Uganda gorilla treks for children or minors below 15 years

November 30, 2018

Stances where Children below 15 years are allowed to trek Uganda gorillas

In our earlier articles, we did mention that it is possible for children below age of 15 years to trek gorillas in Uganda as long as the children in question are physically built and strong. They are assessed by relevant authorities and proved to be mature enough to be allowed to trek gorillas. While this is one of the ways where your child can be allowed to trek gorillas, it may require you to be with your child physically present so that Uganda Wildlife Authority can look at him or her and confirm that indeed your child may be young and below the age of 15 but mature and strong enough to encounter habituated mountain gorillas. Don’t worry; we have another good option for you and your child

The other option to prove to Uganda wildlife authority that while your child is below 15 years but can trek gorillas is by sending through the photos of your child so that we forward them to Uganda Wildlife Authority for assessment. You may also need to prove if your child has ever done something similar that required minimum age options. In fact where your child is closing on to his 15th Birthday but not yet 15, he/she stands a big chance of being allowed to trek gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable National Park. There several reasons as to why Uganda Wildlife Authority puts a lot of attention on minors or children below the age of 15 and if needed, please contact Encounter Africa safaris for details

Families/parents trekking with their minors or children below 15 years

The best option for those with children below age of 15 and want them to trek gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable National Park is to request Uganda Wildlife Authority to allow them trek gorillas with their minors or children. For this option to work, you need to contact Encounter Africa safaris to contact Uganda Wildlife Authority on your behalf. Encounter Africa safaris will then get you THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA WAIVER AND LIABILITY AGREEMENT which you will have to sign, scan and send it back to us so that we forward it again to Uganda Wildlife Authority for approval. Once this is approved, we will inform you so that you prepare to make payment for your child’s gorilla permit.

Gorilla permits for minors or Children below 15 years

Once the above are approved, Encounter Africa safaris will request you to make payment for your child’s gorilla permit. The process of reserving, securing and booking permits for minors is the same. The cost is same as those of adults and encounter Africa safaris will assist you in securing and paying for your child’s gorilla permit as long as you book n all inclusive Uganda tours with us.

Optional Activities for children below 15 years who may not be allowed to trek gorillas

In a situation where your child is not allowed to trek gorillas in Uganda, you should not worry at all. You can come along with your child to Uganda and Encounter Africa safaris will take care of your child while you are trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable National Park. While trekking gorillas, your child may stay with trained Lodge staff who will keep him/her entertained. Depending on the age of your child, we will advise activities for him or her. While he/she may not be allowed to trek gorillas, he/she can go for a forest walk in Bwindi to search for other wildlife including other primates, birds and plant identification. Some of the forest trails lead you to waters falls. We also have biking excursions and so much more. You can also combine your gorilla trek with other activities that do not require age limits. These include game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo or Murchison Falls National Park. While in these national Park, you may also engage in boat cruises to make sure that your child below the age of 15 years enjoys his/her visit to Uganda.

Uganda also offers a four hour gorilla trek known as gorilla habituation experience. With gorilla habituation experience, one is allowed to spend four hours with mountain gorillas under habituation. We therefore discourage parents with minors to opt for this but instead go for a one hour normal gorilla trek where mountain gorillas have been fully habituated.

For more information about gorilla trekking for minors or children below 15 years, please feel free to contact Encounter Africa safaris, your trusted partner for Ugand and Rwanda gorilla safaris. Once contacted, we will assist you in getting all details from you, preparing all paper work from beginning to end, booking gorilla permits for yourself and your child as well as other services including accommodation and transport to and from Bwindi impenetrable National Park.

Why Encounter Africa safaris for minor or children travel

Encounter Africa safaris organizes tours that range from 3 to 20 days in Uganda and Rwanda. Feel free to contact us for what to do while in Uganda and we will provide advice that you can rely on. Kindly let us know your time, interest and budget and we will send you a quotation for all your requirements. Uganda is one of the most beautiful countries in Africa. It’s a country where you can trek gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mhahinga, do game drives and boat cruises in Queen Elizabeth NP, Murchison Fall NP as well as Lake Mburo National Park. Uganda is one of the few un spoilt destinations in Africa that you should consider visiting with your children.

Encounter Africa safaris is one of the leading tour operators arranging gorillas, wildlife and cultural safaris to Uganda and Rwanda. We have managed to arrange and successful execute exciting gorilla and wildlife tours on behalf of our clients for the past years and our performance can be seen on our Trip advisor and Safari booking platforms.