What is The age Limit for Gorilla tracking

GorillaTracking in Uganda Rwanda or D.R.  Congo is open to tourists from the age of 15 years. Several reasons have been stated to back this up like

The terrain where mountain gorillas live is ragged with some steep slopes which may be quite a challenge to someone below the age of 15 years. You need some fitness to hike to the mountain gorillas.

Gorilla Trekking Age Limit

You need to pack and carry some gorilla trekking gears that may exert some weight on your tired body while in the wilderness. This may exhaust you before getting to meet the gorillas therefore delaying the entire group as the ranger guide follows the slowest trekker.

Several other animals live in the forest like reptiles, frogs, birds, creeping plants that may frighten a person below the age of 15 years while in the forest.  Besides mountain gorillas are usually agitated by noise in the forest which makes them move further into deeper ends of the forest therefore prolonging the journey

When in the presence of the mountain gorillas, it is an adrenaline stimulating moment where different people respond differently to this first sight. I can’t say it is not quite frightened but exciting at the same time. However you do not need to show the gorillas that you are scared this makes them feel suspicious especially the silverback which is supposed to protect the family and this may lead to change in the gorillas’ mood.

5 Day Primate And wildlife Uganda Safari

On this 5 day primate and wildlife safari, you will visit Bwindi Forest National Park for gorilla trekking, head to Queen Elizabeth national park for game drive and launch cruise. Enjoy Chimpanzee tracking too.

Day 1 Drive To Bwindi forest National Park

On the first day, drive through the eye captivating countryside and before you know it there will be a change in the freshness of the air you breathe away from town chaos. Depart Entebbe or Kampala city early in the morning, enjoy breakfast at the equator, take photos standing on both sides of the earth. Perform the water experiment which is so mesmerizing.

 Carry on passed several baboon troupes that may give you something to laugh about with there acrobatic moves. The drive may be quite long but very entertaining and enjoy African massage arriving late in the evening to check in to our room.

Accommodation: Clouds Lodge/ Gorilla Forest camp/ Engage Lodge/ Bwindi View Bandas

Day 2 Gorilla Tracking Experience

 Rise up early for breakfast them proceed to the ranger station for gorilla trekking briefing. You will be placed in groups of 8 trekkers per gorilla family. The Ranger guide will follow the pace of the slowest trekker in order for everyone to enjoy each moment. Before starting the trek, request for a porter to assist carry your baggage as the trek at times is quite tedious especially if the gorillas are moving fast and into fur spots. As you trek into the forest, you may be greeted by a number of birds that and if you are a keen birder, you may easily identify them by sound and appearance.

The monkeys also differ as there blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, grey tailed mangabey, red tailed monkeys to mention but a few. Several ancient trees and plants species are present for botanist to identify.

As you get closer to the mountain gorillas, you may here them murmur and pull some shrubs . When you finally get up close, your guide may request you to lower your voices and start taking some photos. Watch how they take care of each other especially in case the gorilla trekking family has an infant. They feed them on breast milk and protect them so highly. The mothers also comb the hairs of there infants and keep checking for any pests. Of course the silverback may try to show his top rank in the family.

After an hour return to the lodge to relax.

Day 3 Drive to Queen Elizabeth National park

Leaving Bwindi Forest with only photos and memories of our meeting the mountain gorillas drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.  May go through the Ishasha sector of the park,  may get to see several animals like tree climbing  lions, leopards, the kobs, buffaloes, bush bucks, warthogs the list is endless. The park has a wonderful back drop of Rwenzori ranges. In case it is a clear day you could see the ice tops on the mountain up high in the sky. Check into your lodge.

Accommodation: Mweya safari Lodge/ Katara Lodge/ Simba Safari Lodge

Day 4 Game Drive and launch cruise

Rise up early in the morning for the morning game drive to the Crater Lake area. You may have a chance of seeing the earlier risers come to life while the nocturnal rush to get back to there day hiding like the hippos. The amazing network of dry and wet crater lakes is picturesque. One of the noticeable lakes is Lake Nyamunuka with a putrid smell of rotten eggs.

Drive through the park with a chance of seeing a number of birds, the vegetation variation, may meet a pride of lions, buffalo herds, a leopard, warthogs the list is endless

After lunch, head to the pier for a launch cruise on Kazinga Channel. Wow this is heaven on earth as a number of bird species flock the banks, wild animals are also common visitors here and this is where you may meet incredible herds of elephant, buffaloes, lions, warthogs and so much more.

Return to the lodge keeping only memories and photos of our safari.

Day 5 Chimpanzee Tracking

muujjjEarly in the morning, take breakfast and head to Kyambura gorge for chimpanzee trekking. Chimpanzees are the closet relatives of humans and there behavior is similar to that of humans.

Chimpanzees are led by alpha male and live in communities. To get to the chimpanzees, you will have to hike to the gorge. Return to the lodge and relax.

Day 6 Drive to Entebbe

Having completed the entire primate and wildlife safari itinerary, it is time to get back home drive to the airport to catch up with our return flight.

Gorilla trekking holiday tops most of the buckets lists of most travel addicts in the world but a few succeed in securing gorilla trekking permits because of there scarcity and conservation reasons.

The mountain gorillas are some of the still surviving ice age animals which existed with the dinosaurs, aliens and so many other fased out animals species. Meeting the mountain gorillas is one of the memorable safaris and a privilege too as you stand to be one of the lucky 8 people to be in there company that day.

What to Pack for Gorilla Trekking

Just like any other trip, you must prepare for gorilla trekking carrying the right gears.

Long trousers are a must because mountain gorillas live in the jungle where there are biting nestles as well as pricking and piercing surfaces.

A poncho or rain coat because it may rain at any time of the day without warning

A hut to cover up your head and protect it

Tracking boots to protect your feet from the rough and boggy surface of the jungle.

Gloves assist you in getting hold of the slippery surfaces and in case you fall, your hands re protected

A flash less camera is the only evidence of you holiday in the Mountain Gorilla land.

Insect repellant will save you from stinging insects

To mention but a few

How to book Gorilla Trekking Safari

Gorilla Trekking is only a sure deal when you have fully paid for a Gorilla permit. The price for a gorilla permit in Uganda is $700 while in Rwanda, the gorilla Permit costs $ 1500 

 Accommodation is next to this as most of the lodges are fully booked especially during the peak season when everyone is travelling.

A 4x4 safari vehicle is another component

Safari guide must be knowledgeable to

Fuel or Gas

Book your in bound flight on for the day before the start of your gorilla trekking safari and also your outbound flight must be a night flight or a day after the Gorilla trekking  safari to avoid panic.

Best Time for Booking a Gorilla Trekking Safari

Gorilla trekking is done throughout the year but there are tourism peak seasons and low seasons. During the peak seasons the prices for all the safari packages  are very high yet during the low seasons, the prices for the packages my differ.

You need to book a gorilla trekking permit atleast 3 months in advance of travel to prevent last minute panic as only 8 gorilla permits are released for tourism per day.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda is open to everyone but you must be at least 15 years of age

However it’s not a good idea to track gorillas when you have a cold for conservation reasons.

Do some exercises to keep fit because the topography of Bwindi Impenetrable Park and Volcanoes National Park is volcanic. While in the jungle, you hike and get done the valleys, bypass numerous rivers as this area is a water catchment surface.

What to Do And Not To do while with the mountain Gorillas

Conservation is the main reason why few people are allowed to be with the mountain gorillas each day, you must be ready to follow the instructions.

Do not trample on the grass use the tails because the mountain gorillas entirely feed on foliage for survival.

If you eat anything while in the jungle, do not liter because the mountain gorillas may eat anything and die. This is a great loss.

In case you have a cold, be kind to these animals and say before starting the search because they are highly susceptible to human infections which may turn into death.

Keep up with the other group to avoid getting lost in the jungle.

In case you need to ease yourself, its best to ask the ranger guide to dig a hole for you and afterwards you have to cover beyond recognition to keep the environment clean and protect the animals that may be curious of what you have covered.

Keeping your voices low while you trek to see the gorillas gives you enough chances of seeing the mountain gorillas since they get to notice your presence before you do.