Gorilla trekking with Kids in Uganda and Rwanda
Only youngsters who are 15 years of age or older are eligible to undertake gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda. Children under the age of 15 are not permitted to undertake gorilla trekking since it is unknown how long it will take to find the mountain gorillas, which could be too much for a younger person to handle.
Gorilla trekking: what is it?
Following a completely habituated gorilla family and spending an hour with them is known as “gorilla trekking.” Only eight people are permitted to go gorilla trekking each day in order to reduce disruption.
For foreign visitors, each gorilla permit costs $800; for foreign residents, it costs $700; and for East African inhabitants, it costs 300,000 shs.
The cost of a Rwandan gorilla permit is $1500 per trekper.
How Do I Reserve Children’s Gorilla Trekking Permits in Rwanda and Uganda?
Choose the date you want to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda, as well as how many people you plan to go with.
Our safari adviser looks for availability from the Rwanda Development Board or Uganda Wildlife Authority list when you contact us about your desire to go gorilla trekking.
Because gorilla permits are in high demand globally, we urge our clients to book theirs as soon as possible if the availability status is favorable.
Obtain certain personal information, such as the full names included on the passport, birthdate, nationality, passport expiration date, and other facts.
What Does the Price of a Gorilla Trekking Permit Include?
The costs of park admission, ranger guides, security during the gorilla trek, assistance to the local community and gorilla conservation, a certificate upon completion of the hike, and an hour of gorilla watching.
What is not included in the price of a gorilla permit?
The price of a porter, gratuities, lodging, transportation, and any other personal expenses.
Additional services that facilitate gorilla trekking, including as lodging, transportation, and a driver guide, can be reserved through Katland Safaris. Our ten years of experience planning safaris in Africa have earned us the respect of service providers and positive feedback from customers on websites like TripAdvisor and SafariBooking.
Is it possible for me to buy the gorilla permit in installments?
The organizations that regulate gorilla permits, the Rwanda Development Board and the Uganda Wildlife Authority, accept 30% and 70% installment payments, respectively.
This partial payment is only available to those who obtain their gorilla permits 90 days prior to the gorilla trekking date. You risk being penalized if you don’t top up before ninety days prior to the gorilla trekking date.
Does Rwanda or Uganda accept rescheduled gorilla permits?
Everyone who purchases a gorilla permit wants to go gorilla trekking, but they might not be allowed to because of unforeseen circumstances.
If you would like to travel at that time, you can reschedule your gorilla trekking date.
If you have a partially purchased gorilla permit, you must pay the remaining balance before rescheduling.
If you would like to modify the dates of your gorilla trekking, write to the Rwanda Development Board or the Uganda Wildlife Authority. If you have a valid reason for wanting to reschedule your gorilla trekking trip, mention it and provide supporting documentation.
Your gorilla trekking permit will be rescheduled to your new date if your request is granted, but this will depend on availability.
Note that Uganda permits two free rescheduling attempts for the same gorilla permit; however, the executive director must first approve the third attempt. 25% of the price of the gorilla permit, if applicable.
Rwanda costs to reschedule a gorilla permit.
Where in Rwanda or Uganda Can I Go Gorilla Trekking?
Uganda’s southwest region is home to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Nearly half of the world’s mountain gorilla population resides there.There are currently 18 gorilla families in Uganda, although they are divided up based on the gorilla trekking region. Buhoma, Ruhija, Buhoma, and Nkuringo are the four gorilla trekking zones that make up Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Chimpanzees, L’Hoests, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, and other primates can be found in the Bwindi forest.
The Bwindi Forest is home to a diverse array of birds, with over 350 species identified to date, including seven on the IUCN Red List. This park also contains endemic species from the Albertine Rift.
Park in Mgahinga National
Located in the far southwest of Uganda, Mgahinga National Park is home to the Nyakagezi gorilla family. It was challenging to reserve gorilla permits in advance because of this family’s history of straying into Rwanda.
This park offers golden monkey trekking and birdwatching, with over 155 species of birds currently known and more on the horizon. This park is home to several endemic species of the Albertine Rift, such as the Alpine Chat Malachite Sunbird and the Dusky Tutle Dove.
Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Muhabura, and Mountain Sabyinyo are among the mountains that surround Mgahinga National Park and provide a picturesque backdrop for a day’s hike. A 360-degree view of the border between Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo is available from the peak of Mount Sabyinyo.
With roughly 15 gorilla families fully habituated and accessible to tourists, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is the country’s only gorilla home. Five mountains—Mountain Muhabura, Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo, Mountain Bisoke, and Mountain Karisimbi—background the primarily volcanic terrain.
Another thing you may do in Volcanoes National Park is golden monkey trekking. Visit the grave of Dian Fossey, who founded the Mountain Gorilla Research before her death in 1985, and go bird watching in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
Is it possible to reserve a gorilla permit through a tour operator?
Booking gorilla permits on behalf of tourists is permitted for accredited travel operators. Tour operators are permitted to reserve gorilla permits on behalf of tourists through the Rwanda Development Board or Uganda Wildlife Authority.
You must buy your gorilla permit as a client because none are given out or reserved without money. Gorilla permits are booked on a first-come, first-served basis.
Katland Safaris can also help you create your safari package and customize your safari schedule to meet your preferences. We assist with reserving lodging, a rental car for the safari, domestic airline tickets, a driver’s guide, and other safari extras that will make your trip to Africa an unforgettable experience.
How much does a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda or Uganda cost with children?
Regardless of whether you choose a premium, mid-range, or budget gorilla trekking program, the cost of the permit is the same. The cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda is $1500 per person per trek, while in Uganda it is $800 per person per trek.
A gorilla trekking safari package is also created based on the following additional factors:
The kids are going on a gorilla trekking trip.
In the event where children are covering their own safari expenses, the cost per person decreases with the number of participants included in the gorilla trekking package. You use every amenity that is part of the gorilla trekking package when you are traveling alone.
Days spent on a gorilla trekking safari
The cost of a gorilla trekking safari increases with the number of days. The majority of service providers have daily fees.
The Gorilla Safari bundle that you select
The features and limitations vary depending on whether you choose a luxury, mid-range, or budget gorilla trekking package. The cost increases with the number of inclusions.
Other things to do in addition to gorilla trekking
The price goes up when gorilla trekking is combined with other pursuits like game drives, chimpanzee trekking, birdwatching, and mountaineering. The cost of each activity varies.
What Difficulties Can Children Anticipate While Trekking with Gorillas?
There may be stinging nettles in the bush because the gorilla trekking expedition takes place in the wild. To shield your body from itchy surfaces, dress in long-sleeved shirts and trousers.
Soft volcanic soils in the Virunga region get soggy during the intense rainy season, particularly in March, April, May, and November. When trekking to locate the mountain gorillas, be prepared for some slick terrain and muddy paths.
You must trek the slopes and descend the deep valleys, which are slick from the vegetation that breaks down on the ground, in order to locate the mountain gorillas, who occasionally graze from the slopes.
Even though mountain gorillas can be aggressive at times, you should avoid imitating them to avoid starting a stampede in the wild. To avoid transferring a contagious disease to the mountain gorillas, keep a distance of approximately 8 meters from them.
Because of their fur-covered bodies, enormous size, knuckle-to-knuckle gait, sunken brown eyes, and many other characteristics, mountain gorillas can occasionally be frightening to look upon. Being nervous in front of the mountain gorillas is not necessary because it could make you seem suspicious. In their natural habitat, mountain gorillas are terrified of strangers.
What Should Children Bring on a Gorilla Trekking Safari?
To protect the body from stinging nettles and other rough surfaces in the environment, wear long-sleeved shirts and safari pants.
Apply insect repellent to protect yourself from stinging insects while trekking to find the mountain gorillas.
A first aid kit that contains emergency medications that you can use in the wild.
Wearing safari boots will shield your feet from the harsh terrain found in the wild.
Put on garden gloves over your palms in case you trip or fall while strolling in a slick environment.
As you travel through the bush, use your camera to capture memories of your gorilla trekking adventure. Because mountain gorillas are terrified of strange light in the wild, the camera needs to have fewer flashes.
In case you need to recharge your electronic devices, bring along a travel charger and adapter.
When one battery becomes low, you can swap it out for another fully charged battery.
Since solar energy is the primary source of power for lighting and water heating in this area, a torch is used for nighttime illumination. Less sunlight is obtained, therefore trans-night lighting might not be supported.
Toiletries in case they are not provided by your accommodation.
a pair of binoculars to see objects farther away in the outdoors.
Stockings to attach to your clothing
When gorilla trekking, you should have a lightweight, waterproof backpack to hold your valuables and turn them over to the porter.
When gorilla trekking, you should have a raincoat or poncho to shield your body in case it suddenly starts to rain.
A hat that folds up to protect your head from stinging insects
To prevent being cold, especially in the early morning and late afternoon, wear warm clothing, such as a sweater.
Since breakfast is eaten too early to endure the full walk, energy snacks are for when you need to re-energize during gorilla trekking.
What Are the Dos and Don’ts of Rwandan and Ugandan Gorilla Trekking?
Because mountain gorillas are wild animals who must find their own food and not rely on human support, you should never feed them.
While gorilla trekking, offer to stay behind if you get a cold or cough. The mountain gorillas are extremely vulnerable to diseases that humans can contract.
To avoid infecting the mountain gorillas, keep your distance from them at least 300 meters if you must cough or sneeze.
Because mountain gorillas are extremely sensitive to intruders, it is best to speak quietly when trekking to find them.
Because littering changes the forest’s natural habitat, which provides food for mountain gorillas, it is prohibited. In general, they are vegetarians.
Spitting on plants or the ground can infect the mountain gorillas, therefore avoid doing so.
Once you find the mountain gorillas, you are only permitted to spend an hour with them.
