How Close Do Trekkers Get to Mountain Gorillas?

Trekking mountain gorillas in the wild usually comes first or second on safari bucket lists, owing to the exceptional appearance of these Giant Apes as well as their limited home range with only about 1080 individuals in East-Central African countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Few wildlife experiences can match up with the thrill of searching for mountain gorillas in the jungles and finally locking eyes with these adorable gentle beasts while going about their daily activities such as feeding, breastfeeding, resting, mating, and playing under the stern observation from the huge dominant silverback (that also doubles as the leader, protector, and mediator during conflicts). This is the moment every gorilla trekker looks forward to but regardless of how excited you are, certain guidelines have to be followed and these include how close you can get to the Giant Apes.

On the question of how close trekkers get to Mountain gorillas, it is 7 meters (approximately 23 feet) away from these Great Apes. There are a number of reasons why this principle/guideline is implemented and these include;

Maintaining a safe distance of 7 meters from mountain gorillas is fundamental in preventing the spread of any human diseases to the Giant Apes. Remember, mountain gorillas share 98% of DNA with humans, and therefore there are high chances that human communicable diseases such as Covid-19, flu, Ebola, Cough, and measles also affect them.

Mountain gorillas are wild animals and obviously don’t understand the 7-meter rule and therefore there is a possibility of getting close to visitors and what do you do under such circumstances? When the Giant Apes get closer, it is advisable to remain calm and still while they pass by or better still push back slowly without scaring them. If you ever find yourself standing in the same spot as the mountain gorilla, it is wise to give him/her space to move about as desired. When the primate moves closer and sits right next to you, it is recommended to slowly walk away without drawing attention towards yourself and continue following the 7-meter rule. There is no brainer here and even though it is difficult to measure the actual distance, you will do it perfectly with the help of Ranger guides who give instructions on how to go about it the best way possible.

Aside from the 7-meter rule that has to be followed by observing and photographing mountain gorillas, there is a set of other strict guidelines that have to be followed by visitors when trekking or being in the presence of the Giant Apes. These include limiting the number of persons visiting a habituated gorilla group to 8 and this is done to reduce possible behavioral interruptions to the Giant Apes.

Visitors will human-borne diseases (especially Tuberculosis, Flu, cough, and any other infectious disease) are not allowed to even venture into the jungle to search for the endangered mountain gorillas.

The minimum age limit for mountain gorilla trekking is 15 years, to minimize the spread of diseases especially flue and cough, the unpredictability of young children in case of mountain gorillas charging, and the required level of fitness associated with gorilla trekking adventures.

Keeping voices at the very minimum to avoid scaring away mountain gorillas and other residents of the Park especially birds and shy animals.

Prohibition of throwing rubbish in the Park, to avoid the spread of diseases and littering the forest hence make sure to leave it the same way you found it.

Smoking, drinking, and eating in the presence of mountain gorillas are totally prohibited because food particles are one of the biggest transmitters of diseases.

Flash cameras are not allowed during photography, because they scare away the mountain gorillas and are likely to make them angry. Therefore, camera flashes not only make mountain gorillas shy to go about their daily routines but also make you a threat to their wellbeing.

In conclusion, even when trekking mountain gorillas is considered a dream-come-true for primate enthusiasts who always look forward to achieving the best shots of them going about their daily activities, limits are placed on how close trekkers can get to them. The 7-meter rule must therefore be followed when watching them at all times to minimize the spread of diseases between humans and mountain gorillas.