Dos And Donts Of Uganda Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking is one of the most unforgettable wildlife experiences on earth and Uganda is one of the best places to have encounters with mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking is one of the most intimate wildlife encounters, a rare moment to come face – to – face with these magnificent giants of the forest.
Uganda is home to approximately 550 mountain gorillas as of 2025, nearly half of the world’s remaining population of over 1,064 individuals with around 459 of them living in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. With only 20 habituated gorilla families and a limited number of daily permits, each trek is highly exclusive, making careful planning essential to secure your spot and experience this extraordinary wildlife encounter.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is governed by a set of rules and regulations issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority. In this blog, we take you through the Dos and Don’ts of Uganda Gorilla Trekking.
Dos of Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Wear a clean mask
Wearing a clean mask of at least N95 type before facing the mountain gorillas is one of the strictly followed dos of Uganda gorilla trekking, especially after the corona virus outbreak. Mountain gorillas share 97% of human DNA, making them high susceptible to human communicable infections, so you must wear a mask as one of the ways to reduce the chances of spreading such diseases to the mountain gorillas.
Buy a Gorilla Trekking Permit
To take part in gorilla trekking in Uganda, every trekker must purchase a gorilla trekking permit as the only way to access the forest. Gorilla permits in Uganda are sold by Uganda Wildlife Authority and visitors can access them through a local licensed tour operator.
Due to the limited number of gorilla permits issued on a daily, they sell out quickly that is why you must purchase yours in advance (about 3-5 months).
Pack the right gorilla trekking gear
Gorilla trekking is done in the wilderness that is why packing the right gears is a must for an enjoyable experience. Carry items that mist support you as you go on the boggy and sometimes slippery trails. Uganda’s gorilla destinations – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are found in the Equatorial area where rain falls at any time of the year, so carry a waterproof rain coat.
Items that should not miss on your packing list include comfortable hiking boots, foldable safari hats, insect repellant and garden gloves among others.
Do some exercises before gorilla trekking
The trails leading to mountain gorillas in Uganda are very steep, so you need to do some hiking to get there. However, you do not need to be in the gym all day but start with simple strides that are beyond your normal walks so as to train your feed for this adventurous experience.
Stay close to the rest of the group during gorilla trekking
While in forest trying to locate the mountains, you are advised to stay close to the rest of the trekkers in the group, this way the gorillas will not feel ambushed by your presence.
Gorillas are susceptible primates that they get agitated in case intruders are nearby.
Don’ts of Uganda Gorilla Trekking
Keep a distance of about 8 meters
While in the presence of the gorillas, keeping a distance of about 8 meters is a must, this is to reduce chances of passing any infectious germs to the mountain gorillas and also scaring them.
Don’t use flash photography
When photographing the gorillas, do not use flash photography, as the flashes agitate the gorillas which can cause them to charge at you. Also, mountain gorillas fear new occurrences in their environment. So ensure your camera is in silence (makes no shutter sounds) to prevent any chances of looking suspicious before meeting the mountain gorillas.
Don’t provoke or mimic the gorillas and their actions
Provoking the mountain gorillas is forbidden as they are very sensitive primates that may be agitated by your behavior and go into hiding. Also, do not mimic their sounds or actions as you do not know what they mean thus agitating them and cause danger to you and the fellow trackers.
Don’t Eat or Smoke while in the forest and presence of gorillas
Don’t eat or smoke within 300 meters of the mountain gorillas as they may be forced to grab it from you yet they are wild animals that must not depend on the human provision. Gorillas must search for their own food in the wilderness.
Don’t sneeze or cough in front of the gorillas
In case you wish to sneeze or cough, do it away from the mountain gorillas to avoid passing this infection to the mountain gorillas.
Don’t Dump or Litter in forest
While on your gorilla trek, restrain from dumping in the forest which can alter its nature from which the mountain gorilla feed from. Nature thrives with organic fertilizers and not indecomposable matter like plastic wrap.
Avoid making noise
Unnecessary noise is not allowed while in the presence of the gorillas.
Mountain gorillas are highly sensitive to unfamiliar noise that is why you need to keep your voices low when talking.
Visitors are to stay in presence of the gorillas only for one hour
Visitors are allowed to be in the presence of mountain gorillas only for one hour, this is done to give the mountain gorillas to go about their daily activities like feeding, making babies, grooming, and resting among others.
Trekkers below the age of 15 years are not allowed to trek mountain gorillas
Persons under the age of 15 years are not allowed to track mountain gorillas, this is because of the forest where the mountain gorillas live. The time for locating the mountain gorillas is still being determined, so patience is necessary. Even the ragged terrain of the area where the mountain gorillas live may not favor a child below this age.Â
Do not pick anything from the forest
You are not allowed to pick anything from the forest as souvenirs for your gorilla trekking adventure, especially animal material, without permission. The parks of these endangered animals, even the caucuses, cannot be taken out of the park because they are monitored worldwide.
