To track gorillas each person must have the day’s gorilla permit which needs to be arranged and paid for in advance. Each gorilla park (Bwindi and Mgahinga in Uganda and Parc National des Volcans [PNV] in Rwanda) has different numbers of permits per day (32, 8 and 40 for Bwindi, Mgahinga and PNV respectively).

No person is allowed to track more than three times in three consecutive days. Permits are non-refundable except for medical reasons and a medical certificate has to be provided. To protect gorillas from disease and to avoid problems of arduous conditions in the forests young trackers below the age of 15 and those with illnesses are not allowed to track.

Flash photography is not allowed and visitors are advised to use still cameras, at a distance of at least 5 metres away from the animals. Professional filming requires extra fees to be paid. Tracking through the thick jungle, traversing canopies of thick undergrowth can be tough, arduous and wet – the tracking can last from as little as 45 minutes to as much as 9 hours.

Trackers therefore need to be well equipped with food and water, strong water-proof clothing and must be fit and healthy. Porters can be hired to carry equipment for all trackers (fees range between $5-20 per porter per day). Part of the fees paid to the park authorities goes directly to help local communities around the Protected Area(s).

Once inside the forest, the following must be observed:-

• No spitting in the park
• No littering in the park
• No coughing in the direction of the gorillas
• Only speak in whispers
• Do not point at the gorillas
• Movements around the gorillas must be unthreatening
• No venturing behind thick shrubs. You may surprise a gorilla.
• If a nettle stings you, do not cry out, scream, shout-out loud or make any sudden moves.
• If a gorilla charges or vocalizes, do not look directly at it. Stand perfectly still unless the guide asks you to crouch or move back.