Int’l Ethical Gorilla Specialists | UgandaGorillaTrekking.org
Last Updated: 2025
At Int’l Ethical Gorilla Specialists, responsible tourism is not a marketing position — it is the foundation of every recommendation we make. This policy outlines the principles that guide our work and the standards we require of every operator we endorse.
Our Position on Responsible Gorilla Tourism
Mountain gorillas are one of the world’s most endangered great apes. Their survival depends on a fragile balance between conservation funding, local community support, and carefully managed human access. Gorilla trekking, when done responsibly, is one of the most powerful conservation tools available — generating the permit revenue and international attention that protects both gorillas and their habitat.
When done irresponsibly, it does the opposite.
We exist to ensure that every journey we recommend falls firmly on the right side of that line.
1. Compliance With Official Regulations
We only recommend operators who operate in full compliance with rules set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and Rwanda Development Board (RDB). This includes strict adherence to:
Official group size limits per gorilla family per day
Minimum approach distances (currently 7 metres)
Maximum trekking duration per visit (currently 1 hour)
Health screening requirements for all trekkers
No flash photography rules
Mandatory permit acquisition through official channels
Non-compliant operators are not recommended, regardless of price or popularity.
2. Gorilla Health & Habituation Ethics
Mountain gorillas are highly susceptible to human respiratory illnesses. We require recommended operators to enforce pre-trek health checks and ensure that sick trekkers are respectfully redirected rather than permitted to continue.
We do not support or recommend experiences that compromise the health or behavioral integrity of gorilla families — including providers who push boundaries on approach distances or permit overcrowding.
3. Community Benefit & Local Employment
Responsible tourism must benefit the communities living alongside protected areas. We prioritize operators who:
Employ local guides, porters, and staff from communities bordering Bwindi, Mgahinga, and Volcanoes National Park
Source food and supplies locally where possible
Participate in or contribute to community revenue-sharing programs
Support local conservation and education initiatives
Tourism that bypasses local communities is not tourism we endorse.
4. Low-Impact Operations
We assess operators on their environmental footprint, including waste management in and around park areas, lodge sustainability practices, vehicle use and emissions management in sensitive zones, and avoidance of single-use plastics in the field.
High-end does not have to mean high-impact. We hold luxury and budget operators to the same environmental standard.
5. Transparent Conservation Contribution
Uganda Wildlife Authority allocates a portion of every gorilla permit fee to conservation and community programs. We support this system and encourage travelers to book through operators who are transparent about how tourism revenue flows — and who do not facilitate permit fraud or black-market access.
6. Traveler Responsibility
Responsible tourism is a shared responsibility. We ask every traveler we work with to:
Follow all park rules and ranger instructions without exception
Maintain distance from gorillas at all times
Avoid visiting if unwell — even mildly
Carry out all waste from trekking areas
Respect local customs, communities, and livelihoods
Avoid bargaining aggressively on porter fees — fair pay matters
7. Our Commitment
We review our operator recommendations regularly. If a provider we have endorsed is found to be violating responsible tourism standards — whether through guest reports, authority sanctions, or our own assessment — we remove them from our recommendations without delay.
Our credibility depends on this commitment. We do not make exceptions.
Contact
If you have concerns about the conduct of any operator, guide, or trekking experience — including those we have recommended — please contact us through our website. We take all reports seriously.
For official conservation and park regulations:
Uganda Wildlife Authority: ugandawildlife.org
Rwanda Development Board: rdb.rw