Gorilla trekking sedan chairs in Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda host thousands of tourists every year seeking to have a one-on-one meeting with the gentle giants, the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. These protected areas act as a home to 19 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi and 12 habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes NP open for trekking throughout the year. There are some travellers who want to join the exercise but cannot due to its strenuous nature, and the authorities noticed, that this is what led to the introduction of the sedan chairs, enhancing the Eco-tourism sector in East Africa.

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What are Sedan chairs?

Sedan chairs refer to the chairs or gadgets that were introduced by UWA in Uganda and RDB in Rwanda as an inclusion strategy and they are used to carry people with either disabilities or advanced in age but would wish to participate in gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park. The chairs are carried through the forest in search of the Mountain gorillas and then back to the park headquarters by porters. The sedan chairs are all booked in advance and their costs are independent of the gorilla trek permit and other expenses.

The sedan chairs are modified stretcher seats with four points that are carried by porters during the trekking exercise. It has a secure seat with an attachment making sure that you are safe throughout the trek as porters carry you around. The chairs provide safety and comfort to the trekking participants. They can only be operated by trained professionals and proper equipment features like rain cover protection and seat belts.

Hiring the sedan chairs not only enables all tourists to participate in gorilla trekking but also benefits the local community through sustainable tourist projects and practices.

Note: Bwindi has a few sedan chairs available in the different sectors that are found in the park, and we advise tourists to plan and pre-book with us at Encounter Africa Safaris to help you and avoid any other inconveniences. The same is experienced in Volcanoes National Park with a few sedan chairs, which also have to be booked in advance.

What is the cost of the Sedan chairs in Bwindi and Volcanoes NP?

The cost of the sedan chairs in Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park varies depending on the manufacturers of the chairs. However, the cost of the round trip in both Bwindi and Volcanoes NP is between $300 and $500 per person for the round trip and the cost covers the chair itself and the porters carrying the chairs.

The cost of the sedan chairs is a daily charge and does not cover your entire gorilla trekking safari. You need to call your tour operator in advance and negotiate a price before you come for the safari because last-minute sedan chairs cost even more.

How to book sedan chairs in Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park

Booking sedan chairs in Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park is easy and you will need to inform your tour operator in advance about needing a sedan chair for your gorilla trekking safari. If possible, give reasons as to why you need to get the sedan chairs and your preference so that the right team is assembled and prepared for your safari.

After that, make sure that you send in the payments for the sedan chairs so that they are selected and prepared before you arrive for your safari.

Gorilla trekking for the elderly and persons with disabilities using sedan/ stretcher chairs

Although gorilla trekking is mainly known to be for young and able-bodied youth, many of the tourists who come for gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Volcanoes Np are above 40 years bringing to light the saying that no one is too old to participate in the trek.

During the time of the briefing, the rangers and wardens in the respective national parks will check the passports to identify the persons who might need special attention but as earlier discussed, you have to book the sedan chairs in advance.

If you have any fitness concerns with your tour operator before your trip to Bwindi and volcanoes NP so that the operator can plan and arrange everything accordingly.

Special safari vans will be assigned to you to transport you to and from your destination and the standard cost of the porters and the sedan chairs will be shared with you.

FAQs about Sedan chairs in Bwindi and Volcanoes NP

When can I book the sedan chairs in Bwindi and Volcanoes NP?

Booking and organizing for the use of the sedan chairs has to be done on time and in advance, about 4 months before the trek date, for proper planning. At Encounter Africa Safaris, we usually advise our clients who visit Bwindi and Volcanoes to book the sedan chairs as early as possible to allow us ample time to arrange the exclusive service of preparing the chairs and plan transport and accommodation for the trekkers as well.

Advanced booking of the sedan chairs is extremely essential because there has been an increase in their demand and they are limited in both Bwindi and Volcanoes NP. We advise our clients to always book the sedan chairs at the same time as gorilla permits to avoid last-minute disappointments.

There are only 152 permits printed per day in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and 96 permits per day in Volcanoes National Park and this is higher than the available sedan chairs in both national parks. Advanced booking ensures that you secure your dates allowing the team to plan accordingly.

What is included and excluded from the cost of the Sedan chairs?

Sedan chairs are practically chairs that are carried out around by porters in search of the gorillas in the national parks. The cost of the sedan chairs covers the services of porters who will carry you to the gorillas and then back to the park headquarters including the one hour spent with the mountain gorillas.

The cost of the sedan chairs, however, does not include snacks, accommodation, the cost of the gorilla permit and transport. It does not, however, cover the tips, but if you can, please tip generously to the porters as is custom because this is the only way they earn a living and support their families.

Can I use sedan chairs during a habituation exercise?

Yes, tourists can use sedan chairs during a habituation exercise that is carried out in only Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You just have to inform your tour operator in advance so that they are booked and free to use on the day of the gorilla habituation exercise.

Is there a weight limit when using sedan chairs?

Currently, there is no weight limit for the traveller being carried in the sedan chairs. Just show up and let the porters carry you to the gorilla family that you have been assigned to. Note that although there is no weight limit when using the sedan chairs, the cost of hiring might change a little to accommodate you and cater to the porters carrying the sedan chairs.

Why should one book the sedan chairs in Bwindi and Volcanoes NP?

The process of hiring the sedan chairs greatly benefits the development of the community around Bwindi and Volcanoes NP where gorilla trekking is carried out. The porters that carry the sedan chairs use the income that they get from their services to support their families. Note that many of the porters are reformed poachers who have received training in the conservation of gorilla tourism, and this acts as part of the rehabilitation process.

Tourists who use sedan chairs get the chance to fully concentrate on the trek and surrounding areas of the national park and their encounter with the mountain gorillas. They are fully engaged in the experience and have an undisturbed trek with the use of sedan chairs.

The trek in Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park lasts between 1 to 6 hours, depending on the gorilla family you have been assigned. Aged trekkers and those with disabilities might not be able to trek for all these hours before locating the mountain gorillas. The sedan chairs help you concentrate and enjoy your safari without causing more harm to your health.

Who can book and hire the Sedan chairs?

The persons who need to hire the sedan chairs and benefit from the situation include the following:

Tourists who are advanced in age and cannot trek for a long time but would like to have a one-on-one meeting with the mountain gorillas.

Tourists who are recovering from surgery or any other injury.

Tourists who have chronic health issues or have mobility limitations.

Do tourists in sedan chairs follow the rules and regulations?

Yes, tourists using sedan chairs have to follow the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park to protect the gorillas and their natural habitat. Below are some of the rules and regulations for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes NP and Bwindi NP.

• Tourists who are 15 years and above are allowed to trek gorillas in Volcanoes NP.
• Tourists who are 12 years and above are allowed to trek gorillas in Bwindi NP.
• Tourists have to keep a 7 to 10-meter distance between themselves and the mountain gorillas.
• All tourists who are not well (have viral infections) are not allowed to trek mountain gorillas.
• Tourists are divided into groups of 8 to trek a gorilla family each per day.
• Littering the national parks is prohibited and should be avoided at all times.
• Destroying the vegetation within the national parks, like plucking leaves, breaking steam and spitting on it, is prohibited.
• The camera flash has to be off throughout when taking photos of the mountain gorillas.
• Communication should be done in whispers to avoid disrupting the mountain gorillas.
• Do not wander around the national park alone. Stay with the trekking group at all times for security purposes.
• With no toilets in the national parks, dig a hole of 30cm and cover it up well with dirt to blend it with the ground so that the gorillas do not find it.
• Touching the mountain gorillas is not allowed.
• You are also not allowed to feed the mountain gorillas.
• Smoking is not allowed and has been prohibited when visiting the mountain gorillas.

What can I pack for my gorilla safari in Bwindi and Volcanoes NP?

Even when using the sedan chairs on your gorilla safari, you need to pack right and with essentials so that you have a comfortable and enjoyable gorilla safari. We have come up with a list of essential items that you can bring on your safari and these include neutral-coloured long-sleeved shirts and trousers, waterproof and comfortable knee-length boots, socks, garden gloves, a waterproof raincoat, waterproof backpack, a camera, extra batteries, flashlight, a pair of binoculars, toiletries, sunscreen, insect repellent, snacks, a sun hat, refillable water bottle, warm clothes and first aid kit.

As you pack for the gorilla safari, make sure that you do not exceed the weight limit and do not forget your documents because you will need them throughout your safari.

Visiting Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking stands out as a rare lifetime opportunity, and the sedan chairs create more opportunities for more individuals to participate in the exercise, increasing and promoting the conservation of the mountain gorillas and the national parks.

The experience that comes with using sedan chairs and meeting the gorillas is an unforgettable and exciting one regardless of whether you are doing solo travel or in groups.

Encounter Africa Safaris is a tour operator that has years of experience in organizing gorilla safaris in both Uganda and Rwanda. We are here to help organize and plan for the different essentials needed for the safari including the renting of sedan chairs. Get in touch with us for more information about the sedan chairs and we will be glad to help you organize your gorilla safari to Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park.