Minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda

The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda is now 15 years instead of 15 years. This will be effective in 2024 when new UWA tariffs are out. Good news for everyone planning a gorilla trip to Uganda is that now the age limit for gorilla trekking in the country is 15 years as announced by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Following a consultative meeting between Uganda Wildlife Authority and Uganda tourism stakeholders that took place in Kampala, UWA announced that the Uganda gorilla trekking minimum age or age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda is now 15 years instead of 15 years. This will be incorporated in the 2024 Uganda wildlife tariffs.

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One of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to gorilla trekking is, ‘Can I trek with my son or daughter below 15 years of age?’ well, the answer to this question is it depends on how old your child is because the age limit for gorilla trekking was set up to protect both the gorillas and trekkers. If you are planning a gorilla trekking safari to Bwindi and Mgahinga, you should know that the age limit now is 15 years, and everyone who is below 15 will not be allowed to put in a special request or to participate in gorilla trekking. The Uganda Wildlife Authority changed the age limit from 15 years to 15 years so that they could include children in the excursion.

Reasons for the minimum age limit in Uganda

The age limit for gorilla trekking was set up for various reasons, but the most important one is to protect the gorillas, which are endangered species the reasons include the following:

Gorillas are usually calm primates that only become aggressive when provoked, and as we all know, children are unpredictable, which makes it hard for them to be controlled. Children have a tendency of screaming, running around, crying, and becoming aggressive when they do not get their way, and all this can disrupt the gorillas causing them to become aggressive. The only way to avoid aggressive behavior is by acting in a submissive nature which children cannot do, and that is why they are restricted.

The other reason why children are restricted is that they might not be mentally and physically for the trek, which might take between 1 to 6 hours depending on how easy the gorillas are easy to find. Young children might not be physically fit enough to take on the hike due to difficult terrain, which could slow down the trekking process. And since they do not know what they are getting into, there might get too tired to enjoy the presence of gorillas.

Mountain gorillas are easily prone to diseases, and due to the change in weather, children can easily get sick, infecting the gorillas, which might lead to deadly results like wiping out an entire gorilla family.

Adult tourists tend to follow rules and guidelines to the dot, unlike young children, who are hard to control. The gorilla trekking rules are many, which makes it hard for children to follow all of them, and therefore to avoid any negative results, the age limit was set.

Because of the above reasons, the Uganda Wildlife Authority, under the guidance of researchers, enforced the age limit in both Mgahinga and Bwindi to protect the primates.

What activities to do if you are below the gorilla trekking minimum age of 15   

There are other interesting activities that children below the age of 15 can engage in while the adults engage in gorilla trekking, so do not leave your children behind. You can travel with them and let them enjoy activities organized to fit their age as you enjoy the hike. Some of these activities include cultural visits to the neighboring villages, birding around the hotel, and nature walks, or you can leave them with the hotel staff, who will engage them in indoor games, and movies and keep them entertained. Or if not, you can still wait till they are of age and come with them.

Is there a maximum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda?        

Although there is a minimum age limit for gorilla trekking, there is no maximum limit for as long as you are fit to participate. There are several options for the elderly who would wish to participate in the trek, and these include using porters to help carry the heavy luggage; porters also help give a hand during trekking, and there is another option of Sedan chairs that are about 300 USD each, and these are used to carry elders around the national park. Note that it does not matter whether you are advanced in age for as long as you are fit because there are tourists above 80 years who participate in the trek on their own without help. So age shouldn’t be the one thing limiting you from enjoying this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Gorilla habituation

This is the process by which the Mountain gorillas are trained to get used to the presence of humans in the jungle. Gorilla habituation is only carried out in Bwindi, making it the only place where you can enjoy exercise. The process takes about two hours before the group is open to the public for trekking, and although these primates are trained, they are still wild animals and should be treated with care by following all the rules set up to protect the gorillas and the trekkers.

Unlike the one hour spent during gorilla trekking, visitors get to spend four hours with the gorillas, and this does not include the time spent tracking them. You will need a permit to participate in gorilla habituation, and it is a little bit more expensive and goes for $1500 per person.  The same rules followed during gorilla trekking are the same ones that should be followed with gorilla habituation.

Gorilla permit purchasing in Uganda

A gorilla permit is a legal document issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and valid for only an hour. The cost of a gorilla permit in Uganda is the same for both Bwindi and Mgahinga, and the different categories of tourists pay different prices. The cost of a gorilla permit is as stated below.

East African Citizens……………………….………….300, 000 UGX

Foreign non-residents………………………………..800 USD

Foreign residents……………………………………….700 USD

Over 156 permits are printed per day for gorilla trekking per day in Bwindi, 8 permits for gorilla habituation that are only carried out in Bwindi, and 8 gorilla permits for Mgahinga. When booking a gorilla permit, especially if you are doing it in the peak season, we advise you to book at least 6 months before your preferred trek date to get a gorilla permit early enough before they get done.

Gorilla trekking rules and regulations

Rules for gorilla trekking in both Mgahinga and Bwindi are a way of protecting the endangered mountain gorillas. These are to be followed by all tourists planning on gorilla trekking in Uganda. These rules will be re-echoed at the briefing before the start of the trek, and they include the following:

• The minimum age limit for trekking is 15 years, and there is no maximum age limit for all those fit to join the trekking.
• Tourists are grouped with a maximum of 8 people, and each of these gets strictly an hour with the gorillas after tracking them.
• Keep a distance of about 7 meters between you and the gorillas to avoid attacks and the easy spread of diseases from humans to the easily disease-prone gorillas because this might wipe out a gorilla family in case one of them gets sick.
• If you are feeling sick, inform your guide so you are exempted from the trek, or you can volunteer not to go. This is to protect the gorillas.
• Turn off your flashlight when taking photos as it scares off the gorillas, and avoid putting on sunglasses because when they see their reflection in the glasses, they will become aggressive.
• Avoid putting on brightly colored clothes, especially blue, that attract tsetse flies; avoid camouflage clothes but look out for neutral clothes that easily blend in with the surrounding areas.
• You are not allowed to smoke, eat or drink in the presence of the Mountain gorillas.
• When a gorilla approaches you, you need to go into a submissive posture, do not look the primate straight in the eye as this might be seen as a sign of a challenge, especially by the Silverback, and do not attempt to run. Crouch down, keep your head low and wait for the gorilla to turn back.
• If you need to use the toilet, dig a hole of 30cm, use biodegradable tissue or wet wipes, and cover the hole properly before continuing with the trekking.
• Do not litter the national parks, and in cases where you have rubbish with you, it is advisable that you keep it with you until you find a rubbish can or take it back to the hotel to be disposed of properly.

Packing for a gorilla trek in Uganda                            

The right gorilla trekking packing list will make a big difference as to whether you will enjoy your gorilla safari or it not. You should pack light, however, some of the things that you should not miss out on your list include the following:

• Neutral-colored clothes blend in with the forest. Pack long-sleeved shirts and trousers to protect your body from insect bites and scratches (be sure to avoid jeans).
• Gaiters, garden gloves to protect your hands from blisters and scratches, thick socks where you can easily tuck in your trousers, and a warm sweater.
• Rain jacket, strong hike waterproof boots, waterproof day backpack, a water bottle, snacks, wet wipes, insect repellent, a sunhat, sunscreen toilet paper.
• Camera, binoculars, and extra batteries.

Where to see gorillas in Uganda

Gorillas are primarily seen in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in the southwest part of Uganda next to Mgahinga National Park, the other destination for gorilla trekking. Bwindi has half the population of gorillas in the world, making it the best destination for the trek. The National Park is divided into four sections: the Rushaga, Nkuringo, Buhoma, and Ruhija. The chances of seeing gorillas in Bwindi are high, with 16 habituated families that are open to the public for trekking.

Mgahinga National Park is the second destination for gorilla trekking in Uganda and has one habituated gorilla family open for trekking to the public. Sometimes the family in Mgahinga migrates, although recently, it has settled in the park and can easily be trekked.

When to go gorilla trekking in Uganda

Uganda has two seasons: the wet and dry season and gorilla trekking can be carried out in both Mgahinga and Bwindi. The dry season from June to September and December to February is the best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda. The wet season experienced from October to November and March to May, with April being the wettest month in the year, is a harder time to trek with the muddy and slippery trek routes. You can still, however, go trekking during this period if you do not mind the weather, and it is the best time to trek gorillas if you are traveling on a budget.

When planning a gorilla trekking safari, you need to consider your budget, and after purchasing the permit, the next step is finding the right accommodation. There are three categories of accommodation: budget-friendly, mid-range, and luxury. These can be found within the national parks or around, and your tour operator will help you choose your budget and preference.

Uganda is considered to be the best gorilla trekking destination in the world with the highest number of gorillas and booking a gorilla safari is stiff competition because of the high demand that comes with booking the gorilla permits. We are here to help with procuring a permit for you and organizing your entire trip and all you have to do is get in touch with us, give us your details, your preferred travel dates, and confirm payment. At the same time, we can plan both a gorilla trekking safari and wildlife safaris to other destinations in the country where you can enjoy activities like game viewing, birding, chimpanzee trekking, and watching the big and boat cruises among others.                                                                                                   

For more details about the gorilla trekking minimum age and all changes due in 2024, do not hesitate to contact us.