Mountain Gorilla Tracking Tours and Human Contacts

Mountain gorillas are an endangered species of primates. These primates live in close knit family groups. These mountain gorilla family groups are only found in the three countries of Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC ( Democratic Republic of Congo ). There’s one of the last surviving families in Rwanda called the Amahoro which means Peace in the English language. In this family there’s a mountain gorilla named Ghahinga which has the habit of sneaking up on those doing gorilla tracking ( gorilla tours ) and pulling their sleeves or even pinching them. Weird as this might sound, people doing gorilla tracking safaris are not allowed to go within 15m (some 7m depending on where you are doing the tracking ) of these endangered mountain gorilla species for fear of making the gorillas catch a human communicable disease. It is however clear from these experiences that some of the rangers are not adhering to these park rules and are allowing contact between humans and gorillas.
These mountain gorillas in Rwanda are found in the misty shrouded mountains of the Virunga straddling the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and Congo. The game rangers help tourist track these mountain gorillas whose movements are very unpredictable and may cross over from any one of these three countries into another. Unlike humans, gorillas don’t need passports to cross from one country to another. This depending on which family and where you are tracking can be very frustrating especially if the rangers in other country deny you the permission to track in their country.
For those of you who might be wondering how a gorilla in the wild can have a name, in Rwanda gorilla naming has been turned into a world renown conservation event to raise awareness about the plight of these endangered primate species who share over 90% of our genes. This year’s conference, namely Kwita Izina was held on 1st July with a concert by Oliver Ngoma an International music artist to raise funds for the conservation of these mountain gorillas. The naming of these mountain gorillas is to help in tracking individual gorillas as sometimes these apes fall prey to some selfish poachers wishing to make a quick buck. It is obvious that much as the communities surrounding these conservation areas that have been turned into habitats for the gorillas, there are those who have never appreciated the importance of conserving these great apes for future generations.
To arrange for mountain gorilla tracking you can contact gorilla tour, Uganda gorilla tour, Uganda gorilla safari and Bwindi gorilla safari

Mountain gorilla tracking rules and regulations

Besides watching the great wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara and Serengeti plains, few wildlife experiences can be compared to mountain gorilla tracking in Bwinidi impenetrable forest, Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda; Parc Des Volcans in Rwanda and also in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Tracing or hacking your way through vine-clad forests as you track these gentle giant creatures through dense forest undergrowth combined with the anticipation of seeing these very few but great creatures is truely and awe-inspiring experience. Many a tourist has left the place mesmerized as they observe these massive yet gentle creatures grunting and chewing away at leaves seemingly oblivious to the curious onlookers. There are only a few of these great apes left in the wild, totaling just over 700.

As a result Uganda wildlife Authority (UWA) has set up a number of guidelines when tracking gorillas. This is to protect these endangered mountain gorilla species. No more than 10 people are allowed to track a family of gorilla per day and there are strict rules to be adhered to. These include;

* Any one with a communicable disease, like as diarrhoea or flu , is not allowed to visit the gorillas.
* Surrounding the gorillas is not allowed, people are to remain in tight groups.
* Once found contact time is limited to only one hour
* Please observe all instructions from your guide.
* A distance of about 5 meters is to be left between the tracker and the gorillas
* A tracker is advised to move back slowly when approched by the gorillas
* No flashes from cameras are allowed.
* Eating and smoking within 200m of the gorillas is forbidden.
* One is required to cover his / her mouth when sneezing or coughing or turn away from the gorillas.
* Human excrement is to be buried at least 30 cm deep in the ground.
* No disposal of litter within the park.
* Spitting in the park is forbidden.
* Minors (those under 15 years) are not allowed to track gorillas.
* Lound noise and sudden movements when with the gorillas is discouraged.

There are a number of tour operators offering gorilla safari and a quick search with any of your most popular search engine will produce a number of tour operators doing Uganda gorilla safari