At the start of each gorilla trekking day, travelers gather at the park headquarters for briefing about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking. Also, known as the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking, these are put to ensure the safety of the endangered mountain gorillas and the travelers. Travelers are required to abide by the rules if they want to have a peaceful and enjoyable gorilla safari in Africa. Anyone who acts against the rules of gorilla trekking risks missing out an encounter with these endangered species in the jungle. Also, the rules are given g during the pre gorilla trekking briefing where travelers are also allocated gorilla families to trek in their groups of eight. Rules and regulations of gorilla trekking apply before, during and after gorilla trekking. These include among others:
Before meeting the gorillas
Have your day pack ready
• Anyone below 15 years old is not allowed to trek gorillas
• Carry with you’re a valid gorilla permit
• Maximum of eight people allowed to visit each gorilla family
• Do not trek when sick, mountain gorillas are susceptible to human illnesses especially cold and cough
• Keep within the group, do not split from your group
• Follow your guide, listen to his instructions and keep calm
• If you are not physically fit, make sure you hire a sedan chair to avoid any difficulties during trekking
• Pack all you need for gorilla trekking: Make sure your day pack has it all you need during gorilla trekking. Among the things you must carry for the gorilla trek include:
1. Hiking boots to ease your movements through slippery and muddy forest grounds
2. Long-sleeved shirts and blouses to protect your arms from scratches by thorny bushes
3. Hats to protect your head and keep your hair clean for ladies
4. Scuff or sweater to keep you warm in the cold jungle forests
5. Long pants or trousers to protect your legs. The trouser must be tucked into stockings
6. Gardening gloves for your hands
7. Carry enough drinking water and energy-giving snacks to keep you strong throughout the hiking
8. Rain jackets to deal with the unpredictable forest weather
9. First aid kit for any emergencies
10. Insect repellant to protect you from insect bites which can be infectious
While with the gorillas
Keep seven meters away
• Keep a distance of seven meters away from gorillas to avoid the spread of human-wildlife diseases. Also, keeping a distance from gorillas keeps them at peace and relaxed
• Do not use the flashlight cameras. These scare gorillas forcing them to charge at you
• Do not touch the gorillas, it can cause the spread of infectious diseases
• Speak at allow tone
• Do not feed the gorillas
• Do not run when a gorilla charges
• Turn back your face when sneezing or coughing
• Do not smoke in the presence of gorillas
• Do not eat when with gorillas
• Spend strictly an hour with gorillas
• Sit or crouch while with gorillas. You intimate gorillas when you keep standing
• Burry all the wastes to avoid the spread of diseases to these endangered species
To ease your gorilla trekking session, please hire a porter at $10 t0 $20. Porters help to carry a traveler’s baggage which makes the whole trek light and quick. Porters can also help to hold a traveler’s hand for support in slippery forest grounds. Porters are local people used to forest slopes, they can easily help you walk through without difficulties
Also, hire a walking stick for support up and downhill. Walking/hiking sticks can be obtained at the respective park headquarters for as low as $5.
In conclusion, you must follow the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking if you want to have a memorable encounter with these endangered species. Wake up early report to the park headquarters, listen to the do and don’ts of gorilla trekking and you will have a memorable encounter with your closest relatives.
