Gorilla trekking: Regulations and guidelines in Uganda’s national parks
All national parks in Uganda are governed by rules and regulations. All travelers are urged to study, comprehend, and comply with the rules and regulations of the individual parks to ensure a memorable and happy experience in the Pearl of Africa. These regulations are established to advance wildlife conservation and guarantee the safety of both tourists and wild animals in their natural environments, thereby fostering sustainable tourism in the Pearl of Africa. These regulations are applicable before to entering the park, throughout your visit, and while in the vicinity of animals. During the pre-trekking briefing, regulations and guidelines for gorilla trekking are provided for anyone visiting the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. The legislation governing national parks in Uganda encompass:
Park Regulations and Guidelines
1. Preserve all official receipts for examination. 2. Refrain from camping or igniting campfires outside of specified areas. 3. Avoid littering within the park. 4. Do not deviate from established pathways while driving.
5. Do not bring dogs or other pets into the park.
6. Refrain from harvesting flowers or other vegetation within the national park.
7. Refrain from utilizing loud motor horns that disrupt wildlife. 8. Do not exceed a speed of 40 kilometers per hour.
Driving in the park is permitted from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
10. Firearms are prohibited in the park.
Regulations and Guidelines for Gorilla Trekking
When trekking gorillas in Bwindi Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks, it is imperative to adhere to specific norms and restrictions. These initiatives aim to safeguard the endangered mountain gorillas, ensuring their preservation for future generations. The guidelines and protocols for gorilla trekking are categorized into two sections as follows:
Regulations for Gorilla Trekking Prior to Departure
· Refrain from visiting the gorillas when afflicted with a cold or flu. Mountain gorillas possess 99.9% of human genetic material, rendering them vulnerable to human diseases, particularly contagious ones.
The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years. Children under the age of 15 are prohibited from trekking gorillas. Nevertheless, if a child is nearing their 15th birthday, the parents submit a consent letter to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, requesting authorization for their children to participate in gorilla trekking. They assume all responsibility for any incidents involving a child during gorilla trekking.
· Refrain from littering in the park To maintain a clean and fresh natural environment, human excrement should be buried 30 cm deep.
• A maximum of eight passengers may visit each gorilla family. • For gorilla habituation, only four individuals are permitted to visit a gorilla family.
• Remain within your groups; do not traverse the forest alone.
Guidelines and Protocols for Interactions with Gorillas
Maintain a distance of seven meters from the gorillas. This aims to mitigate the transmission of zoonotic illnesses.
2. Refrain from consuming food in the company of the gorillas.
3. Refrain from smoking in the vicinity of gorillas
4. Refrain from consuming alcohol in the presence of gorillas.
5. Refrain from utilizing a flashlight camera.
6. The allotted time for interaction with the gorillas is exactly one hour. 7. Refrain from touching the gorillas.
8. Refrain from fleeing when confronted by a charging gorilla.
9. Avoid direct eye contact with the gorillas.
10. Utilize a subdued vocal tone.
11. Turn away your faces when sneezing or coughing.
Adhere to the precautions provided by park rangers throughout your gorilla trekking expedition. The guidelines for gorilla trekking closely resemble those for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park and other chimpanzee habitats in Uganda.
Additional pertinent information for visiting Uganda National Parks includes: • Park entrance fees are good for a duration of 2 hours. A traveler is required to pay for an additional day and must possess identification documents for verification. Clients lacking proper documentation may be prohibited from entering the park. Only US Dollars and Uganda Shillings are accepted for park admission and activities. No alternative money is accepted. • Tourist activities within the park, including lunch cruises and lion tracking, incur separate charges from the park entrance price. • Children under the age of 5 are excluded from paying park entrance costs.
All fees in Uganda are established by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and may be altered without prior notification.
