The short answer
- Nobody under 15 can trek gorillas in Uganda. The rule protects the gorillas and is checked against passports.
- Families can split the day, or plan around activities younger children can join.
- Porters, walking sticks and a word with the rangers at the briefing make the trek possible for most people who can walk steadily.
- For travellers who cannot manage the terrain, a carry service can be arranged in advance in some sectors.
On this page
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.
Whatever your age, do not trek with a cold. Gorillas catch human respiratory infections, and rangers can turn away anyone who is visibly ill.
Questions we get about this
- Can children go gorilla trekking in Uganda?
- Not under 15. The minimum age is enforced at the briefing. Families usually split the day, or plan the trip around game drives, boat trips and community walks that younger children can join.
- Is there an upper age limit for gorilla trekking?
- There is no upper age limit. What matters is being able to walk steadily for a few hours on steep ground. Porters, walking sticks and a word with the rangers make a real difference.
- How fit do you need to be to trek gorillas?
- Reasonably fit. Treks take two to eight hours on steep, often muddy trails at altitude. Regular walking beforehand helps more than anything else.
Who writes these
IZ Agency Team, in Kampala: the people who plan and run the trips described here. Permit rules, roads and lodges change. If something here is out of date, tell us on WhatsApp.