These essential gorilla trekking tips will help you get the most out of this extraordinary wildlife experience
Found nowhere else in the wild on Earth and once on the verge of extinction, the mountain gorilla – a subspecies of the eastern gorilla – has seen a spectacular revival. A series of conservation measures involving local communities has led to one of Africa’s greatest conservation success stories. Though still classified as endangered, today there are more than 1,000 mountain gorillas roaming the jungles of Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo, up from around 480 in 2010.
Just over half reside in the Virunga Mountains, the range of eight extinct volcanoes spanning the borders of southern Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. The rest can be found in Uganda’s epically named Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a shroud of tangled green that covers the country’s southwest mountains.
Here at Atlas & Boots, some of our best memories were forged while watching wildlife. Gorillas – one of mankind’s closest cousins – remain high on our wishlist. As such, we’ve asked leading gorilla trekking guides African Jungle Adventures for their expert tips on spending time with these gentle giants.
Gorilla trekking tips
With over 20 years of experience guiding gorilla safaris in the region, African Jungle Adventures have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to spending time with these magnificent creatures. Together, we have assembled the following gorilla trekking tips.
1. The gorillas come first
Human interactions with wildlife can have negative effects and alter natural behaviour. As such, putting the wellbeing of the gorillas first should be every trekker’s priority. It’s essential to understand how important it is to not damage or alter habitats, and to let the gorillas go about their business, particularly when breeding.
Below are some best practices to follow while in the company of gorillas.
- Always stay at least 7m (21ft) from the gorillas
- If they approach, retreat slowly and calmly
- Gorillas share 98% of human DNA so are extremely susceptible to infections so don’t trek if you are ill, and turn away and cover your mouth if you sneeze or cough
- Stay in a tight group to avoid surrounding or intimidating gorillas
- Avoid eye contact with the gorillas as it can intimidate them and cause them to become aggressive
- Keep your voice down
- Do not stay more than an hour…
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