Gorilla Eye Contact: The Dos and Don’ts

No eye contact with a gorilla is one of the gorilla trekking norms and regulations.

Making eye contact with a gorilla is prohibited due to the possibility of an attack, as the gorilla may perceive a threat.

Tourists will receive a briefing on the trekking guidelines for mountain gorillas at the park headquarters the morning before they embark on a gorilla trekking safari.

In the event of any concerns regarding gorilla behavior, the visit will be terminated early to prevent potential attacks, and a park ranger guide will guide you through the procedure during the gorilla trekking.

The following are additional gorilla norms and regulations:
Tourists must guarantee that they are in excellent health prior to embarking on gorilla trekking, as mountain gorillas are susceptible to human diseases and infections can result in their demise, given their critical endangered status.
While in the presence of mountain gorillas, it is recommended that you look aside while sneezing. If an illness is identified, you may be restricted from trekking with the gorillas.
To prevent the gorillas from becoming irritated, travelers are advised not to use cameras with flashlights while in the presence of mountain gorillas.
Ideally, it is advisable to disable the flash camera on a mobile device fitted with one.
Due to their status as wild animals, tourists trekking with mountain gorillas must maintain a minimum of 7 meters of distance and refrain from handling them.
To prevent the transmission of infection by dropped foodstuffs, visitors are also prohibited from smoking, eating, or imbibing within a 200-meter radius of mountain gorillas.
Tourists are advised to maintain silence or communicate in a low voice when observing mountain gorillas, as excessive noise and screaming can cause the animals to feel threatened.
Mountain gorillas should be observed in close proximity by tourists, who should maintain composure in the event that the gorillas charge at them.
Trekking with Gorillas
Volcanoes National Park, Virunga National Park, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are all destinations where gorilla trekking is possible.

Uganda charges $800, Rwanda charges $1500, and Congo offers the most affordable permits at $400. The expense of trekking varies by country.

Gorilla trekking typically commences in the morning, and tourists are permitted to spend an hour in the company of their closest human relations after they have located gorillas.

Suggested Packing List
It is important to consider that mountain gorillas inhabit higher altitudes that frequently receive precipitation when organizing a gorilla trekking safari.

To locate gorillas, it is necessary to hike. Therefore, the following items are essential: waterproof hiking footwear, garden gloves, long-sleeved and warm clothing, raincoats, insect repellents, and an ample supply of drinking water.

Mountain gorillas reside in groups of 5 to 30 individuals, with a single silverback serving as the leader and determining the group’s activities, including the scheduling of feeding, travel, and nest construction.

The mountain gorillas are considered close relatives of humans due to the fact that they share 98% of their DNA.

Although mountain gorillas are typically timid and gentle creatures, they may exhibit aggressive behavior when they are feeling insecure or harassed.

The initial warning signs they send are the following: beating their chests, grunting noisily, tearing, and throwing vegetation.