Africa
Share information and ask questions about accessible travel in Africa.
Organizer:
- Organized by
-
Gorilla Trekking Tours in Uganda, Africa. Guide for travelers with disabilities
Gorilla Trekking Tours in Uganda, Africa. Guide for travelers with disabilities
No African Safari tour is complete without seeing the Mountain Gorillas! There are only 700 – 880 Mountain gorillas remaining on earth. The majority live in the Virunga Mountains that straddle Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Most of the gorillas live a wild existence, far from human reach. However, a handful of groups have been habituated and can be tracked and observed by small numbers of visitors under the watchful eyes of park rangers.
Going on gorilla trekking safari takes more effort, both time and money. It’s more expensive than a traditional safari but ranked highly by travelers around the world. Every year, thousands of travelers go for Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mountain gorilla trekking can be quite expensive (going solo is often even more so), travelling with family , friends or joing a group can help cut down the cost. Gorillas exist in extremely remote mountainous locations, which means the logistics of a gorillas safari are a challenge. The good news is, the gorilla trekking experience is completely worth it, it lasts a lifetime.  The experience now caters for the disabled. Mountain gorilla trekking has been made possible for the disabled and even the elderly through a couple of measures.
Sedan Chairs
Sedan chairs are a type of chairs made with two metals with a seat inclined in between them. After the briefing about mountain gorillas in the morning of trekking, allocation of gorilla families is done according to ability and age. The disabled will be carried by potters in sedan chairs and will move with the rest of the group to the jungle.
The disabled trek with their potters without being put down until the gorilla family your are trekking is found. Once your reach the family, you will then be put down for better observation of one hour and take photos.
Stretchers
Stretchers are made out of mambo sticks and are also used for carrying the disabled and elderly for gorilla trekking by potters. The best time for using stretchers in the dry season of June to September and December to February. Visiting this time means you will not be disrupted by too much rain which makes trekking harder.
Cost of sedan seat or stretcher
Tourists with disabilities should book the seats in advance before travelling for their gorilla trekking tours and ask their travel handlers to inform the park authorities about their condition in advance. The sedan seat chairs and bamboo stretchers cost about $300 per person but sometimes the price varies according to the client’s weight and distance to be moved.
Where to See Gorillas in Uganda
Gorilla’s in Uganda can be trekked in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is best known for its Mountain Gorilla populations and gorilla trekking although, it also offers some of the finest montane forest birding in Africa and is a key destination for any birder doing a Safari to Uganda. Bwindi is one of the few in Africa to have flourished throughout the last Ice Age and it is home to roughly half of the world’s mountain gorillas.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is best known for its outstanding gorilla trekking safari, but it also provides refuge to elephant, chimpanzee, monkeys and various small antelope and bird species. There are four habituated Gorilla groups in Bwindi.
Cost of Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda
A Gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is cheaper compared to Rwanda. You need $600 for a Gorilla trekking permit in Uganda.
What to Pack for Gorilla Trekking
1. Boots – A good quality pair of hiking boots will serve you well. A cheap pair of sneakers can’t work.
2. Gloves – During the trek you might be grabbing trees, branches and vines, and your hands can get a bit scratched and generally beaten up if you’re not careful. Gloves a must-carry item.
3. Light rain jacket – Bwindi is tropical rainforest, and there’s a good chance of rain almost the year-round. Pack a light-weight rain jacket that you can roll up in your bag and bring out if necessary.
4. Energy snacks – The trek to the mountain gorillas isn’t impossible, but it is tough. Energy snacks like nuts, dried fruit, chocolate or power bars are a great idea. Just remember to take any rubbish with you as you go.
5. Long pants and shirts – It’s best not to expose too much skin during the jungle trek. Long pants, shirts and your rain jacket will cover you up.
Do you want to come face-to-face with the mountain gorillas or to learn more about Gorillas, gorilla families and how to book a gorilla trekking tour to Uganda? Visit this link –Â https://www.primatevacations.com/gorilla-trekking-in-bwindi-impenetrable-national-park.html
Travelers with disabilities get 15% discounts if they indicate so in their inquiry or booking. This might be a food deal!
If you have any questions, ask us. will be glad to answer them.
- 2 Replies
That is so cool! Thanks for sharing!
This seems like a real fun trip. It’s definitely on my bucket list and I wish to tick it off the list soon!
Log in to reply.