Uganda re-opens all its primates' national park for tourists planning to visit Uganda amidst the prevailing coronavirus, although it’s accompanied by strict standard operating policies.

Uganda’s primates’ national park was closed in late March 2020 by the government due to the outbreak of COVID-19 to prevent the virus from spreading to the primates.

Uganda’s primates’ national parks include Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, which is a hub for mountain gorillas and chimpanzees; Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is a haven for golden monkeys and mountain gorillas; and Kibale Forest National Park, which is home to chimpanzees and other 12 primate species.

The Ugandan government has established strict standard operating policies through the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Ministries of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, which will aid in the prevention of coronavirus transmission to mountain gorillas, chimps, golden monkeys, and other primates.

Uganda’s standard operating policies include that visitors and staff must wash hands, sanitize, and have their body temperatures checked.

All staff, visitors, and truckers must wear masks. Only a maximum of 8 people are allowed to track a gorilla family per day, and a maximum of 6 people are allowed to track a chimpanzee family at a time while observing social distancing.