IS IT SAFE TO DO GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA

Are you planning to book a Tourism Trip with Village Gorilla Safaris, and Gorilla Trekking is one of your activities that you have planned to do but still asking yourself whether this activity will be safe or not??, well, the answer is a big YES. It is very safe to do Gorilla Trekking in Uganda. The Gorilla Trekking activity is majorly done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park because they have got the highest population of the gorillas in Uganda. Gorilla trekking is one of the major Tourism activities that is loved by many Uganda’s tourists and it contributes a lot to the Ugandan economy. Therefore, the Ugandan Government together with the Uganda Wildlife Authority have put up endless efforts to make sure Gorilla Trekkers are very safe in Uganda and these include the following:

• Quite a good number of Rules and Regulations governing the Gorilla Trekking activity have been put in place by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. They have been issued in favor of those who wish to go for this activity and perhaps the neighboring local communities of the Parks. These Gorilla Trekking Rules and Regulations should strictly be followed to avoid any danger by the gorillas.

•Before making Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks open for Gorilla Trekking, the Uganda Wildlife Authority together with the Ugandan Government first made sure that different gorilla groups are habituated. This makes the Trekking safer as the gorillas are exposed to humans with a perception that humans are not their enemies but instead their friends.

•Gorillas in Uganda are habituated but they still remain wild animals. Therefore, to avoid unnecessary attacks, the Uganda Wildlife Authority has made sure it puts as many armed game rangers/Guides and Tourism police officers as possible in the Gorilla Trekking parks. Just in case of any attempted attack on the Trekkers, the Guides will be readily available. Each trekking group is accompanied/protected by 2 Guides and a Tourism police officer to provide protection to the Gorilla Trekkers just in case of any attack Gunshots will be made but in the air to scare the attacking gorilla away No direct shooting on the gorillas is done because they are endangered.

•The Bwindi Impenetrable and the Mgahinga National Parks as well harbor other different wild animals, insects and reptiles that you will come across as you do your gorilla trekking activity. Still no need to worry as the Park armed Guides and the Tourism police officers will be there to still give you protection

•Just to remind you a little bit that gorillas majorly feed on vegetation and insects. This means trekkers are completely safe as they don’t eat flesh.

•Not to forget, scientific research shows that gorillas are very peaceful animals’ Therefore, their aggression attitude towards human beings is determined by people Sometimes they can come closer to you for inspection in case they suspect danger and after they will go away.

All these and more security measure and initiatives are a clear proof to your safety while doing Gorilla Trekking in Uganda. Just to remind you, there have been no gorilla security incidenta/attacks reported yet for so many years now Either to the tourists or the neighboring local communities. This makes Uganda the best gorilla trekking destination in Africa.

Is it good to directly look into the gorilla’s eyes?

Well, the answer is NO. Gorilla trekkers are highly cautioned not to directly stare at the gorillas in the eyes as they mistake it to an attack/aggression. Naturally, gorillas are shy animals and looking at them direct in their eyes makes them uncomfortable and insecure.

Each gorilla group is headed by a dominant silverback that always keeps his eyes widely open to challenge/defeat anything that interferes with the family peace.

What is the best time for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?

Gorilla Trekking can be done all year round. However, June, July, August, September and December are the more suitable months for the Gorilla Trekking activity in Uganda, In these months, there are less rains so, the parks are a bit drier.

For further inquiries, please contact Village Gorilla through email or a direct phone call.