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 or older. 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.
During an actual gorilla trek, guests first undergo verification before embarking 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. Individuals under 15 are categorised as children and often find it challenging to deal with adverse reactions, especially when the mountain gorillas charge. This is why it’s crucial to adhere to the age limit, as not doing so can lead to potentially dangerous situations for both the child and the gorillas.
Mountain gorillas are generally calm and gentle mammals, but they can become aggressive, especially when they feel threatened or misinterpret the actions of trekkers. 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 gorilla search; they must be followed. They include maintaining a social distance of 7-8 meters from the family of mountain gorillas. Moreover, visitors are expected to keep their voices low, cover their mouths when coughing or their noses when sneezing, and follow all 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. Additionally, a gorilla trek requires some level of fitness, which children may not possess.
Children are prone to infectious communicable diseases, such as cough and flu, which can threaten the health of mountain gorillas.
Sometimes, children under 15 are allowed to trek with the gorillas.
However, there are instances when children under 15 may have the opportunity to trek with mountain gorillas in Uganda.
There are instances where children under 15 years of age are allowed to participate in the trek to see mountain gorillas. The first instance occurs when the child is almost to celebrate their 15th birthday. With this, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) can allow such a child to engage in the trek to see gorillas. Secondly, children under 15 can trek to see mountain gorillas if they are physically fit and mature enough. UWA officials may require details of the child, and the parent can share a copy of a valid passport.
Thirdly, persons under 15 years old can have the opportunity to enjoy a gorilla trek if their parents accompany them. UWA may require parents to sign a consent or indemnity form to protect the organisation from liability, especially in the event of any mishap during the trek to see mountain gorillas. When allocating gorilla groups, park officials can ensure that they assign a gorilla family near the start of the gorilla trek. However, this may require hiring a porter to assist you, especially with a Sedan chair, if the child becomes tired. You’ll be able to talk with your tour operator beforehand to set up your sedan chair to be 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 gorilla trekking in Uganda?
Your fitness level is crucial when considering a gorilla trekking vacation in Uganda or any other destination. Gorilla trekking involves trekking through the rainforest, and at times, you may encounter muddy areas, steep slopes, and other challenging conditions. These all require a certain level of fitness to make a round trekking adventure. You should exercise to prepare for adventure challenges in the jungle. Specifically, you should be able to walk for several hours, climb steep slopes, and navigate through dense vegetation with ease.
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 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 unparalleled and will leave you in awe and excitement.
What is the cost of the Uganda gorilla trekking permit?
A gorilla permit allows you to engage in a gorilla trekking adventure. To obtain a license, you can book it directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a trusted tour operator. The process involves providing your details and passport information, along with making the necessary payment for you. A single gorilla permit in Uganda costs USD 800 per person, applicable 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 the Uganda gorillas in the wild, visitors are accompanied by an armed park ranger guide to ensure a safe trek. Additionally, the gorilla families visited have undergone thorough training or habituation, meaning they are accustomed to 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, could you also pack 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, a 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 and 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.
