18 Crucial Rules and Regulations for Gorilla trekking (2025) -Safety in Uganda, Rwanda & Congo

Overview of Rules and Regulations for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, & Congo

Ready for a heart pounding wildlife encounter of a lifetime? Embarking on gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo is everyone’s dream but what are the rules and regulations to observe?

Discover the 18 crucial rules and regulations for gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The 18 essential gorilla trekking rules and regulations are a must to be observed by all trekkers on gorilla safari to Bwindi or Mgahinga.

Explore in depth the 18 rules for gorilla trekking to ensure you have a safe and unforgettable encounter with mountain gorillas in the wild.

The set rules for gorilla tracking rules are essential in ensuring that you have early preparation for your adventure. Observing each of the regulations or safety measures is one way to ensure you have respect wildlife their habitat.

Start your journey to witness majestic beauty of mountain gorillas in the wild when rest assured of the safety measures to observe. Here are the 18 essential rules for gorilla trekking –the ultimate guide to a safe and unforgettable primate adventure plus what wear, etc.

The 18 Rules and Regulations for Gorilla Trekking Adventure

1. A visitor isn’t allowed to track mountain gorillas if he or she is sick or has any communicable diseases like flue, diarrhea and others. The relevance of this rule for gorilla trekking is to protect gorillas from any likelihood of contracting the same infectious diseases.
2. A maximum of 8 (eight) can track one habituated gorilla group. Only one gorilla trek is done and this standard rule and regulation of gorilla tracking applies to all destinations. The significance of observing this safety measure is to reduce on overloading the carrying capacity of gorilla families and habitats.
3. Treks to see gorillas are strictly done by visitors above 15 years. If there is anyone below 15 years but has interest in the gorilla trek, the tour operator (Flawless Adventure Planners Ltd) must be informed early enough. The Tour operator informs Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) about the request.
4. A valid gorilla permit should be secured to have a chance to track gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda or Congo. In Uganda & Rwanda, you can obtain a gorilla permit through the reliable tour operator and should be done 2-6 months before the intended date for trekking gorillas.
5. Personal hygiene should be kept at all times. Ensure that you deep your legs to the disinfectants before you set off for the actual trek to see gorillas.
6. Hand sanitizing –You are advised to hand sanitize before and after trekking gorillas. This is to help remove any gems that can cause infections on gorillas.
7. When interacting with gorillas, you must observe/respect the safety distance. The social distance to be maintained is 8-10 meters.
8. Avoid direct staring at the gorillas –the act can be mistaken by gorillas and they can charge at you an incident no one should experience.
9. Be attentive and observe the instructions provided by your guide. When in trouble, stay calm and listen what your guide tells you to do. Avoid panicking or running away as the gorillas can follow you and you end up getting injured.
10. Talking or interacting in the wild as you searching for gorillas is allowed but keep your voices low. Loud noise can get gorillas irritated and can charge at you.
11. Burry human wastes about 30 cm deep in the ground or as directed by your park ranger guide.
12. Taking pictures of gorillas is acceptable but do not use a flashlight camera. Or better you can turn the flashlight off and take photos of gorillas.
13. Smoking, drinking or eating in the presence of gorillas is highlight prohibited as per gorilla trekking rules and regulations. Gorillas share over 98% of their DNA with humans and susceptible to any respiratory diseases.
14. Encounter with mountain gorillas should be kept to only 1 hour. It is during the 1 hour when you have a chance to observe how gorillas behave and taking pictures.
15. Do not destroy vegetation –leave everything intact.
16. When you happen to encounter an aggressive gorilla, kindly stay calm and don’t run. The guide present can give you relevant instructions to go about the situation.
17. As soon as you set foot into the gorilla habitat, avoid any body contact. Don’t touch gorillas even if they come rubbing themselves –a common behavior with habituated gorillas.
18. Maintain the gorilla habitat clean –avoid littering these apes environment with used bottles as they are a source of gems.

Facts About Gorillas, Gorilla Tracking –Rules and Regulations for Gorilla Trekking

Only 1063 mountain gorillas still survive in the wild with half of them residing in Uganda.

Gorillas live in families –each group can have about 10-40 members.

DNA similarity of gorillas with humans stands at about 98%.

Gorillas are susceptible to infectious human diseases.

What to wear for gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda & Congo

Here are things to wear for gorilla trekking in Africa;

A rain jacket

Long sleeved shirts

Trousers

Waterproof hiking boots

A daypack –waterproof

Where to see mountain gorillas (Best places for gorilla trekking)

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi is the leading park for gorilla safaris in Uganda and is comprised of 4 sectors. The gorilla sectors in Bwindi include Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. Each of these sectors has habituated gorilla families including Mubare, Nshongi, Rushegura, Mishaya, and more.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga National Park is found in Kisoro and is Uganda’s smallest park with only one habituated gorilla group. Nyakagezi gorilla family is present for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park.

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda’s premier gorilla destination with 13 habituated gorilla groups. Stepping foot into Volcanoes National Park marks the start of foot path of the Dian Fossey.

Dian Fossey spent over 18 years here while conducting research on gorillas and established the Karisoke research center. Today, the Dian Fossey fund still carryon the work Dian Fossey left.

Virunga National Park

Virunga National Park is lying in Eastern Congo and has 8 habituated groups. The gorilla families in the Virunga National Park include Mapuwa, Munyaga, Nyakamwe, Bageni, Rugendo, and others.

Addition to Rules and Regulations for Gorilla Trekking -Gorilla Safaris & Tour Ideas

2 Days Bwindi Gorilla tracking Tour from Kigali

Experience the lush Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park on budget. The 2 Days Bwindi gorilla tracking tour from Kigali allows you to see gorillas in the wild safely with an experienced park ranger guide. View Itinerary