Gorilla trekking age restrictions

Are you planning to travel with children aged 15 years and below on your gorilla trek and you want to know what the Gorilla trekking age restrictions are in Bwindi impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda or Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in Congo? The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo is currently at 15 years and anyone below that age is considered a minor or child and thus not fit to trek of mountain gorillas but it is still possible that a child below 15 years can trek gorillas in Uganda Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.  

Children or minors many not be contained and in order to avoid such, children or minors are not allowed to trek with gorillas in Uganda’ Bwindi impenetrable National, a child may decide to make noise or run which may result into gorillas charging and becoming/act wild to visitors.  There are many reasons why children below 15 years are not allowed to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is due to the fact that children tend to have communicable diseases which can easily be transmitted to mountain gorillas since humans and mountain gorillas almost share the same genes, diseases such as cough and flue can easily be transmitted. The other reason is that the trek can sometimes be hard as Bwindi is hilly, it can be slippery and the surface is rough which Kids many not be able to handle.

What is required to allow a child below 15 years to trek mountain gorillas

Gorilla trekking age restrictions. Children of age of 15 years also pay the same gorilla permit price as for the adults to do gorilla trekking, most times the children are grouped with the family they traveled with for the gorilla trek in the forest for easy management and care of their parents. The passport will be reviewed to ensure minors are not allowed to trek the gorillas and if found that the child is a minor, you won’t be allowed to trek even when you have a permit secured. Children who are minors can travel with their parents on safari and be left at the hotel or with the driver guide while parents are on the trek. They can participate in nature walks and community walk.

There is no maximum age for gorilla trekking provided on can travel to the Park, though there are options to help the elderly to get to see the gorillas. You can opt to pay for a Porter who helps you carry your bag pack and also gives you a hand as you hike through the forest, there is also a sedan chair which helps to carry the elderly to see the gorillas, and this goes for about $300 per person be carried to and from the forest. We have had visitors aged 70’s and 80’s be able to trek and see the gorillas. Gorilla trekking is a life time experience that you shouldn’t miss out.

What to expect during Gorilla trekking in Bwindi for children below 15 years

Gorilla trekking age restrictions. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is located in the southern part of Uganda sharing a border with Congo, it is one of the only two national parks in Uganda where you can trek and see the magnificent Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat in the world, it is home to more than half of the only remaining Mountain Gorillas in the wild making it famous and best place to trek the Mountain Gorillas. Bwindi Forest National park is divided into different sections/sectors where you can do the Gorilla tracking experience namely Rushaga, Buhoma, and Ruhija and Nkuringo sector.

Bwindi Forest National Park has different habituated gorilla families open for gorilla tracking experience, each gorilla family has different gorilla individuals, and each gorilla family is headed and controlled by the dominant male gorilla the Silver back. For you to go on the trek, you are required to have a Gorilla permit valid for trekking that day. Gorilla permits are limited in number per day given it is only 8 people allowed to trek per gorilla family per day in Bwindi Forest National Park. Book you gorilla life time safari with Eco Adventure Safaris.

Gorilla tracking is the primary activity to do and see the gorillas while visiting Bwindi. Bwindi Forest National park is a home to half of world’s remaining Mountain Gorillas in the world meaning your visit here you have 98% chance of seeing the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest National park are found in four different sections of the park that is Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south and Ruhija and Buhoma in the North East and East part of Bwindi National park respectively. Having a gorilla permit is the key priority for you to have a gorilla trek in Bwindi impenetrable National Park from Entebbe. The gorilla permit has to be purchased in advance to secure a spot for your trek for any date depending on your travel dates and the availability of the permits that day. Gorilla tracking is done in a group of eight people per gorilla family meaning eight permits only are available for each gorilla family, for you to secure a place for a day’s gorilla trek you will need to secure your gorilla permit in advance months or days prior visiting Bwindi Forest National park.

When you book an all-inclusive Gorilla road trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Entebbe with Eco Adventure Safaris, all you need to do is to send us your actual dates when you prefer trekking gorillas and we will check the availability of permits online. We will reserve your permit tentatively and send you a permit payment invoice. Once you make payment, we will go ahead and secure your permit and thereafter send you scanned copies of receipts from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Where best to go for Gorilla Trekking with kids in Africa?

Gorilla trekking age restrictions, Uganda is the best place to go for gorilla trekking with kids. Gorilla Trekking is done in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo which host the four national parks that are home the only remaining mountain gorillas. These include Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Congo. In Congo you as well have an opportunity to see the Lowland gorillas which are found in Kahuzi Beiga National Park. In order to trek at any of the mentioned national park a gorilla permit is required for you to be allowed to go for gorilla trekking. With this once you have you planned dates of gorilla trekking we recommend you start booking your gorilla trip immediately given the fact services and permits sell out very quickly especially if you plan to do the trek in the peak season of June to September, it is always better to book at least 5 months in advance prior travelling. Gorilla Trekking with kids at the mentioned parks can be booked directly or through a trusted Tour Operator.

Cost and Getting Gorilla permits in Uganda

The Gorilla permit in Uganda Costs $700 Per person per trek for the Foreign non residents, $600 Per person for residents and $70 for East African Citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan), this gives you an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Uganda has 17 habituated gorilla family groups with 16 found in Bwindi and 1 in Mgahinga this means 136 Gorilla permits are available every day for gorilla trekking in Uganda. Gorilla trekking in Uganda also gives you an option to spend more time with the mountain gorillas through Gorilla habituation experience which is only done in Bwindi forest, a gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 per person giving you an opportunity to spend 4 hours encounter with the semi habituated mountain gorillas under the guidance of trackers and researchers as opposed to one hour for the normal trekking. Getting gorilla permits in Uganda can be done directly by booking them through Uganda Wildlife Authority or through a trusted tour operator in Uganda like Eco Adventure Safaris.

Cost and Getting Gorilla Permits in Rwanda

The Gorilla permit in Rwanda Costs $1500 Per person per trek for the Foreign non residents, $500 Per person for foreign residents and $200 for East African Citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan), this gives you an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda has 12 Gorilla families hence 96 Gorilla permits are available each day for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Getting gorilla permits in Rwanda can be done directly by booking them through Rwanda Development Board or through a trusted tour operator in Rwanda like Eco Adventure Safaris.

Cost and Getting Gorilla Permits in DR Congo

Gorilla tracking in Congo is done in Virunga National Park for Mountain Gorillas and Kahuzi Beiga National Park for Lowland gorillas. A gorilla permit in Virunga National Park costs $400 per person per trek for the high season months of Mid-December to mid-march then June to October and then $200 for the low season months of mid-march to mid-May and then mid-October to mid-December every year. A gorilla permit in Kahuzi Beiga National Park costs $400 for foreign non residents, $200 for East Africa Residents and $20 national resident. Getting gorilla permits in Congo can be done directly by booking them through Virunga National Park or through a trusted tour operator like Eco Adventure Safaris.

P.S When booking your gorilla permit it is important to note that the gorilla permit price excludes accommodation, air tickets, ground transport, meals and other expenses, you will need to get more details of the package you are booking with your tour operator.

Where to stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with kids

Since Bwindi impenetrable National Park has four sectors for gorilla trekking namely; Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga, You will choose accommodation/Hotel depending on the sector you will trek gorillas from. When you check availability of permits with us, we shall let you know which sector has permits available and also suggest the hotel in that sector. All these sectors have hotels/Lodges ranging from budget to midrange to luxury and to up market hotel with low season rates and high season rates. For example, In Buhoma sector you can stay at Buhoma community camp as budget hotel, Buhoma Havens lodge as Midrange hotel, Bwindi lodge, Mahogany springs lodge, Buhoma lodge, as Luxury lodge and Gorilla forest camp as the Up market hotel. In Rushaga, you can stay at Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla camp and four gorillas Lodge, in Nkuringo you can stay at Nkuringo Bwindi lodge, Clouds Mountain gorilla lodge.

Why book with us gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

Eco Adventure Safaris is experienced in organizing amazing gorilla trekking safari experiences to Uganda and Rwanda. We are also highly rated and reviewed on trip Advisor. We combine gorilla trekking safaris with eco-friendly and unforgettable high-end adventure and wildlife safaris that help preserve biodiversity, conserve wildlife and uplift local communities, these include chimpanzee trekking, Big 5 safaris and game viewing, Mountain Hiking, Boat cruises excursions and Cultural encounters to give you a memorable and best African Safari experience including popular and great African safari destinations Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana and Namibia. Feel free to contact us about the Gorilla trekking age restrictions.