Get an early start on your gorilla tracking and report in the morning to the Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger station for a pre-trek briefing. The rangers will guide you through the village gardens and into the forest, escorting you through the bush and occasionally hacking the dense undergrowth with a machete as you search for the gorillas. The mountain gorillas are under 24-hour monitoring for their own safety, so you're almost guaranteed to see them.
The gorilla population is slowly increasing, but the species is still critically endangered. Gorillas and humans share almost identical genetic material, so coming into contact with human diseases, even via our food, is extremely hazardous to their health. To reduce the transmission of disease from humans to gorillas, you'll need to keep a distance of 23 feet (7 meters) from the gorillas.
Once you locate the gorilla family, you will be asked to leave all your belongings to one side and approach the gentle giants with only your camera. The guides will interpret the animals' behavior and advise on what you are watching. You may see females and their young, young males, or even a dominant Silverback feeding, playing, interacting with each other, or just sleeping. The trek usually takes roughly three to six hours, after which you'll return to camp.
