Particles that you may have picked up on your previous hikes, whether in the forest or fields, pose a disease risk to the gorillas and therefore by starting each day with clean gear, including your shoes, you are reducing the risk of disease transmission to the gorillas.

Your feedback to your trip is a vital part of the promotion of best practice. Conservation organizations and park authorities will use this information as a monitoring system on compliance of the visitation rules, and to further strengthen compliance over time.

By turning off the sounds and flashes (and possible distractions from an incoming call or email) on your electronic equipment, you reduce the risk of disturbance to the gorillas.

By turning away and covering your nose and mouth with your shirt sleeve if you need to cough or sneeze during your visit (at any distance), you are reducing the risk of direct disease transmission to the gorillas.

To further protect gorillas from disease transmission, many sites are implementing the best practice guideline of having visitors and all staff wear surgical masks while within 10 meters of gorillas. Wearing the mask further reduces the risk of disease transmission to the gorillas.

Tips for glasses wearers:
1) Wear contacts for trekking if you are a contact wearer,
2) Pinch the nose piece of the mask tight to your nose to prevent fogging,
3) Pack a de-fogging product as you prepare for your trip and apply just prior to (but not during) your visit,
4) Bring a pair of binoculars, which can be a great way to see the gorillas in detail without the inconvenience of fogging.

Approaching gorillas to close proximity, even if wearing a surgical mask, can disturb the gorillas and increase the risk of direct disease transmission to the gorillas. Approaching gorillas to close proximity may also result in behavioral changes over time.

Mountain Gorilla

i. Common Name: Mountain gorilla
ii. Subspecies: Gorilla beringei beringei
iii. Red List Status: Endangered
iv. Range States: Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda
v. Tourism at sites:
1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
2. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
3. Virunga National Park, DRC
4. Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Photo by:Maryke Gray

Grauer's Gorilla

i. Common Names: Grauer’s gorilla (Eastern lowland gorilla)
ii. Subspecies: Gorilla beringei graueri
iii. Red List Status: Critically Endangered
iv. Range states: Democratic Republic of Congo
v. Tourism at sites: Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Lowland Gorilla

i. Common Name: Western lowland gorilla
ii. Subspecies: Gorilla gorilla gorilla
iii. Red List Status: Critically Endangered
iv. Range States: Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo,
Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon.
v. Tourism at sites:
1. Dzanga-Sangha National Park, Central African Republic
2. Loango National Park, Gabon
3. Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Congo-Brazzaville
4. Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Congo-Brazzaville

Photo by: wikimedia Western Lowland Gorilla

Cross River Gorilla

i.Common Name: Cross River Gorilla
ii.Subspecies: Gorilla gorilla diehli
iii.Red List Status: Critically Endangered
iv.Tourism at sites: Organized tourism to view this subspecies does not exist (although tourism in national parks where they live is possible)

Photo by: WCS Nigeria Program

Terms And Conditions

CERTIFICATE

This is to Certify that I,

, have taken The Gorilla
Friendly Pledge.
And will in my words and
actions, work as an
Ambassador for their
conservation.
And preservation of their
environment.

Gorillas are genetically similar to humans and as a result are susceptible to human diseases, including common viruses and bacteria which, if transmitted to gorillas, can result in death. By self-reporting your illness to your tour operator or park staff, and not visiting gorillas, you reduce the risk of disease transmission to the gorillas.

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