Enforcing gorilla trekking minimum age in Uganda and Rwanda

Enforcing gorilla trekking minimum age in Uganda and Rwanda is highly considered today. The gorilla trekking minimum age is 15 years and above. This is age limit cuts across Uganda Rwanda and D.R .Congo.

In Uganda, gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Mgahinga National park all volcanic areas. For Rwanda, gorilla trekking is conducted in Volcanoes National park.

You need to book a gorilla trekking permit as the entry ticket to attend gorilla trekking but your age is very vital in acquiring one for several reasons.

 For Uganda, you must know where your gorilla trekking permit is booked especially for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. All gorilla permits for this park are reserved according to area because of its vast size.  

Most Popular Gorilla Safaris

• 3 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking
• 5 Day Gorilla and Chimp
• 8 Day Gorilla Tracking
• 2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Via Kigali
• 3 Day Uganda Gorilla Via Kigali
• 5 Day Chimp and Gorilla Habituation
• 3 Day Fly in Gorilla Habituation
• 3 Day Fly in Safari to Murchison Falls National Park
• 3 Day Bwindi Double trek via Kigali
• 5 Day Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

The park was subdivided into four areas for quicker monitoring of the gorilla trekking activities. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has Buhoma gorilla trekking area, Rushaga Gorilla trekking area, Nkuringo gorilla trekking area and Ruhijah gorilla trekking area. Each of these distinctive areas is has gorilla families to which a maximum of 8 clients is allowed to visit per day per trek.

Although the mountain gorillas are habituated to the presence of human beings, some principles are supposed to be followed to enjoy that one hours with them. Children below 15 years may find it hard to abide by all these rules

Why Emphasize Age During Gorilla Trekking In Uganda And Rwanda

Frightening First Glance at the mountain gorillas

The first glance at the mountain gorillas may stimulate some adrenaline, which may not rub well with the mountain gorillas if you do not control your impulses. Even if the children below this age attend briefing, they may not be in control of there reflex actions.

Mountain gorillas are very keen with intruders in there vicinity and in case you show signs of being suspicious, the dominant silverback may command the gorilla family to go into hiding.

Unaware Of the Time Of Locating the Mountain gorillas

Locating the mountain gorillas may take about 2 hour to three quarters of the day depending on the prevailing conditions in the forest. In search for food to support there sheer body through day and night, the mountain gorillas keep searching for foliage.

 When starting the gorilla trek, the ranger guide follows the route where the mountain gorillas were seen the previous day. However, depending on the proximity of there food or in case they fight with another family and loose, they may move further than where they are suspected to be.

Some level of patience is necessary to succeed in location the mountain gorillas.

Children below 15 years may not be in position to wait for a long time amidst walking in the forest.

The Topography Of the Gorilla Trekking Area

The Virunga area is a volcanic area and so expect to traverse some highlands to get to the gorillas. Rwanda is a land of a thousand hills and so even Volcanoes National park is composed of 5 volcanoes. These include Mountain Bisoke, Mountain Muhabura, Mountain Karisimbi Mountain Sabyinyo and Mountain Gahinga.

You need to hike at times to locate the mountain gorillas that feed or lounge at the slopes at times. This is one reason why some level of fitness is necessary before communing for gorilla trekking. Even the safari boots you wear for gorilla trekking must be in position to support you the time you are trekking.

Sometimes children below age 15 may not be fit enough to hike highlands for the time you are in the forest.

Noise making Is Forbidden in The Mountain Gorilla habitat

Mountain gorillas are scared of unfamiliar noise in there environment so you are requested t keep your voices low during gorilla trekking.

The children below this age may not withstand keeping mum to go through the entire trek because of there young nature. It is hard to control them too.

Other primates like the black and white colobus, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys and several birds may also be scared by unfamiliar noise.

Provocative mountain gorillas

Sometimes the mountain gorillas may walk over to there visitors to touch them or feel them. This may not go well with a child below age 15 years. Chances of pulling a way violently are high.

This  may not go well with the rest of the members of mountain gorilla families.

Mountain gorillas are naturally serene primates but get agitated when they notice unfriendly behaviors from there visitors. They usually thump there chests, pull grass around them, walk on one leg and hoot to show there anger.

Hard to Keep 8 Meters From The mountain Gorillas

Tourists are advised to keep a distance of about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas when they locate them. It is quite hard to abide by these rules in case the child finds the gorillas adorable.

Children below 15 years find it hard to stay away from such adorable apes and may wish to reach out and touch them.

Passing a communicable Infection To The mountain Gorillas

Mountain gorillas are highly susceptible to human infections and children below 15 years may have the infection and are afraid of speaking out. This may later be passed to the mountain gorillas which may not go well with them.

 The mountain gorilla conservation campaign has come along way from the 1980s when there population was 250 gorillas according to Dian Fossey records. The current census of the mountain gorillas shows over 1000 mountain gorillas existing in the entire world.

 All this is credited to the conservation campaign and setting up rules that govern gorilla trekking activity.

Random Gorilla Trekking Family Distribution

After briefing, the present tourists are randomly distributed to the gorillas families available in Uganda and Rwanda. They are divided according to ability to reach the mountain gorillas in the wilderness.

 A child below age 15 years may not be in position to trek the mountain gorillas alone without an escorting parent just in case he or she is given another family.

To ensure that the child gets a reliable support team to take them through this trek, they need an accompanying parent or guardian for the trek.

What Can a Child Below 15 Years Do In The gorilla Trekking Destination In Uganda And Rwanda

Community Visits In Gorilla Trekking Areas

Before or after gorilla trekking, you can visit the community with a child below 15 years to learn more about how the local people behave.

The Buhoma community walk is conducted by a local guide who takes you the typical homestead, traditional healer, banana brewer and may attend an arranged traditional dance group. The proceeds accumulated are used to support community run projects like supporting schools, medical centers, road maintenance and others.

Nkuringo community walk with the children below 15 years gives you chance to visit traditional healers, rural homestead, blacksmith, local beer brewer and so much more.

Batwa trail and Garama cave visit located at the base of Mountain Muhavura can be an option activity to choose when doing gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National park. The Garama cave, which runs 342 meters, was a retreat center for Batwa after raiding the Bafumbira. You may attend a local Music how here but this requires prior arrangement. You can learn the secrets of the forest life that the Batwa pygmies know.

Nature Walk in The Rwanda and Uganda

Opportunities of nature walks in Bwindi forest or Volcanoes National Park give children below age 15 years chance to spot other primates. You need to organize this with the Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guide. No one is allowed to go into the forest without an escorting ranger guide because of the nature of other forest dwellers that may harm you.

Some of the monkeys you may get to spot include blue monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, L’Hoests, Pottos and others.

 A number of birds find comfort in living in the Virunga area including Albertine endemics like Shelley’s Crimmsonwing and others. This area has adorable views of the forest canopy including a sparkling water falls formed by a dense network of rivers that occupy the forest.

Golden Monkey trekking

The age limit for golden monkey trekking is 12 years and above so you may opt for this with a child. Mgahinga National park in Uganda and Volcanoes National park in Rwanda are the homes of golden monkey trekking.

Do other Uganda or Rwanda Safari Activities

Game drives in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park or In Uganda Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park or Lake Mburo National Park have no age limit. With children, you can attend these activities with no age cap to prevent them from enjoying the Africa safari experience. You may get to spot lions, leopards, zebras, giraffes, waterbucks, elephants and others.

Chimpanzee trekking age limit is 12 years and above so this can be another option to do with children. In Uganda chimpanzee trekking is done in Kibale National Park, Kaniyo Pabidi Forest in Murchison Falls National Park, Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National park and others. Rwanda chimpanzee trekking is in Nyungwe National Park.

City tours take you to the business center of Uganda and Rwanda. During Kampala city tour in Uganda, you may get to see Bulange Mengo place for Buganda Kingdom, Kabaka’s Manmade lake, Uganda Martyrs’ shrine Namugongo and others. The Rwanda city tour gives you chance to visit the genocide memorial, Ethnological museum, market centers and so much more

White water rafting in Uganda is incredible. You do not need to have any experience as instructors are in place to take you through the entire experience. You need to securely buckle your safety gears and paddle through the tides.

What Is The cost Of Gorilla trekking Safaris In Uganda And Rwanda

Gorilla trekking package costs are graded according to Luxury, midrange and Budget. The gorilla trekking permit is the universal cost that cuts across all safari categories. In Uganda, the gorilla trekking permit cost is $700 per person per trek and Rwanda gorilla trekking permits cost $1500 per person per trek.

Other factors that determine the total cost for gorilla trekking safaris include number of days to take on safari, number of people travelling with for safari, accommodation to book for gorilla safari and others.

A well-customized or prepackaged gorilla trekking safari itinerary gives you chance to enjoy your African tour with no chances of backtracking.

When To Book Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Uganda or Rwanda

Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda and Rwanda are open all year but you must acquire a gorilla trekking permit in advance.

A few gorilla permits are released per day to the public to book despite the high demand worldwide. Only 8 Gorilla trekking permits are opened to the public per day. In Uganda, you must consider that before booking accommodation, you must know the area where your permit is booked.

If you chose to use Fly-in gorilla trekking safari packages in Uganda, you need to book your seat in advance too in order to avoid last minute panic. The scheduled flights to Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro Airstrip are normally on high demand during the peak time especially June to September and December to January.

Which Country Is Best For Gorilla Trekking Of Uganda And Rwanda

The feeling of being in front of the mountain gorillas is unmatched making it quite challenging to identify which country is best for gorilla trekking. A few of the points traveler consider to distinguish between the two country’s trek include

Cost of Gorilla trekking permit

In Uganda, the gorilla trekking permit currently costs $700 per person while in Rwanda the gorilla trekking permit costs $1500 per person per trek.

Drive time To Gorilla trekking Parks

The time you take to arrive Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda from Kigali Airport is about three hours drive while the Road trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National park to Entebbe Airport is about 8 hours to 9 hours.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Through Rwanda

It is possible to do gorilla trekking in Uganda through Rwanda and the distance is about 6 hours compared to the 8 hours to 9 hours’ drive from Entebbe Airport or Kampala.

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