Realm Africa Safaris™ organises the experiential Gorilla habituation for teenagers below 15 years. In this article, we will explain what it involves to plan and organise a gorilla habituation holiday for teenagers under 15 years of age.
We don’t like to assume you know this but rather prefer to emphasise that the official gorilla habituation age limit is 15 years and above. However, there are exceptions that can be made for your teenager to go gorilla habituation experience even when they are not yet 15 years. We will explain what you need to do to successfully get your son or daughter to spend a remarkable 4-hours with a wild group of mountain gorillas In Uganda at an early age less than 15 years.
How to organise Gorilla Habituation tours for teenagers below 15 years
The procedures involved when working with Realm Africa Safaris™ – your ultimate gorilla trekking company to organise a gorilla habituation holiday for a teenager – below 15 years includes the following;
During booking, we recommend that you let us know well in advance that your child is under age (below 15 years). We will then request you to attach; copies of your child’s recent photos, and a copy of their valid passport.
Reasons we ask for your child’s Photos & Passport: As standard procedure, for anyone to indulge in gorilla trekking, you must be of age 15 years and above. The passport copy you are requested to scan and attach is used to verify if you are of age to take part in the 4-hour long gorilla habituation experience. However, for teenagers below 15 years, who are interested to go gorilla trekking, extra vetting procedures are deployed.
Uganda Wildlife Authority and Realm Africa Safaris™ will be interested in knowing if your underage (15 years below) is physically fit to cope with the challenges involved in trekking through the impenetrable forest cover and tangled vegetation climbing and descending mountains on the wet and slippery surface that is weather dependent. The photos requested are to do a visual assessment. We have had quite a couple of minors aged between 13 – 14 years successfully secure gorilla trekking permission to trek gorillas in Bwindi Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park both located in Uganda
*If you are an ex-pat living working in Uganda, we may actually request you to come along with your child to the Uganda wildlife Authority premises in Kampala for a physical assert for fitness and ability to endure to gorilla trekking demands.
*Where available, we also recommend to attach or mention any other rigorous activities similar to gorilla habituation that your child could have to take part in that you think make him/her fit to take on the gorilla trekking challenge.
* We trust that you will be responsible enough to consider accompanying your child on the actual day of gorilla Habituation. This means you will need a gorilla trekking permit for yourself as well.
What is the price of a Gorilla Habituation Permit for teenagers below 15 years?
Gorilla Habituation permits for teenagers – below 15 years are charged at the same price as for adults.
The price of Gorilla Habituation Permits in Uganda:
- USD1,500 per person for foreign non-residents(Foreign tourists).
- USD1,000 per person for foreign Residents including ex-pats in Uganda.
- UGX750,000 per person for East African citizens including Ugandans living/working In the diaspora.
**All Gorilla Habituation permit fees mentioned include; park entry fees, 0ne (01) gorilla habituation permit and guide fees.
Additional information worth reading before you go
What is gorilla Habituation?
Gorilla Habituation is a fully active adventure experience that involves hiking up uneven terrain, mountains and through tangled vegetation cover hacked by rangers and porters using machetes to create a temporary passage to a group of wild mountain gorillas still undergoing the long process of getting them used to human visits – what many know as gorilla trekking. Gorilla Habituation, unlike Gorilla trekking, is a small group – gorilla trekking experience that admits only 04 tourists in the company of a team of UWA rangers and researchers. Gorilla trekking involves 08 tourists in the company of a team of UWA rangers and guides.
Where to do gorilla Habituation?
Mountain Gorilla Habituation in Africa can only be done in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park. There are two (02) places in Bwindi Forest where one can do gorilla habituation. These are Rushaga and Nkuringo regions in the southwestern part of Uganda
Price of a Gorilla Habituation Permit.
Gorilla Habituation permits to see wild gorillas in either Rushaga or Nkuringo region.
- USD1,500 per person for foreign non-residents (foreign tourists).
- USD1,000 per person for foreign Residents including ex-pats in Uganda.
- UGX750,000 per person for East African citizens including Ugandans living/working in the diaspora.
**The gorilla Habituation permit fees mentioned include; park entry fees, 0ne (01) gorilla habituation permit and guide fees.
Best time to go on a gorilla Habituation Safari.
Although Gorilla Habituation can happen anytime all-year-round come rain or sunshine, the best time to go gorilla tracking is in the dry season months of June to August and December to February. During this time, the trails and drier and less slippery. Trekkers are likely to enjoy a fairly drier gorilla trekking experience and good weather for photography.
What to expect during gorilla Habituation.
You morning on the day of the trek starts with you getting dressed up in the appropriate gorilla trekking gear and outfit (see: Gorilla Habituation Clothing & Gear). You will then be transferred by your guide to the respective gorilla briefing point where you will be briefed about gorilla trekking, the dos & dont’s ( see: gorilla Habituation rules). After the briefing, you will walk into the forest and start your gorilla tracking experience in the company of UWA/ RDB rangers who will interpret the plants, birds, insects and anything of interest in the forest. On finding the gorillas, you will be allowed a maximum viewing and photography time frame of one (01) hour. Return to your start point for a certificate awarding ceremony. The certificates are souvenirs for you to take back at the end of your gorilla Safari.
What to wear/bring on your Holiday.
What to wear on my gorilla Habituation trip.
- Sturdy Lightweight walking shoes. the lighter the better. Extra weight on the trek is not good.
- Long-sleeved shirt and trousers to provide extra body protections against thorny shrubs.
- Long socks that allow you tuck you pants in to avoid bugs from climbing into your pants while on the trek.
- Rain jacket in case it rains. Remember you are trekking in a tropical rain forest.
- Gaiters (Optional). Don’t spend On new ones. These can well be substituted with long socks to serve the same purpose.
What to bring on your trek.
- A camera for your photographic needs. Don’t spend BIG on a camera. if you own an iPhone, they too take amazing pictures especial under limited forest light.
- Binoculars (optional). They might come in handy when spotting some forest birds. Your ranger guide will have a pair that he is willing to share.
- A hat (optional). This is to keep branches and leaves let alone bugs from falling into your hair.
- Drinking water. Realm Africa Safaris™ will provide adequate bottled drinking water for the entire trip.
- Packed Lunch. Realm Africa Safaris™ will take care of this. All our trips include meals unless agreed otherwise
- A Day Pack to carry all your personal items while on the trek. ** We recommend using a porter to carry your day pack for you (see: why use a porter for Gorilla Habituation)
