Gorilla trekking with Kids in Uganda and Rwanda

The age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda is 15 years and above so only children of this age are eligible. Children below age 15 are no accepted to do gorilla trekking for reasons like the time taken to locate the mountain gorillas is unknown which may be hard to withstand by someone younger in case it is prolonged.

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5 days gorilla trekking Rwanda

What is gorilla trekking?

Gorilla trekking is an activity where you follow a fully habituated gorilla family and stay with it for one hour. To minimize disturbance, a maximum of 8 tourists are allowed to go gorilla trekking per day.

Each Uganda gorilla permit costs $800 per person for foreign nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents and 300000shs for East African residents.

Rwanda gorilla permits costs $1500 per person per trek.

How To Book Gorilla Trekking Permits For Kids in Uganda And Rwanda?

Select the date when you wish to do gorilla trekking in either Uganda or Rwanda and the number of people traveling with for gorilla trekking.

When you send us an inquiry about your wish to do gorilla trekking experience, our safari consultant checks availability from the list of Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board.

In case the gorilla permit availability status is positive, we advise our clients to book theirs in time as they are sold out fast due to high demand worldwide.

Avail some personal details like the full names as indicated on the passport, date of birth, nationality, passport expiry date and others.

What Is Included in the Cost Of Gorilla Trekking Permit?

The park entrance fees, ranger guide fees, security during gorilla trekking, local community support, gorilla conservation support, a certificate after gorilla trekking and one hour of gorilla viewing.

What is excluded in the gorilla permit cost?

The cost of a porter, tips, accommodation booking, transport and any other items of personal nature.

You can book with Encounter Africa Safaris other amenities that support gorilla trekking like accommodation, transport, driver guide and others. Our over 10 years of organizing Africa safaris have won us trust from service provider and reviews from our clients on forums like trip advisor and safari booking.

Can I Purchase the Gorilla Permit in Instalment?

Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board the gorilla permit regulating body accept instalment payment of 30 % and 70% for gorilla permits.

 Only persons who purchase there gorilla permits before 90 days to the gorilla trekking date are allowed to make this partial payment. You must top up before 90 days to the gorilla trekking date or stand to get a penalty.

Is Gorilla Permit Reschedule accepted in Uganda or Rwanda?

Everybody who books a gorilla permit would like to go gorilla trekking but due to unavoidable circumstance may not be able to travel.

You can reschedule your gorilla trekking date to the future in case you hope to travel then.

In case your gorilla permit is partially paid for, you need to top it up before you reschedule it.

Write to Uganda wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board about your wish to do change your gorilla trekking dates. In case you have evidence why you hope to change your gorilla trekking date, state it and attach evidence too as back up.

In case your request is approved, your gorilla trekking permit is rebooked to your new date but this is dependent on availability.

Note
Uganda allows 2 free chances for the same gorilla permit reschedule but the third must first be approved by the executive director. 25% of the gorilla permit cost if added too.

Rwanda charges for gorilla permit reschedule.

Where Can I Go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Or Rwanda?

In Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable national park lies in the southwestern part of Uganda. It is home to almost half the total number of mountain gorillas living in the world.at the moment 18 gorilla families are living in uganda but there are sold according to gorilla trekking area. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is sub divided into four gorilla trekking areas that is Buhoma area, Ruhija area, Buhoma area and Nkuringo area.

Bwindi forest hosts other primates like chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, vervet monkeys, olive baboons and others.

A wide range of birds are residents of Bwindi forest as about 350  bird species have so far been recorded including about 7 bird species on the red list of IUCN. Albertine Rift endemics are present in this park too.

Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga national park lies in the fur south western corner of Uganda hosting currently one gorilla family called Nyakagezi. This gorilla family had a history y of wandering into Rwanda in the past, which made it hard to prebook its gorilla permits.

You can do golden monkey trekking in this park, birding where over 155 bird species have so far been recorded and more expected to be added. A number of Albertine rift endemics live in this park some of which including Dusky Tutle Dove, Alpine Chat Malachite Sunbird and others

A day’s hike on the mountains around the park make a backdrop for Mgahinga National park including Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Muhabura and Mountain Sabyinyo. When standing at the summit of Mountain Sabyinyo, you get a 360 view of the Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo Border.

In Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park is the only gorilla habitat for Rwanda with about 15 gorilla families fully habituated and opened for tourist viewing. The topography is generally volcanic and backed by 5 mountains that is Mountain Muhabura, Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo, Mountain Bisoke and Mountain Karisimbi.

Golden monkey trekking is another activity you can be part of in Volcanoes National Park. Birding in Rwanda is possible in Volcanoes National park, Visit the Dian Fossey grave is support to the Mountain Gorilla Research which she had started before her death in 1985.

Can I Book a Gorilla permit With A Tour Operator?

Accredited tour operators are allowed to book gorilla permits on behalf of the tourists. The Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board allows tour operators to book gorilla permits on behalf of the tourists.

As a client, you must purchase your gorilla permit because none is issued without payment or reserved without any funds. First come first served basis is used when booking the gorilla permits.

You can also use Encounter Africa safaris to tailor your safari itinerary to soot your needs and also put together your safari package. We help book accommodation, hire vehicle to use on safari,reserve domestic air tickets, choose the driver guide and other safari amenities that make your Africa trip a dream come true experience.

What is the cost of gorilla trekking safari with kids in Uganda or Rwanda?

The cost of the gorilla trekking permit is the universal cost whether taking a luxury gorilla trekking package, Mid-range package or Budget gorilla package. The gorilla trekking permit for Uganda is $800 per person per trek and $1500 per person per trek for Rwanda.

Other factors used to put together a gorilla trekking safari package include:

The number is Kids travelling with for gorilla trekking.

The more people included in the gorilla trekking package the less the cost per person in case the kids are paying for there safari costs. When you travel solo, you take up all the amenities included in the gorilla trekking package.

Number of days on gorilla trekking safari

 The more days on gorilla trekking safari, the higher the cost. Most service providers charge per day costs.

Gorilla Safari package you choose

When you take the luxury gorilla trekking package or Mid-range package or Budget gorilla trekking package, each has different inclusions and exclusions. The more inclusions the higher the cost.

Additional activities to combine with gorilla trekking

When you combine gorilla trekking with other activities like game drives, chimpanzee trekking, birding, mountaineering the cost increases. Each activity is charged differently.

What challenges Can Kids Expect During Gorilla Trekking?

The gorilla trekking adventure happens in the wilderness so there may be some stinging nettles in the forest. Wear long sleeved shirt and trouser to protect your body from itching surfaces.

The Virunga area has soft volcanic soils that get soggy during the severe rainy season especially from March, April, May and November. Expect some slippery ground and boggy trails while you trek to find the mountain gorillas.

At times, the mountain gorillas feed from the slopes and so to find them you need to hike the slopes and get down the deep valleys, which are slippery from the vegetation that decomposes on the ground.

The mountain gorillas may be provocative at times but do not mimic them as you may cause a stampede in the wilderness. Leave a space of about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas as a measure to prevent spreading a communicable infection to the mountain gorillas.

The glance at the mountain gorillas is scaring at times because of there appearance as there body is covered with fur, huge size, walk by knuckle locomotion, possess sunken brown eyes and so much more. You do not need to show anxiety before the mountain gorillas because you may appear suspicious. They mountain gorillas are afraid of strangers in there environment.

What To Pack For Kids During Gorilla Trekking Safari?

• Safari trousers and long sleeved shirt to protect the body from stinging nettles in the wilderness and other rough surfaces in the wilderness.
• Insect repellant to keep away stinging insects that may sting you while you trek to locate the mountain gorillas.
• First aid kit to with emergency medication that you can administer while in the wilderness.
• Safari boots to cover your feet and protect them from the rough surfaces in the wilderness.
• Garden gloves to wear over your palms in case you slide and fall or tripe when walking in the wilderness that is slippery.
• Camera to store memories of your gorilla trekking experience while you move in the forest. The Camera must be flash less as the mountain gorillas are afraid of unfamiliar light in the wilderness.
• Travel adapter and charger in case you need to recharge your electronic gadgets.
• Extra batteries fully charged to exchange with when one runs low.
• Torch for lighting during the night as this area’s solar energy is the main source of power for lighting and water heating. There is less sunlight received, which may not support lighting trans-night.
• Toiletries in case your lodge doesn’t provide.
•  A pair of Binoculars to get a clearer view of far ranging items in the wilderness.
• A pair of stockings, to tack in your clothes
• Light waterproof backpack to carry with your belongings and hand them over to the porter during gorilla trekking.
• A raincoat or poncho to cover your body with in case it rains without warning during gorilla trekking.
• A foldable hat to cover your head with and keep away stinging insects
• Warm wear like a sweater to keep you from getting cold especially early morning and late afternoon.
• Energy snacks for munching on in case you need to re-energise during gorilla trekking because breakfast is take too early to last the entire trek.

What are the Don’ts Of Gorilla Trekking in Uganda And Rwanda?

• Never feed the mountain gorillas, as they are wild animals that must look for there own food and not depend on human provision.
• Volunteer to stay behind in case you catch a cold or cough during gorilla trekking. The mountain gorillas are highly susceptible to human communicable infections.
• In case you wish to cough or sneeze do it at least 300 meters from the mountain gorillas to prevent spreading infections to these giants.
• When trekking to locate the mountain gorillas, keep your voices low as you may scare the mountain gorillas are highly sensitive to intruders.
• Littering the forest is forbidden as it alters the nature of the forest where food for the mountain gorillas thrives. They are generally vegetarians.
• Do not spit on vegetation or the ground as you may pass an infection to the mountain gorillas.
• Only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas when you locate them.

Contact us for more information.