What should I do if a gorilla Charges? Mountain gorillas are the largest primate species and they live in groups, they are known to be peaceful, calm and they are not aggressive when you encounter the gorillas. They have a charming character that makes it interesting to look at that’s why many tourists in Africa would love to take part in gorilla trekking experience. During gorilla trekking, and when the gorilla charges, all you need to do is to simply follow the instructions giving to you during the briefing or the guide will direct you on what to do in order to be on the safer side putting in mind that the gorillas are peaceful and not so aggressive. Mountain gorillas in Africa, can be found in four national parks in tree east African countries which include; Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga gorilla national park both located in south western Uganda offer the best site for gorilla trekking with over half of the words population of gorillas living in the dense forest of Bwindi national park, volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mountain gorillas; Gorillas are the largest primate species that live in the dense tropical forests or in areas with high altitude in Africa. They mainly live in groups of two to 30 members and the group is led by a male silver back as the leader of the family, he offers protection and looks after the females and the young ones in his family , he determines the feeding time, place to stay for the family and protect them from any cause of danger. The gorillas are herbivores animals and they feed on plants, leaves, roots, stems fruits among others.
Gorilla trekking in Africa, has become of the popular activities that has drawn many visitors to east Africa to take part in, gorilla trekking involves moving in the forest led by the ranger guide who will help guide you, offer instructions and also locate the gorillas for you. The movement, involves searching for the habituated gorilla families in their natural habitat, and when you have found a given gorilla family, visitors will be allowed strictly one hour with these huge apes from the time you meet the, but the normal exercise can lasts from 30 min to 7 hours of the day depending on the location of the gorillas on that particular day., putting in kind that gorillas are wild animals and they move from one place to another.
During gorilla trekking, you can not predict how the gorillas will be when you encounter them, when you reach them, you might find that the gorillas are in a bad mood or even they may think that it’s a threat to them. And when they detect danger, the gorillas can charge and react by making loud grunts, hoots, buoys by its self, stand on two legs and bound its chest. And when the threat persists, the leader of the group that is the Silverback will grasp anything and tears it down to show that he is ready for any thing and he is willing to protect the family from any cause of harm.
There several reason that may cause a gorilla to charge such as loud noise in the forest from the travellers during the trek, the gorillas may feel threatened, direct eye contact with the gorillas , sudden movements while in the presence of the gorillas and others may cause the gorillas to charge in order to protect the family from strangers or poachers that may be attacking the family. They can also charge when they are fighting for female trying to win females in to his group, or when their two silver backs in the group, they may not allow to share so they fight when one wants to break away from the family since the family cannot have two leaders and the fight determines the winner who will take over the family and the challenged gorilla, will go away to a form his new family group.
charged silver back gorilla
What to Do If the Gorilla Charges?
There are few cases of gorilla attacking visitors during gorilla trekking in the forest. When you have followed all the rules and the regulations for gorilla trekking giving to you by the rangers such as keeping your voices low while in the forest, a void feeding animals, a void direct eye contact wit the gorillas, when taking photos, avoid direct flash lights from the camera, not raising arms Infront of charged gorilla, keeping a distance of 7 meters feet away from the gorillas, do not wonder in the forest at wee hours, keep in your groups and don’t break of from the group and others. When all these instructions a followed closely you are asure of a successful gorilla trekking and the gorillas will not disturb or attack any of you in the forest.
Mountain gorillas are strong primates and the Silver back will do anything defend and protect his family from any cause of threat that may cause harm to his family. Therefore, in case the gorilla charges, visitors taking part in these experiences will follow the instructions giving to them or listen to the instructions from your guide who will then direct you on what to do in order to safe guard you self.
Walk away steadily; when the gorilla charges, you are supposed to run away from the gorilla this is because, it will run after you and will attack you, but instead, you are advised to walk away form the gorilla taking one step after the other without making any sudden movement to create the distance between you and the gorilla.it will cool down and walk away from you. You can even fall down or keep relaxed or looking up at trees to show that you are defeated and you do not want to attack them.
Crouch down; when the gorilla charges, its advisable to be calm down, keep quiet, and unthreatened you can even bend down to show respect and unwillingness to attack the gorillas. you can lower your self down on the group making your self smaller than the silverback. This is reason to show that you not a challenger and you don’t mean any harm to them so it will cool down and will not attack you.
Follow the instruction from your guide so that you are on the safer side; before you embark on gorilla trekking in the forest, travellers are briefed at the starting point which is the parks headquarters, you will be reminded on the dos and the don’ts of gorillas while you are with the gorillas. You will be led by an armed ranger guide since they spend number of times visiting the gorillas so they are well aware of the moods and when the gorillas are irritated. Therefore, the guide will direct/ instruct you on how to behave in case the gorillas becomes wild in the presence of the visitors. And case the gorilla charges, the guide will instruct you on what to do so all you need to do if you do not know what to do, ask your guide and will instruct you throughout the process.
Never look directly in to the eye of the gorillas; in case the gorilla charges, do not look directly in to the eye, if you do, this shows that you are ready to challenge the gorilla therefore, these will force the gorilla to attack you as away of defending its self. Rather pretend not to show any interest in them and mind your own work and a void direct contact with the gorillas it will walk away from you.
Show your teeth and shout back; in case you are very close to the gorilla with no chance of stepping back, you can defend yourself by showing the gorilla your teeth and shouting back to the charged gorilla, is away you can defend your self and even thumping your chest just like gorillas do when they have charged, when you shout, the gorilla feel scared and will walk thinking that you area another wild gorilla.
Keep a distance; during gorilla trekking, visitors are advised to keep 7 meters feet away from the gorillas when you meet them in their natural habitat. Visitors are not allowed to touch the gorillas since they are wild animals except for the case when the gorilla touches you. When you touch them, they will feel threatened and may be forced to attack you as a way of defending themselves.
Sometime, you can pretend to be an ape; In case the gorilla charges, and you have tried all possible options and nothing seems to be working, be brave and act like another ape yourself, by coming towards the charged gorilla, you can start plucking leaves, breaking stems, chewing vegetation, napping on the ground to show the gorilla that you are aggressive and hostile too, it will get scared and run away from you.
What should I do if A Gorilla charges?
One can visit or tour for birding because Bwindi is also a Bird watcher haven, African Green Broadbill, Grauer’s Warbler & Short-tailed Warbler as the 3 species surviving in this forest and Bwindi is recognised as one of the best birding places in Africa, best done at Buhoma along forest margins or Ruhiji sector (forest & swamp birding) plus village paths.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda gives you the chance to stand a few meters away from the mountain gorillas of Bwindi impenetrable national park that leaves you speechless but full of excitements. The fascinating adventure in the impenetrable forest surely should be next on your summer vacation to do list.
The world has got literally above 1000 mountain gorillas and they are protected in east Africa and they can be found in two regions that is to say Uganda’s southwestern Bwindi impenetrable national park, mgahinga gorilla national park and the Virunga volcano mountains region.
Uganda’s gorilla trekking is not only an inevitable summer adventure to Africa but also reliable ecotourism experience that contributes to the community and the gorilla conservation
Gorilla trekking in Uganda costs just 700$ per person less than half of Rwanda gorilla charges and only 8 tourists are allowing to visit a given gorilla family and Uganda has 20 gorilla families ready for trekking thus giving out chances to 160 tourists to go for gorilla trekking what an incredible offer.
Uganda not only flows its best in terms of mountain gorilla but its also the home of different primates that include the chimpanzees, the golden monkeys, the blue monkeys, the black and white colobus monkey, the mangabey monkeys, a number of baboons, the pattas monkeys, the red-tailed monkeys, spectacled galago, de Brazza monkeys, Lhotse’s monkeys to mention but a few. On you trekking you stand higher chances of spotting the given primate species.
Currently, 
Mahogany Springs lodge has eight beautiful cottages made out of local materials. They are modernized cottages with a touch of the African traditional style and the blend perfectly with the environment. The lodge has spacious suites (superior suites, Honeymoon suite and Presidential suite) with large and wide windows which enable you to clearly look out to the surrounding including Bwindi forest. The rooms are self contained with bathrooms and flushing toilets. There is an option of using smoking or non smoking rooms.
Adventure in the wild safaris is tour operator specializing in Bwindi Gorilla and Uganda wildlife safaris. We offer a wide range of Gorilla trekking and wildlife safari packages at affordable rates with a focus on delivering high quality services for all travelers who book their trips with us.
