Is it safe to trek gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo? Yes, gorilla trekking in Africa is safe and done peacefully with no threat. Whereas the safety of gorilla trekking has remained an often asked question for mots travelers booking gorilla safaris in Africa, we assure you that the experience is safe and undisturbed. Yes, all governments have put measures to ensure safety in gorilla trekking for both the endangered gorillas and travelers. In both countries, a joint security force of tourism police, military, and armed park rangers work tirelessly to patrol the gorilla parks and monitor gorilla trekking sessions to ensure no threat or harm caused. Apparently, gorilla safaris in Africa are the major source of foreign exchange earning for Uganda, Rwanda Congo. The sale of gorilla permits at $1500 in Rwanda, $700 in Uganda and $450 in Congo bring in huge sums of money for these mountain gorilla countries. African Apes Tours brings you the assurance about the safety of gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. How is gorilla trekking safety guaranteed in Africa?
Gorilla Habituation experience
Yes, all-mountain gorillas undergo a 2-3 years’ habituation/training experience before they are opened for trekking. In this training, gorillas get used to human presence and tamed not to be wild when they see people. Gorillas are therefore friendly to human beings unless they are disturbed. No gorilla family is opened for trekking without undergoing a gorilla habituation experience. Each day of the 3 years’ gorilla habituation experience time, a team of conservationists, park rangers, researchers and gorilla doctors visit a gorilla family undergoing training. Apparently, 2 gorilla families namely Bushaho and Bikingyi are being habituated in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Forest National park. Therefore, the training process that tame gorillas to get used with people assures safety
Tourism Police and Patrol
All governments in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo have trained and deployed tourism police in gorilla national parks of Bwindi Forest, Mgahinga Gorilla, Volcanoes and Virunga National parks. Tourism police patrols through the park every day and night to fight rebel groups and poachers especially in Congo hence ensuring the safety of gorillas and travelers. Some portion of the revenue earned from the sale of gorilla permits in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo is used to facilitate tourism police in gorilla parks. Tourism police camps deep in the jungle for close monitoring and patrol of gorilla parks
The pre gorilla trekking briefing
Ensure you attend the pre gorilla trekking briefing. At the start of each gorilla trekking experience in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo, travelers gather at respective gorilla park headquarters for a briefing about the safety precautions, dos, and don’ts while with the gorillas. The rules and regulations of gorilla trekking are put to ensure a peaceful gorilla trek which promotes sustainable gorilla tourism in Africa. Among the safety precautions of gorilla trekking include:
1. Do not trek gorillas when sick to avoid the transmission of human-wildlife diseases which can be harmful to the endangered gorillas
2. Avoid direct eye contact with gorillas. It makes them uncomfortable and unsafe which results in charging
3. Do not use flashlight cameras which terrifies the gorillas
4. Keep a distance of seven meters away from gorillas to avoid close contact
5. Do not litter in the park, leave only the footsteps
6. Do not shout in the presence of gorillas, keep your voices low
Early morning gorilla tracking
Yes, very early in the morning, a group of park rangers hike into the park to check and confirm the whereabouts of mountain gorillas and how safe they any. These people also check all routes to be used by travelers during trekking to ensure that travelers find no harm during the trek. On finding the gorillas, the trackers call back at the park headquarters alerting the coming trekking group on where to pass. In case of any broken bridges and impassable routes, trackers inform travelers to use optional routes to ensure safety.
Armed Rangers
Each group of 8 travelers is given 2 armed park rangers when going to meet the gorillas. One ranger leads the group to show them away while the other one moves behind the group to ensure no traveler is left behind. The rangers are armed with guns, pangas, and other machetes to protect travelers in case of any threat while in the jungle. Park rangers are trained never to shoot a wild animal but rather shoot in the air to scare the strange animals away. Trekking along armed rangers assure travelers safety in the jungle. Due to insecurities in Virunga National Park, Park rangers are entitled to escort travelers back to their respective lodges at the end of the gorilla trek or any other activity in the Park. Travelers going for Congo gorilla safaris in Virunga National park MUST, therefore, spend 2 nights in the park to avoid departing and arriving during unsafe hours (very early in the morning or late at night).
Safety at the lodges
Travelers are also assured of safety at all gorilla lodges in Bwindi Forest, Mgahinga, Volcanoes, and Virunga National Park. For all gorilla trekking years, there has never been an attack on travelers at any lodge or camp in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. Lodges are enclosed with a checking entry and exit points to check who enters and who leaves the lodge, for what purpose and at what time. Armed security guards continuously move around all corners of gorilla lodges to ensure tight security and safety of travelers during their stay. Any person with unclear reasons will not be allowed to access lodge premises. Regarding the safety of the traveler’s properties, it’s a sure deal. All lodge rooms have safety boxes to keep traveler’s essentials such as phones, laptops, and even money. Alternatively, travelers can keep their properties with the hotel staff especially the manager.
Where do gorillas live in Africa?
Wondering where to go for gorilla trekking in Africa? Mountain gorillas in Africa live in two destinations which are Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park and the Virunga Conservation Area shared by Volcanoes Park in Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Any traveler who wants to trek gorillas in Africa must, therefore, visit any one of the four gorilla national Parks. The world today is home to 1006 mountain gorillas half of which live in Uganda.
With all the above put in place, gorilla trekking is safe in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo with African Apes Tours & Travel
