Tips for Planning a Gorilla Trek for Elderly Trekkers: Gorilla trekking welcomes individuals aged 15 years and above, including the elderly. Gorillas are an adorable species of primates to spend time with, especially on holiday. Gorilla trekking requires you to physically walk to locate the mountain gorillas, which can be tiring, particularly when the mountain gorillas feed on slopes.
However, this doesn’t exclude older individuals from experiencing that precious moment on a gorilla trekking safari. You can certainly participate in the gorilla trekking team for the day, whether you trek gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda.
You just need to openly discuss your age range, physical capability, and health condition so that special considerations can be made in advance of your gorilla trekking.
Book Your Gorilla Permit in Advance
Securing a gorilla permit in advance is key to planning any gorilla trekking safari. Gorilla permits are limited in number and sell out quickly despite high demand. When you inquire about a gorilla trekking safari for your chosen dates, our safari team checks availability and gets back to you.
We do not reserve any permits without payment, as this demonstrates your commitment to your gorilla trekking safari. Before securing the permit, we consider your inquiry tentative for a period.
It is best to inform our consultant about your age at this time. This allows us to consider it when booking the gorilla permit area or family with the Uganda Wildlife Authority or the Rwanda Development Board.
Avoid Back-to-Back Gorilla Safari Itineraries for Elderly Trekkers
Based on a tourist’s age, tailoring a back-to-back gorilla trekking tour will diminish their enjoyment of the entire experience. The terrain of the gorilla trekking area requires stretching muscles, which may not suit an older person.
We recommend allowing at least one rest day for the tourist to rejuvenate after a tiring trek. Driving on the bumpy, dusty roads to the destination can also be tiring, especially when going to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
This also depends on the available holiday days for your gorilla trekking safari in Africa.
Book Gorilla Trekking Accommodation with Fewer Steps
Your choice of accommodation for your gorilla trekking safari significantly contributes to your final safari feeling and experience. Book accommodation with rooms closer to the ground and easily accessible for an older person. Some accommodations in gorilla trekking destinations feature high staircases for their upper rooms. These make the gorilla trekking adventure a nightmare for an elderly person.
You must book accommodation for gorilla trekking in Uganda within or close to the area where you booked your gorilla permit. This avoids waking up very early and rushing to catch the gorilla trekking briefing.
Use a Comfortable Safari Vehicle with Ample Space for Travel to Your Destination
Depending on your budget, using a comfortable and spacious safari vehicle when driving to either Volcanoes National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a good choice.
A vehicle with enough window seats for the elderly and ample legroom makes the road trip enjoyable. For Uganda gorilla trekking, driving for over 8 hours to reach Bwindi Forest requires a more comfortable vehicle with 4×4 wheel drive.
Consider the Number of People the Elderly Person is Traveling With for Gorilla Trekking
The more, the merrier, but overcrowding your safari may diminish the fun of gorilla trekking. Older individuals are sometimes sensitive about certain issues, especially when mixed with other age groups. To avoid a miserable safari, consider traveling with a small number of people for your gorilla trekking safari.
Booking an elderly person on a scheduled gorilla trekking safari with people of different ages may cause problems, especially if no safari group leader is present.
Book a Sedan Chair or Stretcher with Porters in Advance of Gorilla Trekking
If you have difficulty with locomotion, hire a sedan chair or stretcher with porters before starting your gorilla trekking safari. In case an older person cannot maneuver the rugged volcanic terrain of the Virunga area, secure support from porters at a friendly price in advance.
Sometimes the ground in the parks is very slippery and boggy, even if the assigned gorilla family is not feeding far from the starting point. Based on the age and physical ability of the tourists, you need to consider extra support from porters or at least a walking stick.
Even some elderly safari-goers find it difficult to get into safari vehicles because of their height from the ground, so some mobile steps may be necessary to enter the vehicle.
Pack the Right Gorilla Trekking Gear for the Elderly
To succeed at gorilla trekking, you need the right attire and equipment. Below are the gorilla trekking gears you need to plan for:
Preparing well makes your gorilla trekking experience truly unforgettable. Here is what to bring:
Stay Protected: Buy travel insurance before your trip and know exactly what it covers. Wear long trousers, a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent to keep bugs away. Tuck your trousers into stockings for extra protection.
Dress Smart: Pack comfortable tracking boots for slippery slopes and muddy trails. Add a wide-brimmed, foldable safari hat to block dripping water, and carry a raincoat for sudden showers.
Carry the Right Gear: Use a light backpack to secure your belongings. Bring a flashless camera plus an extra charged battery to capture every moment. Pack binoculars to spot distant wildlife clearly.
Stay Comfortable and Safe: Carry a foldable water bottle and snacks to stay energized on the trail. Wear garden gloves to protect your hands. Finally, always pack a first aid kit for emergencies.
Contact Anthill Safaris today — we handle every detail so you trek with complete confidence!
Encourage Tourists to Do Some Simple Physicals Before Their Gorilla Trekking Safari
Tips for Planning a Gorilla Trek For Elderly Trekkers. Before gorilla trekking, doing some simple physical exercises can stretch your muscles and prepare them to hike the slopes. If an older person has less difficulty with their limbs, they can choose to take slow, step-by-step strides.
This helps to stretch muscles more than usual so that you do not experience muscle pulls in the forest during gorilla trekking.
Although we do not know the exact time it will take to locate the mountain gorillas, overly delaying the rest of the group may cause some frustration among groupmates. Locating the gorillas takes about 2 hours to three-quarters of the day.
Go Through the Rules of Gorilla Trekking in Advance
Tips for Planning a Gorilla Trek For Elderly Trekkers. Understanding the rules of gorilla trekking in advance saves you the burden of violating any of them.
Some of the rules of Gorilla trekking include:
- Do not feed the gorillas; they are wild animals and must find their food.
- Never litter the forest; this alters the nature of the forest that feeds the mountain gorillas.
- Keep a distance of about 8 meters away from the mountain gorillas. If they approach you, retreat slowly.
- Avoid spitting on the vegetation, as this is food for the mountain gorillas.
- Try to keep your voice low or avoid sudden movements when with the mountain gorillas.
- Anyone with a communicable infection like the flu, COVID-19, or diarrhea must not visit the mountain gorillas. You can easily transmit these to the gorillas.
- You may spend only one hour with the gorillas once you locate them.
- Bury all human feces in a hole about 30 centimeters deep and fill it up beyond recognition.
