Uganda gorilla trekking age limit- All gorilla trekking countries have got the minimum age for trekking gorillas and Uganda, therefore, is not an exception. The minimum gorilla trekking age means the year that someone is supposed to be having to be allowed to trek gorillas in Uganda. Therefore in this article, I will explain the minimum age for one to be allowed to book a gorilla trekking permit to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to see the gorillas.

At the moment there are discounted gorilla trekking permits in Uganda at 400 united states dollars and the gorilla trekking age limit for Uganda is 15 years and above and this means that a person who is below 15 years is not allowed to visit the endangered mountain gorillas in the Ugandan parks of Bwindi or Mgahinga National Parks. However, in Uganda visitors can come with their children below the age of 15 years, and then the staff will guide the children into other activities which have been introduced around the primate parks in Uganda. The minimum age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda is fifteen years and you can see the reason below.

Why is it that the Uganda gorilla trekking age is limited to 15 years?

The gorilla trekking age in Uganda’s Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks is currently 15 years and any person below this age is considered a child or minor who is unfit for trekking gorillas provided how vigorous gorilla trekking activity is. Usually, the behavior of the children is hard to control and because of this, they are not allowed to trek gorillas to avoid the resultant challenges.to demonstrate more on this, you may be in the forest and a gorilla or silverback charges then for the child he/she may decide to run away or cry and this may lead to gorillas attacking the whole group and this is one of the reasons as to why the Uganda gorilla trekking age limit or the minimum age of 15 years and above to avoid such scenarios.

Also, children below 15 years are not allowed to trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park because children usually are associated with a communicable disease that can easily spread and affect the endangered mountain Gorillas in the parks of Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park. Remember, that we humans, share the same genes with endangered mountain gorillas.  Because of conservation efforts, mountain gorillas are no longer endangered and have been removed from the IUCN list of endangered species. The regional conservation efforts by the Kigali government, Kampala Uganda government, and the Government of Kinshasa in Congo have played a key role in conserving and protecting the mountain gorillas.

The 15 years minimum age gorilla trekking was observed and approved by the Uganda Wildlife Authority as the age that is responsible for trekking gorillas in both Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park.it is so understandable that gorilla trekking in Uganda’s parks of Bwindi and Mgahinga occurs on hilly and forested terrain and this makes it strenuous for the children who are below 15 years as they may not be physically fit to walk through such kind of environment and this means that gorilla trekking requires one to be physically fit and energetic and because the activity might be strenuous and hectic, the children below 15 years are prohibited from trekking gorillas in Uganda.

Uganda Safari activities for minors/Children below 15 years.

When you come with your children below 15 years and he or she cannot be allowed to track the gorillas within the park, don’t worry some activities have been introduced specifically for children who cannot trek gorillas and these include scout adventure activities, short nature walk safaris and painting and artworks. So as you enjoy the gorilla trekking, children will be there enjoying the above activities safely in Uganda Wildlife Authority staff hands.

Also, the lodges that we boo for your stay we’re in close association and in case you have kids below 15 years, we make sure that the children get busy at the lodge by taking short bicycling, simple birding safaris, and very many activities that are attractive to children. Other than gorilla trekking safaris, the rest of the safaris such as boat cruise safaris, game drive safaris, bewitching safaris, community experience safaris, and others, those you can do with your children even if they are below 15 years. Contact Africa Adventure Vacations for more information about your gorilla trekking safaris in Africa and how best you can move with your children who are below 15 years of age.

Instances where children may trek Uganda gorillas

However, there are chances that your children can be allowed to trek the mountain gorillas as well alongside you provided to prove to the Uganda Wildlife Authority that your children are physically fit though she or he is still young. You may be required to produce the photos of your children or she or he might under physical fitness test before she or he is issued a gorilla trekking permit. Once the examination is passed and approved by Uganda Wildlife Authority then we shall go ahead and book the gorilla trekking permit for your children who is under 15 years of age.

Children who are below the age of 15 years but are near to 15 years can as well be given the chance to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi or Mgahinga Forest National Park. For example, a child who is in her or his 14th years can be granted the opportunity.  Take an example he is remaining with 4 months, 3 months to become 15 years then he or she may be granted a chance for the gorilla trekking permit to go and see gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.  still, the parents will take the responsibility to write officially to UWA and inform them of the status of your children in terms of physical fitness and about his or her age as you attach the current or recent photos of your child on your letter to enable determine the age and his or her ability and once this is done and approved then you will make payment for your child’s gorilla trekking permits. But remember all these must be done early enough in advance to avoid any inconveniences.

As said above you may be having a child who is 12, 13, and 14 and be allowed to trek gorillas but this comes with some conditions with one of them being that you must trek the gorillas with your child. Importantly, you will be required to assign a consent and liability agreement between Uganda Wildlife Authority and you such that in case something happens to your child, then the Uganda Wildlife Authority is not liable but it’s you who is liable.  At Africa Adventure Vacations we shall help you to pick the form from the Uganda Wildlife head office we can and then send them to you to sign and send them back to us and once you’re done and you have approved then now you will be requested to make the payment for the gorilla trekking permit which should be done in advance

In conclusion, the right to grant you’re child a gorilla trekking permit lies to Uganda wildlife authority that is in charge of all national parks in Uganda. For us, as the tour operator we cannot guarantee you that you will get the gorilla trekking permit for the child who is below 15 years since it UWA to confirm that however, our work is to make sure that we assist you in your request for your child to be given a permit to see the gorilla in Uganda. Thus if your there and you have your children who are below 15 years of age and you would like to trek gorillas with him or her please contact Africa adventure Vacations for More information