Gorilla trekking guide Uganda

Ultimate Guide to spot Gorillas

This is the Ultimate Gorilla Trekking Guide to help you make a choice of what you will experience when you go for your Gorilla tracking activity in Uganda. This includes, where to track Gorillas from, what to Pack, Other activities involved, where to stay, etc.

WHERE TO TRACK GORILLAS FROM

Mountain gorillas can be tracked from places like Uganda, Rwanda and Congo, but most especially the best place being in Uganda. And here the Gorilla permit is $600 with transportation, accommodation and food exclusive. Not only that but also the gorilla population is much /bigger in Uganda compared to other countries.

WHAT TO PACK

-A pair of Binoculars-be able to view a lot of things various plants, simple animal species

-Cameras -to take a lot of photographs with the 1 hr you spend with the gorillas.

-Tracking poles-to enable you balance when moving on a steepy ground within the forest.

-Energy giving snacks –since this activity seems to take long, you might get hungry and thirsty so these snacks help out.

-Wear sturdy gardening gloves, water proof sturdy boots, a rain jacket just in case it rains, wear long sleeved blouse/shirts and trousers –this protects you from being pricked by thorns.

OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT CAN BE DONE THERE

There are activities like Nature walks in the Natural forest, Game drives which allows you have a wide game view of different animals in the park, Batwa Experience mainly meeting the community of the Pygmies-old forest dwelling forest tribe, Boat cruise and Canoeing on the lakes and river spotting animals like crocodiles, Buffaloes, etc.

WHERE TO STAY

There are many lodges /hotels to stay when for this activity, Bwindi Impenetrable National park has got 4 sections in it with all having accommodation to your disposal. Buhoma being the starting place for gorilla tracking one could stay in lodges like Buhoma lodge, Buhoma Community rest camp, Mahogany springs, Engagi lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi gorilla lodge, Chameleon hill, lodges in Ruhija like Trekkers Tavern, Rushaga Gorilla Haven, Gorilla mist camp, etc.

Gorilla Trekking Rules and Regulations

Before setting off/ departing/leaving for Gorilla trekking activity

1. A total number of 8 visitors or tourists is allowed to track /visit a particular mountain gorilla family or group in a day. This number considered helps to reduce behavioral disturbances that humans may cause to these mountain gorillas. It also helps to reduce on the chances of transferring diseases from humans to the mountain gorillas.
2. Before your trekking exercise -set off, ensure to have your hands washed thoroughly well. This is to promote the highest level of cleanliness.
3. You are advised to keep your voices extremely low as you are heading to track the mountain Gorillas and requested to even be quieter when you finally meet them. This enables you get an opportunity to watch the other various wildlife species in the course of the trail like Birds, Butterflies, etc. Still the peace of these animals is not disrupted at all.
4. Always follow your tour guide through the whole trekking process and make sure you stick with the group for both safety purposes and also be able to get thorough explanations of the attractions seen along the way to the mountain Gorillas.
5. Do not recklessly litter rubbish in any National park or protected area. You are requested to keep any garbage or trash on you until you are back at the briefing point then dispose it off.
6. You are requested to keep a distance of 7m (21 feet) from where the mountain Gorillas are. Though they are habituated, mountain Gorillas are still wild animals and if they feel threatened they can move away.(Finally, when with the Gorillas).
7. Keep in a tight group whenever near the mountain Gorillas, Eating, Drinking or smoking is prohibited in the presence of these Gorillas and keep your voices as low as possible but then you are free to ask questions from your guide.
8. Do not look closely and straight /directly in the eyes of the Gorillas, sometimes these animals do charge. Do not attempt to run away because that will increase the risk.
9. Do not touch the Gorillas because they are wild animals and flashy photography is not allowed, so move slowly and carefully when going to do that.
10. The time spent with the Gorillas is limited to one hour this is simply to minimize any behavioral disturbances, stress and possible risk of infection.
11. Keep your voices very down after the visit until you are 200m away from these animals.
12. Body language is important and visitors should not raise hands or arms, or point, nor stare at them because to gorillas their behaviors are signs of threat or aggression.                                                                                                   The General Health Rules
13. All wastes must be buried, a 30m hole is dug, dispose off every waste there then fill up the hole when finished. This is done because these wastes(faeces) can highly be infectious to the great apes and other animals.
14. If you feel ill, carrying a contagious disease, please don’t engage yourself in the activity. So another visit will be arranged for you or your money refunded back.