Is it safe to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda?

Is it safe to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda? : Uganda is a premier mountain gorilla trekking destination in Africa with gorilla trekking as the most sought for activity, Uganda is loved by many tourists because of affordability for gorilla safaris and safe gorilla trekking.

Safety is one of the main concern for visitors as they plan to visit Uganda for gorilla trekking, for those who are wondering if it is safe to go gorilla trekking. The answer is Yes, Uganda is a safe destination to go for gorilla trekking.

Gorilla trekking in v is done in the southwestern region in two parks that are Bwindi impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. With only 1,000 mountain gorillas left in the wild, Uganda hosts over 600 mountain gorilla individuals which is the largest gorilla population and half of the world’s gorilla population.

Gorilla trekking is one of the major tourism activities in Uganda, a reason to why Uganda is visited by many tourists and contributes a lot to the Ugandan economy. There Ugandan government together with the Uganda Wildlife Authority have put up endless efforts to make sure gorilla trekkers are very safe, these are as follows

Gorilla trekking rules and regulations

Uganda Wildlife Authority has set a number of rules and regulations governing gorilla trekking activity and they have been put in place for the protection of both the visitors, the mountain gorillas as well as the local community along the borders of the parks.

These gorilla trekking rules and regulations are passed on to visitors during briefing before you head into the forests to look for mountain gorillas. Some of the gorilla trekking rules and regulations include

Visitors must be 15 years or more, this age limit is set as children usually carry flu, colds, chickenpox and their movements are hard to control.
Only 8 people must visit a gorilla group
Visitors with any sort of illness such as transmittable diseases like flue and cough are not allowed to participate in the trek
Keep you voices low at all times
Do not leave rubbish in the park
You must stay with your group mates at all times
Keep a minimum of 7 meters (21 feet) from the mountain gorillas
Do not eat or drink while near the mountain gorillas
Do not touch the mountain gorillas
Flash photography is not allowed among others

Gorilla Habituation Process

Before mountain gorillas are open for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the government and Uganda Wildlife Authority makes sure the gorillas undergo gorilla habituation experience in which they get used to human presence and they stop perceiving them as enemies but instead friends.

Gorilla habituation process lasts for about 2-3 hours

Gorilla trekkers (visitors) are accompanied by armed game rangers/ guides

Though mountain gorillas underwent gorilla habituation process and they are familiar with humans, they still remain wild animals. To keep the trekkers safe and also avoid unnecessary attacks, the Uganda Wildlife Authority made it a rule to put as many armed game rangers/guides and tourism police officers in the gorilla trekking parks “Bwindi and Mgahinga”. In case of any attempted attack on the trekkers, the guides will be readily available.

Each trekking group is accompanied and protected by 2 guides and a tourism police offer purposely for protection to the trekkers in case of any attack. In case a gorilla charges to the trekkers, gunshots will be shot in the air to scare the attacking gorilla which will scare it away. No direct shooting on the gorillas is done because they are endangered.

Mountain gorillas do not feed on fresh

Mountain gorillas are completely herbivores creatures majorly feeding on vegetation and insects, this means trekkers are completely safe as they do not eat flesh.

Mountain gorillas are gentle and peaceful animals

Scientific research shows that gorillas are very peaceful animals, therefore their aggression attitude towards human being is determined by people. Sometimes they can come closers to trekkers to you for inspection in case they suspect danger and after they will go away.

All these and more security measures and initiatives are proof that you will be safe while on gorilla trekking experience in Uganda. So far they have been no gorilla security incidents/attacks reported yet for so many years since the introduction of gorillas trekking thus making Uganda a safe destination for gorilla trekking and the best gorilla trekking destination in Africa.