Guide To Gorilla Trekking For Seniors, Elderly And Disabled Persons
Our guide to Gorilla trekking for the elderly, seniors and disabled persons in Uganda and Rwanda is for travelers above the age of 60 Years, the elderly persons and people with disabilities interested in Gorilla trekking in Bwindi, Volcanoes National Park Rwanda or Mgahinga.
Mountain gorillas are arguably the most intriguing primates on earth that everyone wants to see in a life time though to see them one has to travel to Africa specifically in Bwindi Impenetrable forest and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The cost of Gorilla tours ranges from 1200$ to 3000$ depending on the country one visits.
Gorilla trekking for the elderly can be very exhausting and demanding depending on which gorilla family one is assigned hence a need for better preparation and one to be in a better physical shape. Some gorilla families can be located and spotted in only 30 minutes while for others it can take up to 1 hour.
Trekking Mountain gorillas for seniors may involve passing through challenging terrain, steep slopes and slippery (mud-filled) trails which is a problem for old people and people with disabilities though it cannot limit the seniors and the disabled from encountering the rare gorillas since according to experience most travelers who trek gorillas are 40 years and above. Therefore if you wondering whether to bring you mum or granny for gorilla trekking, then you need to know that it is very possible as long as they can take a flight to Africa.
Who do we consider senior safari travelers?
At Engabi Tours and Travel, we consider travelers above 60 years old to be seniors travelers and as a result we arrange special gorilla tours them. The packages specialty ranges from the guide assigned, the type vehicles used and the routing and flow of the itinerary which is normally relaxed to give more time to rest.
How to book a gorilla safari for the seniors?
To make it easier to get the nearest gorilla family for the seniors, we recommend that the elderly or the disabled book their trips at least 3 Months in advance and they should inform their tour operator about any fitness concerns or physical limitations before booking a trip to see the gorillas. This will help the operator plan according and arrange any special equipment with the park authorities or arrange a special tour van as well as porters and sedan chairs if applicable.
Gorilla trekking tips for the senior travelers
Senior travelers and people with disabilities should disclose their right age and physical shape to the Park rangers and wardens who will make it possible to see gorillas in the wild by assigning them a nearby gorilla family. However if a senior feels they are in excellent shape and want to have more fun and adventure, they can request a longer trek as there is a lot to explore while tracking mountain gorillas.
Senior travelers and people with disabilities should make use of a stretcher made out of local bamboo or sedan chairs. A group of 12 strong local porters (4 at a time) are assigned to carry the elderly with four men carrying the stretcher or sedan chair and others take over once the first four need to rest. They will carry the elder and never let him/her touch the ground until they locate the mountain gorillas. After spotting the gorillas, the porters will once again lift the elder and return them to the starting point where the company driver would be waiting.
Note that carriers and Sedan chairs cost from 400 $ to 500$ inclusive of the porters and depending on the weight of the client. Hiring a porter to just carry the heavy backpacks and cameras costs from 15 $ to 20 $ and alternatively Elderly travelers may use a walking stick for support and easy hiking through the jungle.
Finally senior travelers should to do a bit of physical exercises to ensure fitness and they should carry enough drinking water and energy gel to keep them strong.
Gorilla trekking for seniors accommodation options
The gorilla trekking parks have quality accommodation facilities within and around the gorilla parks which are fit for the elderly and the disabled. They range from Super-luxury lodges, luxury lodges, mid-range options and budget options all in a form of self-contained cottages with grass thatched roofs, self-contained camps, tented camps, basic camp sites and dormitories most of them built to allow people with disabilities to move about easily.
Which Gorilla trekking Park is ideal for the elderly and people with disabilities?
Bwindi National park is the most ideal for the elderly because it is situated in less mountainous areas,sits on lower altitude and the trails are relatively flat compared to Mgahinga and the Volcanoes National Park. In Bwindi National Park, many gorilla families live on lower ground hence offering an easier hike.
Ruhijja sector is excellent for the elderly because it has been observed that tourists who trek there come back much earlier than those who go to other sectors of the park but before booking a gorilla tour or showing up at the starting point, it is important to read about the different gorilla families available in the different national parks and sectors to find out which one is ideal and closer to the starting point of the trek.
Engabi Tours and Travel experts will advise you based on their experience and knowledge about the families since the group structures keep changing year after year and what was easier to track a year ago may have migrated to a different location which is further away from the park offices.
Other things to consider during gorilla tour for the elderly
Apart from the ease of trekking the gorillas, senior travelers should consider the distance and time spent driving to the different gorilla trekking parks to avoid spending long hours on the road hence the stress and the security of the parks which is tighter not forgetting the right Gorilla trekking packing list.
Contact us for information, inspiration and quotation.
Below are our suggested Gorilla trekking tours for seniors:
3 Days Gorilla trekking Uganda