Gorilla Trekking Age Limit in Uganda, Rwanda or CongoÂ
The Age Limit for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda is 15 years and above. Any children below the 15 years of old are not eligible to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda in the forest of Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. When you have children whom you wish to visit and see gorillas in the wild, always cross check their age before making a gorilla tour booking. This age limit was set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), a body in charge of gorilla safari reservations and conducting of tours in the gorilla parks in Uganda. UWA is also in charge of mountain gorilla conservation as well as other tourist attractions in Uganda. The 15 year gorilla trekking age limit is the same standards for visiting gorillas in Rwanda at the Volcanoes National Park.
To ensure that this set rule is enforceable, the park authorities always look at the passports for visitors at the time of pre-trekking registration and briefing. If your child is found to be below 15 years, chances of being denied entry into the park are high. At the stage of the gorilla permit booking, it’s always good to tell the right age of the children so avoid disappointments.
Why mind about the age limit?
Many adults have children whom they would love to come along with on a gorilla safari. Because these children are young, that why parents or guardians get concerned if their children woul enter the park for trekking.
Why the Age Limit on Gorilla Trekking?Â
Uganda Wildlife Authority asserts that this is done for the good of the young humans as well as the gorillas. According to UWA, infants are susceptible and vulnerable to many viral attacks like flue, coughs and other airborne diseases. In this case, when they are restricted from coming closer to the endangered primates, it is both to the health betterment of the humans and that of the gorillas whose conservation is a global concern by humanity. The rate of infection by children below 15 is said to be high than in the adults. Another reason for limiting the age for gorilla visitors is because children are playful and may not be in position to follow strictly the set gorilla trekking rules, regulations and guidelines aimed at safety for people and the animals. The set gorilla tracking rules must be followed well to ensure no dangers to the visitors and the visited in the wild. Another reason is that children are naturally weak and therefore hiking on the rough steep terrain may not be easy for them. The argument is that children may not be manage to comply with such trekking standards.