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 to ensure the safety of those trekking. The rangers carry along with firearms just to ensure safety in case wild animals behave in a no safe way to the tourists. When there is need the rangers to shoot in space to scare away animals.

To ensure safety for individuals who carry on gorilla trekking Safari 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 safari 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.

mountain gorillas

To ensure safety for 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. Though 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
The maximum time visitors are allowed to spend with the gorillas is ONE hour. If the gorillas become agitated or nervous, the guide will end the visit early.
After the visit, keep your voices 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. It is regarded as one of the most biologically diverse forest in Africa. 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, olive baboons. Read More…

mountain gorillas

MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK; Mgahinga National Park, only 38 sq.kms in size, is the Ugandan part of the bigger Virunga Conservation Area, which is a jointly protected area with Congo and Rwanda. It includes three extinct volcanoes: Mount Sabinyo (3.669 m.), Mount Gahinga (3.474 m.) and Mount Muhavura (4.127 m.). “Mgahinga” is named after Mount Gahinga plus the initial of Mount Muhavura. The vegetation is the one typical of Afromontane areas, with a consistent bamboo forest. There are 76 mammal species recorded, including buffaloes, elephants, bushbucks, golden monkeys, leopards. 115 bird species have been recorded, including 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…

MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK; Murchison Falls Conservation Area is the largest protected area in Uganda, 5.025kms, including Murchison Falls National Park. Read More…

QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK; This park lies on 2.056 sq. km of land situated south of the Rwenzori Mountains, bordering Congo and including two lakes. Read More..

KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK; Kidepo national park was not a national park as it was just another area inhabited by the Dodoth pastoralists who are famously known. Read More…

KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK; Kibale National Park for Primate tours, 766 km, forms a contiguous block with Queen Elizabeth National Park for Uganda wildlife safaris and Primate tour, at an altitude of 1.100-1.590m above sea level. Read More…

LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK; This park, 260 sq.kms, is located in Mbarara District, with an altitude range from 1220m to 1828m above sea level. The park is named after the lake which lies in this territory. Read More…