Gorilla trekking is not a race, but it is a walk through steep, muddy forest at altitude, with no set distance, because nobody knows exactly where the gorillas will be. Treks take anywhere from two to eight hours. Most people who can walk steadily for a few hours can do it, with the right help. The one rule that does not bend is age.
The age rule is 15, and it is enforced
Nobody under 15 can trek mountain gorillas in Uganda. Ages are checked against passports at the morning briefing. The rule exists partly for children’s safety and mostly for the gorillas, which catch human illnesses easily and are endangered.
Travelling with children under 15
- Split the day. One adult treks while the other stays with the children. Lodges near the park are used to this.
- Plan the trip around what they can do. Game drives in Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo, the boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, and canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi all suit families.
- Community and cultural walks. The Batwa experiences near Bwindi and in Mgahinga are led by the Batwa community themselves. Our Batwa Heritage Trail is built around them.
- Chimpanzees when they are older. Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale has its own minimum age, lower than for gorillas. We confirm the current rule when you book.
If walking is the worry
- Hire a porter. Porters wait at the trailhead to carry your daypack and give you a hand on the steep sections. It is worth it on its own, and the fee goes straight to local families.
- Take a walking stick. They are handed out at the trailhead.
- Talk to the rangers. At the briefing, the rangers decide which family each group will visit. Tell them honestly about your fitness and they will try to match you to a family that is closer that day.
- Choose the sector carefully. Ruhija is high and cold; Nkuringo’s treks usually end with a long climb. See choosing your Bwindi sector.
- The group goes at its slowest walker’s pace. Nobody is left behind, and there is no prize for arriving first.
When walking is not possible
For travellers who cannot manage the terrain at all, some sectors offer a carry service: a stretcher-style chair carried by a team of porters. It has to be arranged in advance and paid for separately. Tell us early, and we will confirm what is available for your dates.
