Gorilla trekking with kids; Gorilla trekking is quite awesome experience set by age for all visitors who visits the park under ‘’UWA’’ Uganda Wildlife Authority a governmental body that governs all the Uganda National Park. However, Gorilla trekking experience involves in hiking deep into the rainforest in search of the gorillas. More so, endangered mountain gorillas inhabits in tropical rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda and mountainous areas –Virunga ranges of Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, Virunga Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park another gorilla park in Uganda.
More then, Mountain gorillas are only found in three countries Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. And in the whole world Bwindi Impenetrable Forest hosts the half remaining gorilla population and the remaining total can be seen in the Virunga Conservation Area.
In those past century mountain gorillas were few in number but currently the world’s makes a total of population of around 1065 individuals which are distributed amongst the Virunga Conservation Area and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park .Due to its increase in number its all the great conservation effort by the governing bodies of the gorilla parks and other gorilla conservation organizations such as ; Gorilla Doctors ,Dian Fossey foundation among others .These bodies have set out strict rules to the national park and such government bodies include ; Uganda Wildlife Authority ,Rwanda Developments Board as well as Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature for the countries of Uganda ,Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo all these bodies have played a great role through providing protection and conservation of the engendered mountain gorillas thus leading to their increase in number .
One of the main rules and regulations set up is the gorilla age limit which is 15 years’ of age that allow you to take a trek in Gorilla Trekking Experience. And in so putting up a gorilla trekking age restriction has helped a lot to their growth as reason follows below;
Mountain gorillas being 98% DNA share with humans, makes them to be easily transmitted to all human diseases including childhood killer diseases like measles, flue, cough among others. That’s the reason why gorilla trekking age limit was put in place that children to engage in gorilla trekking must be at least 15 years of age. Due to the setting up gorilla trekking age restriction have been safety from contracting the virus and has given a rise in the gorilla population. As the evident shows the 2018 gorilla census on how gorillas in the Virunga Conservation Area increased from 480 to 604 whereas in Bwindi Impenetrable national park increased its gorilla population.
Why choose children 15 years of age and above are to trek mountains because they are unpredictable in nature and behaviors. The trekking time is unpredictable may take 30to 7 hours. Note, children below 15 years, they can easily make noises if they tend to see huge silverback and gestures that could be wrongly interpreted by the gorillas since they have their own vocalizations.
Difficult in hiking ; Gorilla trekking activity needs someone to be physically fit in the body since the terrain and lush rainforest nature trails may seem to be muddy or slippery thus making difficult in hiking. So that why children below 15 age cannot manage the strain and protecting themselves.
If children below 15 years are given opportunity to trek gorillas, then a parent will have to hire a porter to help them during the trek or carry them on the sedan chairs throughout the trek. Booking a porter or registering in a child that despite the gorilla trekking age restrictions must do it in advance since they are few with those the disabled. The 94-year lady was able to compete successfully in Gorilla Trekking. Then the 99 years also managed to trek named General Charles Njonjo, who was the former Attorney General of Kenya and made it successfully to trek gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla national park, Gorilla Trekking with Kids.
Please take note;
One to be able to take part in Gorilla trekking, is required a permission to trek Mountain gorillas despite the Gorilla Trekking Age Restriction. A Gorilla trekking permits can be purchased from respective country’s tourism authorities or through trust worthy tour operator. A single valid gorilla permits in Congo costs USD400, Rwanda costs USD1,500 and in Uganda costs USD700 for foreign nonresidents, USD600 for foreign residents and UGX250,000 for East African citizens. We advise visitors to always book their Gorilla trekking tours in advances in 3 months to six months before their time of arrival to avoid disappointment.
