Is it safe to trek gorillas in Uganda? – Gorilla Trekking Safari Tours

Uganda is becoming a must-visit destination for mountain gorilla trekking Safari and the question is always whether trekking gorillas in Uganda is safe. Yes, Uganda is safe for a gorilla trekking safari.

Uganda has gorilla natural habitats where tourists can visit Uganda gorilla safaris. To ensure tourist security, each group of 8 tourists is accompanied by 2 armed park rangers. The rangers carry firearms just to ensure safety in case wild animals behave in a non-safe way to the tourists. When there is a need the rangers shoot in space to scare away animals.

To ensure safety for individuals who carry on gorilla trekking tours in Uganda, the Uganda Wildlife Authority ensures there are trained rangers who check through the jungles each day. The tourism police ensure the jungle is free from any kind of threat to tourists. This is done by making sure rangers visit the forest early enough before the tourists are brought in.

This is what is referred to as gorilla tracking, the rangers not only identify where the gorillas are but also get to know whether the trails are safe for trekking. After your gorilla trekking tour activity the rangers who earlier went to the jungle contact those who are going with the trekkers of where the gorillas are and the safety. In case of any insecurities, no trekker will be led into the forest to get hurt.

Guideline to follow during Gorilla Trekking Safari

To ensure the safety of the clients and gorillas, the Uganda Wildlife Authority has also set rules and regulations that must be followed during gorilla tours in Uganda. These include;

Always keep your voices low no matter the excitement. However, this does not prevent you from asking the guide questions about the gorilla family you have met.
Keep a minimum of 7 meters (21 feet) from the gorillas to protect gorillas from human disease transmission.

You must always stay in a tight group when you are near the gorillas
DO NOT drink or eat while you are near the gorillas.
Sometimes the gorillas charge. Follow the guide’s example – crouch down slowly and DO NOT look the gorilla in the eye. Then, wait for the gorillas to pass. DO NOT attempt to run away. This is because running away increases the risk of attack.
Flash photography is not permitted. When taking pictures move slowly and carefully.
Do NOT touch the gorillas. They are wild animals
Visitors are allowed to spend a maximum of ONE hour with the gorillas. If the gorillas become agitated or nervous, the guide will end the visit early.
After the visit, keep your voice down until you are at least 200 meters away from the gorillas.
Human waste should be buried 30cm deep. Do not leave open waste in the forest.

Most Visited Uganda Safari Parks / Where to go for a Wildlife Safari in Uganda

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, 331 km, is located in South Western Uganda, on the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley, at an altitude range from 1.160 m to 2.607m. This is a real tropical rainforest, spread over a series of steep ridges and valleys.

In the local language “Bwindi” (from “mubwindi”) means “dark place”, referring to the impenetrable nature of the swamp located southeast of the Park, according to legends. There are 11 species of primates, including chimpanzees, Hoest’s, red-tailed and blue monkeys, black and white colobus, and olive baboons. Read More…

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga is the smallest National Park in Uganda, home to the wild Mountain Gorillas. It includes three extinct volcanoes: Mount Sabinyo (3.669 m.), Mount Gahinga (3.474 m.), and Mount Muhavura (4.127 m.).

The national park has 76 different wildlife species that you will spot during your visit. The commonly spotted species include buffaloes, elephants, bushbucks, golden monkeys, and leopards. Some of the most spotted include Rwenzori turaco, crowned hornbill, black kite, and crowned crane. Mgahinga hosts a population of golden monkeys and a few families of mountain gorillas. Read More…