What you should follow during gorilla trekking in Mgahinga
Gorillas are the most sensitive creatures because they are endangered and they cannot be easily seen and thus if they are not well protected, they can cease to exist in the wild. The Gorillas are found majorly in Uganda, Rwanda, and the democratic republic of Congo and their respective countries. In Uganda, the gorillas are found only in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, in Rwanda, mountain gorillas can be seen in Volcanoes National Park while in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the gorillas can be only found in Virunga national park and the Kahunzi Biega national park.
Out of these gorillas, the countries again enjoy the gorilla trekking activities which are the major tourist attractions in these countries. Gorilla trekking activity gives visitors a chance to see the gorillas for one hour. Because the gorilla trekking activity attracts a lot of people and the gorillas are sensitive and precious species, all the authorities have out up the instructions that all the visitors who are interested in gorilla trekking in these countries must follow to have the successful gorilla trekking activity; among others, the following are the instructions that you should follow when doing gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
As you are going to see the gorillas, you don’t need to leave any rubbish in the park and thus make sure that you keep your rubbish in either your bag and when you find the rubbish bin you drop it there and this is done to make sure the gorillas don’t find it and eat it which might bring diseases to it.
As you’re trekking or moving to see the endangered mountain gorillas. You need to make sure that your voice is down as this will help you to find wildlife life such as the birds, and some of the primates as well as the other animals nearby because the noise would scare away the animals and these birds for you to be able to see them.
Visitors will have to be assigned a guide during the gorilla trekking and this guide will be sharing the information with the visitors and respond to all other inquiries for the visitors to be able to get their experiences. Remember to keep walking on the gazetted trails as you’re in the forest looking for the endangered mountain gorillas.
The moment you are about to reach where the gorillas are found, you will be told by the guide to get ready for the gorillas and remain firm. So you will be able to get ready and enjoy the experience.
Provided you’re seeing the gorillas, make sure that you don’t make a lot of noise as this might distract the gorillas which might at the end of the day go away before you are allowed to see and engage the family and when you have not fully asked all of your questions.
You will be given only one hour to see the gorillas in their natural habitat however when the gorillas are upset, you will be requested to leave the gorilla family before one hour elapses but this is a rare occasion.
You don’t need to touch the gorillas when you’re with them as this one might interfere with their activities. Still, the visitors are requested to maintain the seven-meter distance to make sure that the gorillas are comfortable and to avoid further spread of the diseases from you to them or likewise.
As you see the gorillas, please know that you should remain in your groups and don’t try moving out of your group. Still, you should not eat or drink in the presence of the gorillas to avoid the gorillas from taking the left offers.
Once the gorillas do charge, please don’t look onto their eyes directly but bend down your head slowly, and please don’t ruin them because this will make them charge you more and try to run after you
Generally, the number of people visiting the gorilla is restricted to eight per the gorilla trekking group and this is done to keep the gorillas at peace.
Packing List for the gorilla trekking safari
Visitors who are interested in trekking the gorillas should carry among others such as hiking shoes, the backpack, insect repellants, you need the long-sleeved shirts and the waterproof jackets, garden gloves, longs stockings poncho among other materials and items that you see are crucial for your gorilla trekking safari.
