How to Communicate with a Gorilla: A Guide for Gorilla Trekking

How to Communicate with a Gorilla: Gorilla trekking in Africa, particularly in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), offers a rare chance to observe mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Communicating with these wild primates, which share 98% of human DNA, requires understanding their social behaviors and adhering to strict guidelines to ensure safety, respect, and conservation.

Unlike verbal human communication, interacting with gorillas involves non-verbal cues, submissive postures, and ranger-guided responses to mimic their social norms. We are going to tell you how to communicate effectively with gorillas during trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Volcanoes National Park, or Virunga National Park, covering key behaviors, their significance, and practical tips for trekkers.

Understanding Gorilla Communication

Mountain gorillas live in family groups of 10-20, led by a dominant silverback who governs through physical displays, vocalizations, and subtle gestures. Their communication includes:

• Vocalizations: Grunts, hoots, roars, and belch-like sounds express contentment, alarm, or aggression. For example, soft grunts signal reassurance, while roars indicate a threat.
• Body Language: Postures like chest-beating, standing tall, or crouching convey dominance, submission, or curiosity. Direct eye contact often signals a challenge.
• Physical Displays: Silverbacks may charge or beat their chests to assert authority or deter threats.

During trekking, communication is one-directional: trekkers mimic submissive gorilla behaviors to avoid provoking the group, while rangers interpret gorilla signals to guide safe interactions. Habituated gorillas, accustomed to humans over years, tolerate trekkers but remain wild, making proper communication critical to prevent stress or aggression.

Why Effective Communication Matters

Communicating correctly with gorillas ensures:

• Safety: Missteps like direct eye contact can trigger charges or displays, risking injury or trek termination.
• Gorilla Welfare: Stress from improper interactions weakens gorillas’ immunity, increasing susceptibility to human diseases like flu, a threat to the 1,063 remaining mountain gorillas (2023 estimate).
• Conservation: Permit fees ($800 in Uganda, $1,500 in Rwanda) fund anti-poaching and community projects. Respectful communication supports sustainable tourism, preserving gorilla habitats.
• Experience Quality: A calm gorilla group displays natural behaviors—grooming, playing, foraging—enhancing the one-hour observation period.

How to Communicate with Gorillas: Key Behaviors

Effective communication involves adopting submissive, non-threatening behaviors, guided by rangers from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Rwanda Development Board (RDB), or Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN). Below are the primary methods.

1. Avoid Direct Eye Contact

In gorilla society, prolonged eye contact is a challenge, often provoking aggression from silverbacks.

• Lower Your Gaze: Focus on the gorilla’s body, hands, or surroundings. For example, watch a juvenile play or a female forage to stay engaged without staring.
• Glance Briefly: If accidental eye contact occurs, avert your eyes immediately to signal submission.
• Use Peripheral Vision: Monitor gorilla movements indirectly to stay aware without appearing confrontational.

2. Adopt Submissive Postures

Gorillas interpret upright postures as dominant. Submissive body language reassures them.

• Crouch or Kneel: When within 7 meters (the minimum distance), crouch slowly to reduce your height, mimicking a subordinate gorilla. This is critical during charges or close encounters.
• Stay Still: Avoid sudden movements, which can startle gorillas. If a gorilla approaches, freeze or back away slowly as directed.
• Sit if Instructed: Rangers may guide you to sit in dense vegetation, further lowering your profile.

3. Maintain Silence or Use Soft Sounds

Loud noises disrupt gorillas, while specific sounds can mimic their communication.

• Stay Quiet: Keep voices low or silent near gorillas to avoid agitation. Whisper questions to rangers if necessary.
• Mimic Contentment Sounds: Rangers may use soft grunts or hums to signal reassurance. If instructed, imitate these quietly to blend into the group’s vocal environment.
• Avoid Coughing/Sneezing Toward Gorillas: Turn away and cover your mouth to prevent disease transmission, aligning with non-threatening behavior.

4. Respond to Gorilla Behaviors

Gorillas may display behaviors like charges, chest-beating, or approaches, requiring specific responses.

• During a Charge: If a silverback charges (often a bluff), crouch, avoid eye contact, and stay still. Running escalates the situation. Rangers may use grunts to calm the gorilla.
• If Approached: Curious juveniles may come closer. Back away slowly to maintain 7 meters, keeping your gaze lowered. Follow ranger cues to avoid startling the gorilla.
• Observe Displays: Chest-beating or hooting is often a show of strength. Remain calm, crouch, and let rangers interpret the intent.

5. Respect Physical Boundaries

Maintaining distance reinforces non-threatening intent.

• Keep 7 Meters: Stay at least 7 meters from gorillas to minimize stress and disease risk. If gorillas approach, retreat slowly.
• Stay in a Tight Group: Trekkers must remain close together, as a compact group appears less threatening than scattered individuals.
• No Touching: Never attempt to touch gorillas, even if they initiate contact, as this risks disease transmission and behavioral changes.

6. Follow Ranger Guidance

Rangers are trained to read gorilla behavior and facilitate safe communication.

• Obey Instructions: Whether told to crouch, grunt, or move, follow promptly. Rangers carry rifles for wildlife protection (e.g., buffalo) but rely on behavioral expertise for gorillas.
• Learn from Briefings: Pre-trek briefings cover communication protocols. Ask questions to clarify submissive behaviors.
• Trust Their Signals: Rangers may use vocalizations or gestures to reassure gorillas, guiding trekkers to mirror these if appropriate.

7. Use Non-Verbal Cues Sparingly

While trekkers primarily avoid active communication, subtle cues can reinforce submission.

• Slow Movements: Adjust cameras or binoculars deliberately to avoid alarming gorillas.
• Neutral Posture: Keep arms relaxed, avoiding raised hands or pointing, which may seem aggressive.
• Disable Flash: Ensure camera flashes are off, as sudden lights can startle gorillas, disrupting communication.

Practical Tips for Trekkers

To communicate effectively, trekkers should prepare:

• Attend the Briefing: Mandatory briefings at the trailhead detail communication rules, safety, and conservation protocols. Listen and clarify doubts.
• Practice Mindfulness: Control instincts like staring or standing tall, especially in exciting moments. Focus on indirect observation.
• Bring Suitable Gear: Wear muted clothing (greens, browns) to blend in, and use sturdy boots for crouching in muddy terrain. Binoculars allow detailed views without direct stares.
• Stay Fit: Treks last 2-8 hours in steep forests. Moderate fitness ensures you can crouch or move as needed.
• Hire a Porter: Porters carry gear, freeing you to focus on communication and terrain navigation. They also support local communities.

Enhancing the Experience

Effective communication enriches the trek by fostering a relaxed gorilla group, likely to display natural behaviors like grooming or playing. It also supports conservation, with permit revenue funding ranger patrols and community projects (e.g., 20% of Uganda’s permit fees build schools). Respectful interactions ensure future treks, preserving the gorilla population, which has grown from 620 in 1989 to over 1,000 today.

Communicating with gorillas during trekking involves submissive behaviors—avoiding eye contact, crouching, staying silent, and following ranger guidance—to signal respect for the silverback’s authority.

These actions ensure safety, protect gorilla health, and support conservation in Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC. By preparing for these protocols, trekkers enjoy a profound, ethical encounter with mountain gorillas, contributing to their survival and local communities. Embrace these guidelines for a memorable, responsible adventure in Africa’s wild heart.