What is the age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda?
How old do you have to be for a gorilla trek? The minimum age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years and above. This standard age limit is set and enforced across all the major gorilla trekking destinations in Africa. When booking a Uganda gorilla permit, visitors must share their passport details to enable the tour operator to confirm their date of birth.
On an actual gorilla trek, guests first undergo verification before they embark on a search for mountain gorillas. This ensures that guests visiting the family of mountain gorillas in their respective destinations fall within the acceptable age limit.
Why is the minimum age limit set at 15?
The acceptable age limit for gorilla trekking is 15 and above. Persons below 15 are categorized as children and often find it challenging to deal with adverse reactions, especially when the mountain gorilla charges.
Mountain gorillas are generally calm and gentle mammals, but they can sometimes become aggressive, especially when they feel threatened or misinterpret the trekkers’ actions. Children may struggle to keep quiet or lie low when a gorilla charges. It is even worse when the silverback approaches them. Such incidents can result in screaming, or they can be tempted to run away, which may fuel the gorillas’ reaction.
When a gorilla charges, the park ranger guide often advises visitors to keep calm and act submissive. This can only be observed by someone mature because they can control their emotion.
Mature guests can’t easily get carried away. Adults can easily observe the different gorilla trekking regulations and instructions. Visitors learn several gorilla trekking guidelines during the briefing and the search for gorillas; they must be observed. They include respecting the social distance of 7-8 meters away from the family of mountain gorillas. More so, visitors are expected to keep their voices low, cover their mouths when coughing or their noses when sneezing, and follow other safety measures/regulations.
Not mentally Ready
Children are usually not mentally ready for adventures like gorilla trekking. Unlike children, adults typically embark on a gorilla safari when prepared. They know what they want to get, and children usually join their parents to accompany them, but they may not even be that excited about the vacation. Besides, a gorilla trek requires some fitness, which children may not have.
Children are prone to infectious communicable diseases like cough and flu, which pose a risk to the health of mountain gorillas.
Sometimes, children under 15 can trek with the gorillas.
However, there are instances when children under 15 may get a chance to trek with mountain gorillas in Uganda.
There are instances where children below 15 years can participate in the trek to see mountain gorillas. The first instance is when the child almost celebrates their 15th birthday. With this, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) can allow such a child to engage in the trek to see gorillas. Secondly, children below 15 can trek to see mountain gorillas if they are fit enough and mature. UWA officials may require details of the child, and the parent can share a copy of a valid passport.
Thirdly, persons below 15 years old can have a chance to enjoy a gorilla trek if their parents accompany them. UWA may require the parents to sign a consent or indemnity form to protect the organization from responsibility, especially in case of any mishap during the trek to see mountain gorillas. When allocating gorilla groups, the park official can ensure that they assign a gorilla family near where the gorilla trek begins. But this may require hiring a porter to help you, especially with a Sedan chair if the child becomes tired. You can talk with your tour operator beforehand to have your sedan chair booked.
What should you do if the child is too young to go gorilla trekking?
While their parents go gorilla trekking, children can engage in several exciting activities. These include simple nature walks, where they can learn about the local flora and fauna, or community visits, where they can interact with the local people and learn about their culture. They can also visit the nearby schools and play games in the safari lodge with the staff.
How fit do you need to be for Uganda gorilla trekking?
Your fitness level matters greatly when considering a gorilla trekking vacation in Uganda or any destination. Gorilla trekking involves trekking through the rainforest, and at times, you may come across muddy areas, steep slopes, and other conditions. These all require your fitness level to make a round trekking adventure. We recommend that you exercise to prepare for adventure challenges in the jungles.
How strenuous is gorilla trekking in Uganda?
Gorilla trekking is not just a strenuous primate adventure, it’s a unique and thrilling experience. It involves spending time in the jungles as you search for mountain gorillas, an experience that is entirely different from the usual game drives or normal nature walks in the Savanna National Parks. The conditions in the tropical rainforests where mountain gorillas live are generally unpredictable, and you may require about 2-6 hours to have a complete gorilla trekking experience. But the thrill of encountering these majestic creatures in their natural habitat is truly unparalleled.
How much is the Uganda gorilla trekking permit?
A gorilla permit allows you to engage in a gorilla trekking adventure. To obtain a permit, you can either book it directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or through a trusted tour operator. A single gorilla permit in Uganda is issued at USD 800 per person, which applies to foreign non-residents. Foreign residents on the Uganda gorilla tour can obtain a valid gorilla permit at USD 700, while Africans outside East Africa pay USD 500 per person. East African citizens are issued gorilla permits at Uganda shs—300,000 per person.
How safe is the gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda?
Generally, the gorilla trekking adventure is safe and secure for all guests on the Uganda gorilla tour. On an actual trek with Uganda gorillas in the wild, visitors are accompanied by an armed park ranger guide to ensure a safe trek. Besides, the gorilla families visited have also undergone thorough training or habituation, meaning they are familiar with human presence. The habituation takes about 2 years before a gorilla group is opened for actual gorilla tourism.
How do you prepare for gorilla trekking in Uganda?
Besides exercising, you should also consider packing well for your trip. Among the key items on your packing list are a safari hat, sturdy walking boots, long socks, a rain jacket, sunscreen, and snacks. A good camera for photography should also include extra batteries and additional storage, like a memory card. Long trousers, a sweater, insect repellent, and a first aid kit should also be included.
Where can you go to see gorillas in Uganda?
On a gorilla tour in Uganda, visitors can trek only the rare mountain gorillas –the subspecies of Eastern gorillas. These live in the two National Parks; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These two National Parks are situated in the far Southwestern part of Uganda. They hold about half of the world’s 1063 mountain gorillas.
Uganda has the highest concentration of habituated gorilla families, including Mubare, the oldest group to undergo habituation and also the first of its kind to open for gorilla trekking. Others include Habinyanja, Rushegura, Bitukura, Busingye, Kahungye, Nshongi, Katwe, Christmas, Rwigi, Kutu, the Nyakagezi group, and many more.
Now that you know the age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda, book your gorilla tour and create a signature memory.
