What is gorilla trekking age limit? This is one of the frequently asked questions especially visitors travelling as a family or group. Gorilla trekking is an adventure where you will get an opportunity to meet and greet eye to eye with the world’s endangered great apes “mountain gorillas” in the jungle. Unlike low land mountain gorillas these specie generally occupy afro-montane areas in the thick altitudinal areas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR.Congo. Trekking these primates require a defined age limit.
Gorilla trekking experience age limit is very essential as the trails with in the forest are quite challenging. It’s upon this that authorities had to prescribe a minimum age limit to safeguard visitors from failing to reach their dream and minimize risks.
The gorilla trekking age limit set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is a minimum age of 15 years for trekkers that come to watch the habituated mountain gorillas. A person below 15 years of age is considered to be a child who cannot deal with the apes in case of any negative change.
Therefore it was defined that anyone who is below 15 years shall not be required to undertake the exercise, this is because the trails are thick and there many risks associated to children thus it’s not easy to control their emotions and actions in the jungle as they may end up moving off the trail.
More so National parks are strenuous to hike and therefore requires a physically fit individual. People below 15 years of age are rendered weak and vulnerable and therefore cannot cope up with the difficult hike in the mountainous areas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Park.
However worry not if you’re traveling as a family and the children are 15 years or nearly reaching their birth month to age 15 years, they will be allowed to trek but however they should be in good conditions fit for the trek which include but not least to these: energetic enough for the trail, 6.0 inches tall, physically fit and mentally stable. This therefore coupled with parental guidance the children with the stated years will have an arranged safe gorilla trekking experience.
More so the other option for where children below the age of 15 years may trek gorillas is where the parents express their desire for their children to trek gorillas by signing an agreement known as “the Republic of Uganda Waiver And Release Of Liability Agreement” such that if anything happens, the parents will be liable. Kindly contact we for more information related to how you can enjoy gorilla trekking with your son/daughter without being inconvenienced
There has been special arrangements that are organized especially for children below the required tracking age limit. Lodges always have special arrangement for them and there are always care takers who take them through different activities like nature walks, community engagements, biking among others.
Safari Vacations & Travel Services has been vibrant in organizing gorilla and wildlife tours in both Uganda and Rwanda with experienced travel consultants ready to help you plan for your safari and accomplish it with a memorable story to tell once your back home. We go further to providing clients with linguistic driver Guides vast with the history of the places, more interactive and willing to share their experience with you upon your trek.
Feel free to contact us for any inquiry on your planned safari, and as well check out on our planned 2 day gorilla safari/3 day gorilla trekking safari from Kigali to Uganda and as well let us know for any other wildlife experience of your preference that you would like to have an adventure to and we planned in relation to your budget to make it a success.