Is gorilla trekking ethical and sustainable travel?

Is gorilla trekking ethical and sustainable travel? Is gorilla trekking right or wrong?

Gorilla trekking is an activity that is very principled, proper, and moral, but only if done right. You should be aware that mountain gorillas share over 98% of human DNA and can easily contract the same diseases as humans. So maintaining an 8-meter distance around them is a good protective measure for their protection. Every year, so many travelers transfer to Africa to spot mountain gorillas. Most of them transfer to Uganda and Rwanda, with only a few touring the Congo.

A few tourists have asked if Gorilla trekking is ethical, moral, honorable, sustainable, etc. You can name it; I am here to give you a response and will try to simplify all the points and also educate you about the main advantages of gorilla trekking. The 2024 survey revealed an upsurge or rise in the number of gorillas. For the first time in very many years, the number of mountain gorillas exceeded 1000, taking these gentle giants (mountain gorillas) off the list of endangered animals.

So, is gorilla trekking ethical? 

If it weren’t for this activity (gorilla trekking), the possibility of mountain gorillas being no more on this planet would be high.

Usually, money spent buying gorilla permits—$1500 in Rwanda, $800 in Uganda, and $400 in the Congo—is used to preserve these animals, and only a diminutive share profits the community. Therefore, buying a gorilla trekking permit is one way to appreciate these gorillas. This same money is used to safeguard the habitat of these animals and preserve them from undecided acts like poaching.

Visitors are also forbidden to take photos with flashlights on, as it startles gorillas. When gorillas charge at you, you should look down. It’s a sign of respect and will often cool them down. It shows them that you have lost the contest. Another important factor is not looking straight into the eyes of these gorillas. It’s a sign of contest, which will often make them charge towards you to conquer you.

Before embarking on the activity (gorilla trekking) tour, you will be instructed/updated about all this. There is always a morning meeting to be updated that normally takes about 30 minutes. It imparts trekkers with information about gorilla trekking within a short period of time but can never notify them of everything.

You should always attempt to research about mountain gorillas months prior to your trip so that you can find out more about them, learn how to respect these animals, and not scare them in their natural locale.

I’ve grown to be cautious of any kind of tourism where animals are involved, and I certainly thought twice about paying to hang out with such a critically endangered species. There are only about 850 mountain gorillas left in the world today.