Tips for Safe Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda

Posted by backpackerssafaris on November 30th, 2019

In order for gorilla trekking to successfully contribute to the protection & conservation of mountain gorillas, strict rules have been put in place to curb the threats that often stem from gorilla tourism.

In Rwanda, gorilla safaris happen in Volcanoes National Park, which is located just 2 hours drive from the capital city of Kigali. Given that the airport is placed in Kigali, this exact park is one of the most recognized options for gorilla trekking because of its convenience when compared to other gorilla tourism destinations. The park features 10 habituated gorilla groups & has the highest number of mountain gorillas of all the parks in the Virunga Conservation Region, followed by Virunga National Park which has 6 gorilla groups, and lastly Mgahinga with just one gorilla group.

Gorilla trekking rules in Rwanda:

Very important... follow the instruction of your guide! Your guide leads visits to gorillas every single day and is acquainted with the gorilla environment.

Keep with your group, or else you can easily get lost in the jungle. The group moves at the pace of the slowest person. When in the presence of gorillas, don’t scatter to get a better view, stick to your group at all times.

Don’t leave rubbish in the forest. Gorillas are pretty much vulnerable to human infection. It's very essential that you trek out anything that you trek in.

Don’t make noise when in the attendance of the gorillas. This can annoy and threaten them!

Keep a safe distance from the gorillas to steer clear of disease transmission. Gorillas can easily die from human diseases, as they’ve no immunity to human-transmitted infections.

Don’t try to touch or hold eye contact with the gorillas. They’re wild & can react unpredictably.

No flash cameras are permitted at any point in the trekking experience. The flashlight can make the gorillas feel endangered & make them to become aggressive.

Trekkers are also suggested to put on long-sleeved cotton shirts & long pants due to the fact that the forest is full of prickly plants. Garden gloves can also be useful to safeguard your fingers when trying to grip onto vegetations for support. It is also wise to carry a raincoat & waterproof pants as rainful is frequent in the area even during the dry season.

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