Gorilla trekking rules and regulations for Virunga National Park

Gorilla trekking rules and regulations.

Under Gorilla Trekking, are you intending to visit Virunga National Park in Congo? Here is the set of Gorilla Trekking guidelines and restrictions you will have to go by. These have been meticulously created to guard the health and safety of the mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park.

Extremely vulnerable to human illnesses and viruses, gorillas get agitated if too many people visit or approach too closely. These apes must be let to feed, relax, and interact with their own species; they cannot stay healthy and thrive if people disrupt them. The guidelines and policies below also explain the rationale for your requirement to follow them.

Gorilla trekking rules and regulations

Rule 1: Should a visitor be sick, the park staff has the authority to deny a gorilla visit.

REASON: To guard the great Apes from sickness or illness transmission.

RULE 2: There is just one daily visit permitted, and eight visitors per group authorized.

REASON: To reduce behavioural disruption, stress, and probable infection risk.

Rule 3: Guests have to be at least fifteen years old.

REASON: To reduce the possibility of exposing Gorillas to cold or flu viruses, and children’s ailments include mumps, chickenpox, measles,

Rule 4: You only spend one hour with amazing Apes.

REASON: To reduce behavioral disruption, stress, and maybe infectious risk.

Rule five: Flash cameras are not allowed becuase It may cause an aggressive response or charge and disturb or frightener Gorillas.

Rule 6: Sometimes visitors have to stay at least seven meters apart from Gorillas. Visitors should gently back off to five meters if the great apes approach two or three meters—as inquisitive young apes occasionally do. Should this prove unworkable, the guests will be advised to stay where they are. One should always follow the directions in the booklet exactly. Store your bag and other belongings in areas that young Gorillas cannot reach and examine.

REASON: To minimize illness transmission, stress, and behavioural disruption; to lower the possibility of future aggressiveness directed against visitors; and to stop the Gorillas from being too humanised.

RULE 7: Travelers should stay close together without encircling the huge apes.

Reason: This allows the apes lots of space to go where they want to, without destroying threatened (which may set off a charge).

RULE 8: While seeing the Gorillas, guests should, wherever feasible, sit or squat.

Reason: If you stand higher than the Gorillas and gaze, you might be rather frightening or menacing to them. Part of the big apes’ threat or hostile displays is standing bipedally.

RULE 9: Visitors shall not point, gaze at, raise hands or arms, or use body language.

Reasonable for gorillas, these actions indicate aggressiveness or danger.

RULE 10: Visitors should not eliminate vegetation around Gorillas so that they have a better view.

Reason: The Gorillas may become disturbed or scared by this. If at all feasible and required, the guides will clear away vegetation.

RULE 11: Do not flee if a silverback gorilla rushes you or shows signs of beating his chest. Tourist guides are urged to stop visitors from running or moving.

Reason: While a charge might be terrifying, staying silently where you are is the best course of action.

RULE 15: Eating, drinking, and smoking are not allowed close to the Gorillas—that is, within three hundred meters.

Reason: Should they approach out of curiosity, the actions might divert their attention and lead to issues. Still, a cause of infection is food and other leftovers.

Rule 13: Visitors should whisper and be as quiet as they can be. Should you be bitten by Safari ants or stung nettle, do not yell.

REASON: To minimize behavioural disruption and steer clear of alarming gorillas. If gorillas are already there, they might depart; newly habituated gorillas could be terrified to approach anywhere near loud visitors.

RULE 14: Turn away from the giant apes and attempt to cover your nose and mouth if you have to cough or sneeze.

REASON: To slow down the spread of perhaps accidentally carried airborne germs or viruses.

Rule 15: All faucal supplies have to be buried. One may borrow a machete from guides; a thirty-centimeter (ten-inch) hole is excavated and filled.

REASON: Great apes and other animals may find fasces extremely contagious.

RULE 16: All trash has to be taken out of the park; visitors should especially be cautious not to drop tiny objects such as tissues or handkerchiefs, film boxes, or canisters.

Apart from being ugly, trash may intrigue animals, create issues if ingested, and be a source of germ or disease transfer.

About Virunga National Park in the DR Congo

Mostly known for mountain gorilla trekking in Congo, Virunga National Park is one of the most varied tropical rainforests and the oldest national park in Africa. Among other activities offered here are Nyirangongo volcanic climb, bird viewing, Nature walks, Chimpanzee tracking, and Habituation. It should be mentioned that three nations worldwide have mountain gorillas overall.

Among them are Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda. Congo mountain gorillas are found in Virunga National Park; Rwanda mountain gorillas are found in Volcanoes National Park, Uganda gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Together in what is known as the Virunga Mountains, all five national parks are adjacent to one another.

When should one visit Virunga National Park to do Gorilla Trekking?

Located in the tropics, Virunga National Park has tropical temperatures and weather all year long, which makes it available for gorilla trekking all year long. The best time for gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park is the dry season, which runs from December to January, February, June, July, August, and  September. During these months, it is always easy to walk across the trails, which are drier than in the wet months; additionally, the vegetation is not fully grown, which makes viewing of gorillas easy and clearer.

Where inside Virunga National Park should one stay?

In Virunga National Park, accommodation falls from cheap, mid-range to premium. Among budget possibilities are Bukima Tented Camp and Kibumba Tented Camp; mid-range options include Tchegera Island Camp and Lulimbi Tented Camp; consequently, costs vary from 90 to 100 dollars a night per person. Mikeno Lodge rates for luxury choices are from 300 to 400 dollars a night per person. You let us know the finest choice that would fit you; we will then look for availability and book for you appropriately.

How can one go to Virunga National Park for gorilla walking?

The eastern part of Congo has Virunga National Park. From Gisenyi town, you will fly to Kigali International Airport, then connect to Goma town; from Gisenyi town, you will cross the Rwanda-Congo border to Goma town in DR Congo, then drive towards the park headquarters of Virunga National Park, from where you will start the gorilla trek. It is approximately a 2-hour drive from Gisenyi town.

Why arrange Gorilla Trekking with Katland Safaris in Virunga National Park?

Katland Safaris seeks to provide Uganda, Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, and Rwanda with unmatched, professional travel and vacation services. Since then, Katland has been known as one of Uganda’s top tour companies, Rwanda included. Experience Africa with a competent office and field personnel handling all your needs and questions.

Working together with Uganda Wildlife Authority, we are full members of AUTO (Association of Uganda Tour Operators). On travel advice as well as Safari reservations, we are highly recommended. Since we have the greatest and newest information you can rely on, our website is among the best and most dependable points of reference to help you start getting ready for your DR Congo mountain gorilla safari from Kigali. Ugandans own and manage Katland safaris, hence you will be working with a staff that markets what they know.

Gorilla trekking rules and regulations