Can Kids Go For Gorilla Trekking Safari In Uganda
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Children aged 15 years above can do gorilla trekking in Uganda with an escorting guardian or parent. The age limit for gorilla trekking tours in Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo is 15 years as the topography of this area can best be managed by at least a person of this age.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Parks are the only homes for gorilla trekking tours in Uganda. In nature the topography of this areas is volcanic with ridges and plateaus that are a times draped by creepers and tangled vegetation.
Some level of fitness is necessary to succeed as a gorilla trekker because at times mountain gorillas spend there day at the slopes of highlands.
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How To Plan Gorilla trekking tour With Kids In Uganda
- Book Gorilla Trekking Permit
Every person going for gorilla trekking in Uganda needs a gorilla permit which you can book at Uganda Wildlife Authority. You need to have a date when you hope to do gorilla trekking and the number of persons you hope to do gorilla trekking with.
Enquire from Arch Safaris And Tours about availability of the gorilla permits per your date. You can also directly check availability of gorilla permits from Uganda Wildlife Authority.
In case availability is positive, we request our advise is that you purchase your gorilla permit as soon as possible especially those for the peak season. They get sold out fast on first come first served basis.
Forward us some passport details like your full names as indicated on the passport, nationality, date of birth and passport expiry date
How Much Is The Cost Of Gorilla Permit For Kids In Uganda?
Putting in mind that the age limit for gorilla safaris is 15 years. The cost of gorilla permit is $700 per person per trek for foreign nonresidents, $ 600 for foreign residents and 250000shs for East African residents.
Inclusions of gorilla permit cost are; park entrance fees, mountain gorilla conservation support, one hour with the mountain gorillas, security during gorilla trekking, local community support
Exclusion of gorilla permit cost are; tips, transport to the gorilla trekking destinations, snacks and items of personal nature.
Can I Purchase The Gorilla Permit In Instalment?
It is best to book the gorilla permit in full to avoid forgetting to top up however Uganda Wildlife Authority accepts instalment payments of 30%and 70% respectively.
Instalment gorilla permit purchase only applies to those who buy permits before 90 days to gorilla trekking day. You must remember to make full payment before 90 days to gorilla trekking day.
- Reserve Gorilla Safari Accommodation
The gorilla permits for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are sold according to area and so are accommodations. You must know where your gorilla permit is booked for Bwindi before securing accommodation. This is to prevent having to wake up early and drive in the dark in order to catch up with gorilla trekking in another area.
The four gorilla trekking areas of Bwindi include Buhoma in the North, Ruhija in the east Rushaga and Nkuringo in the South.
Even with Mgahinga National Park, you need to book accommodation to used for gorilla trekking in advance since there are limited choices to choose from.
In case you are travelling for gorilla trekking safari as family, you can book a family room or adjoining rooms.
- Book Transport Means To Use When Going For Gorilla Safari
In case you wish to take road transport, you can hire a safari vehicle or the safari van depending on your budget. The drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National park or Mgahinga National Park is about 530 kilometers and 540 kilometers respectively with drive time of about 8 hour to 9 hours
You may make stopovers for at least a night or more to some enroute safari destinations like Queen Elizabeth National Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to the tree climbing lions, leopards, waterbucks, bushbucks, topis, herds of buffaloes, herds of elephants and others.
Chimpanzee trekking at Kibale National Park can make a lovely stopover for you to experience and get the difference between the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. You must purchase a chimpanzee trekking permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority.
By air transport, you can book scheduled daily flights from Kajjansi Airstrip or Entebbe Airport to Kihihi Airstrip or Kisoro Airstrip.
Charter flight services are available at Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe airport but you need to book them in advance.
- Do Some Pre Gorilla Tour Exercises
Having some level of fitness before gorilla trekking safari saves you from getting so tired before locating the mountain gorillas.
The nature of the topography where mountain gorillas live is volcanic with ragged land surface. You do not need to be in the gym all the time to keep fit but you can do some simple exercises that stretch your muscles a little more and ready for gorilla trekking.
The way is slippery and soggy because of the regular rains that fall often yet little sunray penetration gets through the dense canopy to the ground.
- Pack The Right Gorilla Trekking Gears For Every Body
Packing relevantly but light for gorilla trekking as this is a jungle activity where you follow mountain gorillas in there habitant. During the gorilla safari, you may get no assistance with your bags so ensure you pack what you can lift in case you need to repack your bags and shift to another national park.
Some of the gorilla trekking gears you can pack include safari boots, insect repellant, insect repellant, first aid kit, safari convertible trousers, shirt, and others.
- Take The Kids Through What To Expect During Gorilla Trekking
Doing gorilla trekking safari is frightening especially the first glance at the mountain gorillas. They have dark furred body and a huge body size weighing about 200 kilograms for an adult male.
The mountain gorillas walk by knuckle locomotion that may seem frightening to a first timer. Inform the kids that the mountain gorillas in the jungle are not like those in the zoo where they are separated from you by a mesh or glass. Take the children through the rules of gorilla trekking like no shouting while in the forest searching for the mountain gorillas as you may scare them. RULES OF GORILLA TREKKING SAFARI
Can I reschedule the cost of gorilla permit?
Gorilla permit reschedule is accepted as long as you write to Uganda wildlife Authority requesting for it.
Procedure
Write to Uganda Wildlife Authority requesting gorilla permit reschedule . provide a reason why you wish to push your gorilla trekking date to the future. Attach some evidence in case you have any as back up.
When the Uganda Wildlife Authority approves your request, your gorilla permit is reschedules according to your new date. This is only possible with availability of gorilla permits per your new date.
Uganda accepts two free gorilla permit reschedules for the same gorilla permit. The third time is charged 25% of the total and approved by the executive director first.
How Safe Is Gorilla Trekking For Kids?
As children aged 15 are allowed to do gorilla trekking, a parent or guardian must escort them. Ranger guides escort each group allocated to a particular gorilla family however you need not to delay the rest of the gorilla trekking group. The ranger guide follows the pace of the slowest trekkers so that no one is lost in the wilderness.
Other Uganda security agencies are in place to keep law and order in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.
As a guardian or parent, you must pay attention to where the kids are all the time to prevent chances of them landing in the hands of wrong company. Do not let into your room strangers you are not sure of there intentions and others.
Ensure the kids wear their gorilla trekking gears like insect repellant, long sleeved shirt and convertible trousers and other relevant gears. This gives extra protection to your body and the kids are safer from harsh forest conditions.
How difficult Is Gorilla Trekking For kids?
Gorilla trekking is challenging because of the nature of the topography of this area which is volcanic. The children must be briefed about expecting to hike in case the mountain gorillas are spending part of there day at the slopes.
Although it is hard to determine which gorilla family or area is easy to trek because mountain gorillas keep wandering around as they have nothing controlling them.
Doing some exercises in preparation for gorilla trekking gives everybody chance to complete the gorilla trek without complaining about muscle pulls.
At times the way has creepers that may obstruct you from proceeding where the mountain gorillas may be however, the ranger guide has a machete which he or she can use to trim them
Are Mountain Gorillas Aggressive?
In nature mountain gorillas are serene despite there sheer size. You need not to provoke them because when they get agitated, they retreat into the deeper forest. This makes it challenging to find the mountain gorillas yet only one hour is allowed for trekkers to be with the mountain gorillas.
When angry, the mountain gorillas thump there chests, hoot, walk on one foot and pull grass around them. No violence case against tourist has ever been registered from the mountain gorillas. These primates are first habituated for human presence before being presented to the public
How Long Is Gorilla Trekking Safari?
The time for doing gorilla trekking varies with a number of factors like the proximity of the mountain gorilla food, in case of a fight amongst the mountain gorilla families, weather condition prevailing and others.
Some tourist have been lucky to locate mountain gorillas in 2 hour or more. Some level of patience is necessary to complete the gorilla trek.
When you locate the mountain gorillas only one hour is accepted in front of them so that you give them chance to go on with there day today activities.
What is the cost Of Gorilla Trekking Safari In Uganda With Kids
Every one qualified to do gorilla trekking that is 15 years and above must incur the cost of gorilla permit. The current cost of gorilla permit is $700 per person per trek.
Other factors considered when costing for gorilla trekking in Uganda include
The number of people doing gorilla trekking as more people join this trek, the less the per person cost.
Additional activities to combine with gorilla trekking where by the more activities you include in the gorilla trekking safari package, the higher the cost.
Time when you book your gorilla trekking tour as the peak season prices of services that support the gorilla safari like accommodation, vehicle hire and others are high. During the low season, chances of receiving discounted prices on services are high.
The more days on gorilla safari, the higher the cost. Most service providers charge per day costs
What Can I Pack For Kids On Gorilla Trekking Tour?
Safari clothes like long sleeved shirt and convertible trousers in wilderness friendly colors like tan.
A camera to take photos of the mountain gorillas as memories to look at in the future
A poncho or rainproof gears to wear when it rains especially without warning.
Warm wear because it gets so cold in the morning and late afternoon
Garden gloves to protect your fingers from getting cold and touching rough surfaces like stinging nettles while you trek to locate the mountain gorillas.
Insect repellant to keep away stinging insects that may cause you skin irritation.
Extra batteries to exchange with in case one runs low. You need to keep memories of the mountain gorillas and there habitats.
Safari foldable hat with a wide brim
First aid kit with emergency medication in case you need it.
A pair of binoculars to capture great moments while in the wilderness.
Shoe light bag to put in your shoes after gorilla trekking tour.
Safari boots to protect your feet from harming surfaces in the wilderness.
Extra clothes to change into after gorilla trekking
Toiletries that are safe for your body and in case your lodge doesn’t provide them
