When a traveler with children under 15 wants to embark on a gorilla trekking tour in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, they frequently ask, “Can I go gorilla trekking with a 14-year-old?” The Uganda Wildlife Authority’s “UWA” guideline states that gorilla trekking is only permitted for those who are at least 15 years old.
A youngster under the age of 15 may still be able to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, although anyone under that age is regarded as a minor or child and is therefore not suitable to do so.
Furthermore, in order to prevent strange situations, such as a youngster making noise or running away, which could endanger the gorillas or charge people, children and minors are not permitted to hike gorillas in Bwindi.
Since youngsters may have contagious diseases that are easily spread to these endangered mountain gorillas, there are numerous reasons why trekking with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is prohibited for those under the age of fifteen.
Indeed, diseases like cold and cough that are easily spread between people and mountain gorillas are nearly genetically identical. Another factor is that the walk can occasionally be challenging because Bwindi is mountainous, slick, and has a rough surface that children might not be able to handle.
If a parent of a 14-year-old child wants to take his youngster gorilla trekking, he must be asking if the cost of the gorilla permit is the same as it is for an adult. In order to facilitate the management and care of their parents, youngsters are typically accompanied by their family members on the gorilla walk in the jungle.
In addition, visitors’ valid passports will be checked to make sure they are not minors. Keep in mind that children are not permitted to trek with gorillas, and even if you have a permit, you will still not be permitted to travel with mountain gorillas if it is determined that the child is a minor.
Additionally, minor children can accompany their parents on safari and be dropped off at the hotel, or they can choose to take part in community walks and guided nature walks.
To allow their child to go gorilla trekking, parents who wish to bring their 14-year-old child must sign a waiver. By signing a legally enforceable release, a parent consents to freely allow his child to see gorillas without the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a tour operator being held accountable.
One of just two national parks in Uganda where you may trek and witness these rare mountain gorillas in the wild is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is located in the southwest of the country and shares a border with Congo.
Furthermore, Bwindi is the most well-known and ideal location for mountain gorilla trekking because it is home to almost half of the surviving mountain gorillas in the wild. Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhija, and Nkuringo sectors are the many areas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where you can go gorilla tracking.
In actuality, there are a number of habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Forest National Park that are accessible to tourists; each gorilla family or group consists of a variety of gorilla individuals, and each family is led and governed by the silverback, the dominant male gorilla.
Please take note that anyone planning to hike that day needs to have a valid gorilla permit. Furthermore, only eight people are permitted to hike with each gorilla family each day in Bwindi Forest National Park, meaning that the number of gorilla permits is restricted.
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To be permitted to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park with a 14-year-old child, a visitor must obtain a gorilla permit. The main thing to do if you want to see gorillas is gorilla tracking. Nonetheless, the likelihood of observing mountain gorillas in their native environment is 98%.
There are four distinct habituated sectors of Bwindi Forest National Park where mountain gorillas can be found: Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south, and Ruhija and Buhoma in the northeast.
Depending on your vacation dates and the permits’ availability on any given day, it is best to obtain a gorilla permit in advance to guarantee an adventure for your walk on any date. You must obtain your Gorilla Trekking Permit months in advance of your travel dates to Bwindi in order to guarantee a spot for a day’s gorilla trek.
Gorilla tracking is conducted in groups of eight persons per gorilla family, meaning that there are only eight permits available for each gorilla family. All you have to do is email us the precise dates you would want to go gorilla trekking, and we will verify the availability of permits online.
We will send you an invoice for approved payment and reserve your permit accordingly. We will proceed to obtain your permit as soon as you have paid. provide you scanned copies of the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s receipts after that.
Be aware that there are four gorilla sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhija, and Nkuringo. You must select lodging or a hotel based on the sector you plan to trek gorillas from in order to have a comfortable stay and a good gorilla trekking experience.
We will inform you which gorilla sector has permits available when you check with us about permit availability. There are ideal lodges and hotels in each of these sectors, ranging from low-cost to mid-range to luxury and upmarket hotels with both low and high season prices.
Now is the time to begin! You may reserve a combined gorilla and wildlife safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, or you can combine it with chimpanzee trekking in Kibale, boat cruises, and cultural excursions.
You can even combine it with a trip to Rwanda for a canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park or Kenya for a Big 5 safari and game drive. Please get in touch with us regarding gorilla trekking with a 14-year-old.
At East Africa Gorilla Safaris, under All In Africa Safaris, we specialize in unforgettable gorilla trekking experiences and diverse wildlife safaris.
Our expertly guided tours provide intimate encounters with gorillas and rich African wildlife, ensuring an unparalleled adventure in the heart of East Africa.
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