The Pandemic’s Impact on Mountain Gorilla Tourism
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and 2021 represented the most significant disruption to gorilla trekking since the practice began in the 1970s. For months, Uganda’s national parks closed entirely, rangers continued anti-poaching patrols without tourist revenue, and the carefully balanced system that protects mountain gorillas faced its most severe financial crisis. When trekking resumed, it did so under modified protocols designed to protect both gorillas and humans from a virus that had demonstrated its ability to cross species boundaries with devastating consequences.
This guide examines how gorilla trekking changed in the aftermath of the pandemic, which modifications remain in place, which have been relaxed, and what travellers planning post-pandemic treks should expect. It also explores the broader lessons that COVID-19 taught conservationists about the vulnerabilities of tourism-dependent protection systems and the innovations that emerged from necessity.
The Closure and Its Immediate Consequences
Uganda closed all national parks in March 2020 as part of its pandemic response. The closure lasted approximately six months, during which gorilla trekking generated zero revenue. For UWA and the communities that depend on tourism, this was catastrophic. Ranger salaries went unpaid or were reduced. Community development projects stalled. Lodge staff were furloughed or laid off. The economic impact rippled through every household in the Bwindi region.
The conservation implications were equally concerning. Without tourist presence, anti-poaching patrols continued but with reduced capacity. The economic desperation caused by tourism’s collapse increased incentives for illegal activity in and around the park. Reports of bushmeat poaching increased in some areas, though the full extent of pandemic-related poaching remains difficult to quantify.
Perhaps most alarmingly, the pandemic demonstrated that gorillas are genuinely vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans. Research on great apes had long suggested that coronaviruses could infect gorillas, and COVID-19 confirmed this risk in the most dramatic way possible. The possibility that an infected trekker could transmit the virus to a gorilla family, potentially causing illness or death, made the closure not merely an economic precaution but a genuine biological necessity.
Reopening Protocols and Modifications
When Uganda reopened national parks in late 2020, gorilla trekking resumed under significantly modified protocols. These modifications, developed in consultation with veterinarians, epidemiologists, and conservation biologists, represented the most stringent health precautions ever applied to gorilla tourism.
Mask wearing became mandatory for all trekkers during the gorilla encounter. UWA provided surgical masks, though some trekkers brought higher-quality N95 or KN95 masks for better protection. The requirement was strictly enforced, and trekkers who refused to wear masks were excluded from the encounter. Masks had to cover both nose and mouth throughout the entire hour, even when breathing heavily from the hike.
The seven-metre distance rule, already in place before the pandemic, was reinforced with additional vigilance. Guides positioned trekkers more carefully and intervened more quickly when gorillas approached. Some trekking groups reported that the enforced distancing felt greater than seven metres, as guides erred on the side of caution.
Health screening at the pre-trek briefing became more rigorous. Temperature checks were introduced, and trekkers with any respiratory symptoms were excluded regardless of whether they tested positive for COVID-19. Hand sanitiser was provided at multiple points, and group sizes were sometimes reduced below the standard eight trekkers to minimise crowding.
International travellers faced additional requirements, including negative PCR tests before arrival, health screenings at airports, and quarantine protocols that varied throughout the pandemic according to infection rates in origin countries. These requirements added complexity and cost to travel planning but were deemed necessary to prevent introduction of the virus into gorilla habitat.
What Changed Permanently
As the acute phase of the pandemic receded, some modifications were relaxed while others became permanent features of gorilla trekking protocols. The most significant permanent change is enhanced health screening. Rangers now take health declarations more seriously than before the pandemic, and the cultural expectation that trekkers should self-exclude when ill has been strengthened.
Mask wearing during the gorilla encounter has become standard practice, even when no specific disease outbreak is active. Many guides and rangers continue to wear masks throughout the trek, and some operators recommend that trekkers do the same. This represents a fundamental shift from pre-pandemic norms, when masks were virtually never used.
The pandemic also accelerated the adoption of digital payment systems and online booking platforms. UWA and tour operators invested in digital infrastructure during the closure, and many of these improvements remain in place, making permit booking and payment more convenient than before.
What Returned to Normal
Several pandemic modifications have been fully relaxed. Group sizes have returned to the standard eight trekkers per gorilla family. Temperature checks at briefing points have been discontinued. International travel requirements, including PCR tests and quarantines, have been eliminated for most travellers.
The one-hour time limit, temporarily reduced in some locations during the pandemic, has returned to its standard duration. Gorilla family assignments have returned to normal patterns, without the pandemic-era restrictions that sometimes limited assignments to reduce cross-group contact.
The social atmosphere of trekking has largely returned to pre-pandemic norms. The camaraderie among trekkers, the relaxed interaction with guides, and the celebratory mood after successful encounters have all resumed, replacing the more guarded atmosphere of the early reopening period.
Lessons for Conservation Resilience
The pandemic exposed a fundamental vulnerability in mountain gorilla conservation: its near-total dependence on tourism revenue. When tourism stopped, the funding that supports anti-poaching patrols, veterinary care, ranger salaries, and community development disappeared almost overnight. Conservationists had long warned about this dependency, but the pandemic made the risk concrete and immediate.
In response, some organisations have explored diversifying conservation funding. Endowment funds, international conservation grants, carbon credit schemes, and philanthropic donations have been discussed as potential supplements to tourism revenue. However, none of these alternatives currently generate sufficient funding to replace tourism, and the diversification effort remains in early stages.
The pandemic also highlighted the importance of community resilience. Communities that had diversified their economies beyond pure tourism dependence fared better during the closure. Agricultural projects, craft cooperatives, and other non-tourism income sources provided buffers that pure tourism-dependent communities lacked. This lesson has informed post-pandemic community development strategies that emphasise economic diversification.
Practical Implications for Current Travellers
For travellers planning gorilla treks in the current environment, the pandemic’s legacy is primarily positive. Enhanced health awareness means that sick trekkers are more likely to be excluded, protecting gorillas from disease transmission. Improved digital infrastructure makes booking more convenient. The conservation system has demonstrated its ability to survive severe disruption, confirming its fundamental resilience.
Current travellers should still carry masks and be prepared to wear them if requested by guides. They should continue to be honest about health status during pre-trek screenings. They should understand that the conservation system they are supporting is still recovering from the pandemic’s financial impact, and that their permit fees are more important than ever.
Final Thoughts
The COVID-19 pandemic was the most severe test that mountain gorilla conservation has faced since the poaching crisis of the 1970s. It demonstrated the system’s vulnerabilities, forced innovations in health protocols and digital infrastructure, and ultimately confirmed the fundamental resilience of the tourism-conservation model. The gorillas survived, the parks reopened, and travellers returned.
When you trek today, you are participating in a conservation system that has weathered unprecedented disruption and emerged stronger for the experience. The masks, the health screenings, and the heightened awareness of disease transmission are not merely pandemic remnants. They are evidence of a conservation community that learns from crises and adapts to protect the extraordinary creatures that make these treks possible. Your presence, after the long silence of the pandemic, is part of the recovery story.
