Guidelines for Forest/Gorilla Trekking

• Obey your guide at all times.
• Never step in front of your tracker or guide.
• Walk in single file in the forest and maintain a short distance from the person in front of you.
• Avoid sudden movements.
• Do not speak. If necessary, use a low voice or whisper.
• Do not point at gorillas.
• Never run, shout or scream around gorillas.
• If a gorilla shows aggression (barks, screams or charges), it is important that you do not move. This may be interpreted by the gorilla as aggression.
• Do not look a gorilla silverback in the eye. This can be interpreted as aggression.
• Keep a distance of seven metres from a gorilla to minimize the risk of disease transmission.
• Do not touch a gorilla if it comes close.
• Step away slowly if a curious young gorilla comes too close.
• If you must sneeze, turn away and cover your nose and mouth with your shirt.
• Do not use flashes while filming or photographing gorillas.
• Do not leave litter in the forest.
• Do not eat in the forest.
• Do not leave human feces in the forest.
• Do not smoke in the forest.
• On rare occasions visitors can encounter elephants and buffaloes in the forest and must be prepared to run on the instructions of their tracker or guide. Please evaluate your physical capability to do so before entering the forest.
• If you are allergic to insect stings, please carry your own emergency medicines. Inform your guide before entering the forest if you are highly allergic to bees and other stinging insects.