Guidelines and regulations
- Tracking commences from the park office, and each tracking group is allowed a maximum of eight visitors per day
- Treks are usually conducted with one park guide and armed escorts
- The guide liaises with about two to three trackers who have gone ahead to ascertain the location of the gorillas
- Once the gorillas have been located, guests will be allowed a maximum of one hour with the gorillas. This time limit is carefully observed to protect the gorillas from undue stress
- Only people over 15 years old may trek, to minimise the exposure of gorillas to childhood diseases
- Anyone suffering from a communicable disease, such as the flu or diarrhoea, is not permitted to enter the park because of the risk of transmitting these conditions
- You should always stay together in a tight group while with the gorillas – do not surround them
- Avoid making loud noises, or making any sudden movements while trekking gorillas. Assume a crouch position while observing them
- It is not permitted to eat, drink or smoke when with the gorillas or within 200 m (656 ft) from them
- You should not get closer than 7 m (22 ft) of the gorilla
- Some parks require you to wear a mask to prevent any possible human contamination. These masks will be provided where stipulated
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