Minimum and maximum age limit for Gorilla trekking. – Gorilla trekking age limit – can a child below 15 years trek gorillas – Gorilla trekking safaris for families with kids.
Minimum and maximum age limit for Gorilla trekking. – Are you planning to travel with Children on your gorilla trekking safari in Africa and you are trying to search about the minimum and maximum age limit for Gorilla trekking? What is The Age Limit for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda, Rwanda & Congo? Gorilla trekking is quite an unforgettable life experience that can only be done in Africa. However, mountain gorilla trekking is a popular activity only possible in three countries in the entire world; Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Therefore, we see several tourists flocking to those above-mentioned countries wanting to meet up with these unique species, and we see the number of tourists increasing yearly to each country. Although, gorilla trekking permits may seem to be difficult to get during certain months of the year, especially during the peak season of the year which happens from June to Mid- September, and December to February. Those planning for gorilla safari often wonder if there is an age limit for gorilla trekking especially if a traveler tends to travel with minors.
The only allowed children must be 14 years of age or approaching 15. For the reason to verify their age, parents have to present their valid passport copies and current photos. However, the age limit for gorilla trekking is 15 years in all three countries but there is some exception in Uganda as you continue to read through this blog post. The age limit for gorilla trekking is set by the different government authorities which are responsible for managing the national parks.
Eligibility of gorilla trekking in all three countries Uganda, Congo, and Rwanda considered;
Note, travelers above 15 years can trek/track mountain gorillas. For that reason, the age limit, the wildlife authority in the three countries will require you to send a copy of your passport before issuing the gorilla permit. Just know you cannot do a gorilla trekking adventure without a valid permit and you can’t get it without presenting your valid passport. The gorilla permit will be required to be present at the briefing point for gorilla trekking.
Children below 15 years of age may also be allowed to gorilla trekking if they are accompanied by parents. The ‘’UWA’’ Uganda Wildlife Authority will require a parent to sign an indemnity form to protect the organization from responsibility in case of any problem during gorilla trekking. Then the park warden will ensure that the child is allocated to a gorilla family which is near the starting point. As parents, you can decide to make everything smooth for the child by hiring extra porters to carry them in Sedan chairs whenever they get tired. However, porters and sedan chairs are also recommended for elderly trekkers who would want to be part of the activity.
Under the Uganda wildlife Authority policy, the Gorilla trekking age limit is currently at 12 years and anyone below that age is considered a minor or child and thus not fit to trek of mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Children or minors many not be contained and in order to avoid such, children or minors are not allowed to trek gorillas in Uganda’ Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a child may decide to make noise or run which may result into gorillas charging and becoming/act wild to visitors.
Minimum and maximum age limit for Gorilla trekking. There are many reasons why children below 12 years are not allowed to trek mountain gorillas and this is due to the fact that children tend to have communicable diseases which can easily be transmitted to mountain gorillas since humans and mountain gorillas almost share the same genes, diseases such as cough and flue can easily be transmitted. The other reason is that the trek can sometimes be hard since the destinations are hilly, it can be slippery and the surface is rough which Kids many not be able to handle.
There is no maximum age for gorilla trekking provided on can travel to the Park, though there are options to help the elderly to get to see the gorillas. You can opt to pay for a Porter who helps you carry your back pack and also gives you a hand as you hike through the forest, there is also a sedan chair which helps to carry the elderly to see the gorillas, and this goes for about $300 per person be carried to and from the forest. We have had visitors aged 70’s and 80’s be able to trek and see the gorillas. Gorilla trekking is a life time experience that you shouldn’t miss out on.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is located in the southern part of Uganda sharing boarder with Congo, it is one of the only two national parks in Uganda where you can trek and see the magnificent Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat in the world, it is home to more than half of the only remaining Mountain Gorillas in the wild making it famous and the best place to trek the Mountain Gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park is divided into different sections/sectors where you can do the Gorilla tracking experience namely Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhija and Nkuringo sector.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has different habituated gorilla families open for gorilla tracking experience, each gorilla family has different gorilla individuals, and each gorilla family is headed and controlled by the dominant male gorilla the Silver back. For you to go on the trek, you are required to have a Gorilla permit valid for trekking that day. Gorilla permits are limited in number per day given it is only 8 people allowed to trek per gorilla family per day in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Book you gorilla life time safari with Great Adventure Safaris.
Gorilla tracking is the primary activity to do and see the gorillas while visiting Bwindi. Bwindi Impenetrable National park is a home to half of world’s remaining Mountain Gorillas in the world meaning on your visit here you have 98% chances of seeing the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National park are found in four different sectors of the park that is Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south and Ruhija and Buhoma in the North East and East part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park respectively. Having a gorilla permit is the key priority for you to have a gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Entebbe, Kampala, or Kigali. The gorilla permit has to be purchased in advance to secure a spot for your trek for any date depending on your travel dates and availability of the permits that day. Gorilla trekking is done in a group of eight people per gorilla family meaning eight permits only are available for each gorilla family, for you to secure a place for a day’s gorilla trek you will need to secure your gorilla permit in advance months or days prior visiting Bwindi Impenetrable National park.
When you book an all-inclusive Gorilla road trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Entebbe with Great Adventure Safaris, all you need to do is to send us your actual dates when you prefer trekking gorillas and we will check availability of permits online. We will reserve your permit tentatively and send you a permit payment invoice. Once you make payment, we will go ahead and secure your permit and thereafter send you scanned copies of receipts from Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Why book with us gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Great Adventure Safaris is experienced in organizing amazing gorilla trekking safari experiences to Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. We are also highly rated and reviewed on trip Advisor. We combine gorilla trekking safaris with eco-friendly and unforgettable high-end adventure and wildlife safaris that help preserve biodiversity, conserve wildlife and uplift local communities, these include chimpanzee and all primate trekking safaris, Big 5 safaris and game viewing, Mountain Hiking, Boat cruises excursions, birding safaris, Cultural encounters and many more to give you a memorable and best African Safari experience including popular and great African safari destinations Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. Feel free to contact us about the maximum and minimum age limit for Gorilla trekking.