avoid all unnecessary movement
Do not touch the mountain gorillas at any time. In case the mountain gorilla touches you, simply keep still
Drinking and eating in the presence of mountain gorillas is prohibited
Smoking during a gorilla trek is prohibited
Flash photography is prohibited. It might destabilize the calm gorillas. Therefore for the sake of your safety and your group, make sure your flash is off when taking photos of the mountain gorillas.
Keep your voice as low as possible when you encounter a family of mountain gorillas. Talking is allowed but you have to ensure you keep your voice low.
Keep within your gorilla trekking group at all times, do not wander off even if you see something spectacular. In case you wish to take a detour during or after your trek, consider getting permission from the rangers so that they may offer the necessary security
Forest elephants are the most deadly animals to encounter during your gorilla trek; do not get caught up in taking their photos, rather first think about your safety.
Gorilla Trekking Health Guidelines
Wear your face mask the moment you meet the mountain gorillas. You can keep the mask off during the hike but once you get in the presence of the mountain gorillas, you have to keep your face mask on to keep the mountain gorillas from catching diseases such as cough and flu. There is also a possibility of gorillas infecting you with cough and flu in case they are carriers.
Cancel your gorilla trek or reschedule it once you find yourself with a cold. Gorillas have a very close DNA to that of humans. They can easily get infected by humans.
Do not litter in the forest. Carry all your plastic and bio waste with you. Plastic waste does not only affect the environment. The polymer with sweet juices can be swallowed by animals. In other instances, biowaste can be a disease carrier for cough and flu in many instances.
Ease yourself before the gorilla trek. However, if the need arises ease yourself drinking the trek. Always get guidelines from the ranger. Their no toilets in the forest. A hole must be dug by the ranger in case you need to ease yourself. The same hole will have to be covered for the sake of other trekkers in the future. Gorilla trekking involves a lot of off-the-trail hikes.
Sanitize or wash your hands before the gorilla trek. You are likely to touch a lot of things during the trek. You simply have to be cautious not to be a carrier of infections into the forest. (This has to be a personal initiative)
In case you fail to continue walking during your trek due to tiredness or any health-related issue, you will have to pay an extra $300 to be carried back by porters to the office or to an emergency vehicle
General Gorilla Trekking Rules
Each gorilla family can only be visited by a maximum of eight tourists in a day. Therefore your gorilla trekking group will be eight people maximum. This number does not include the rangers and porters.
You are expected to attend a gorilla trekking briefing before 8:00 am at the park offices. They will take you through the gorilla trekking etiquette
Your gorilla trekking permit only allows you to spend a maximum of one hour with the mountain gorillas. In case you wish to spend extra hours with the mountain gorillas, always consider the gorilla habituation option.
Gorilla Trekking permits are priced according to your residence. Therefore your passport or identity document is a prerequisite for your gorilla trek.
You need a gorilla trekking permit to trek gorillas. Without a gorilla trekking permit, you cannot proceed beyond the park offices.
The minimum age to secure a gorilla trekking permit is 15 years. However under a special request with an oath; 13-year-olds and 14 years can be allowed to trek gorillas. This is only possible in Uganda for now.
Game Rangers will double as your tour guides. All seek permission from the ranger before you do anything that is outside the normal gorilla trekking routine of simply hiking.