Gorilla Trekking for the Elderly and the Disabled (7 Tips)
Gorilla Trekking for the Elderly and the Disabled are Gorilla Safaris organized for people with special needs who require porters & sedan chairs during the trek or being assigned to gorilla groups closer to park headquarters.
Gorilla trekking is an increasingly popular activity, with tourists coming from all around the globe to catch a glimpse of these magnificent creatures. However, those with physical limitations may find the journey more difficult – but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have to miss out.
Special gorilla trekking for the elderly and disabled are now available, ensuring that everyone can experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Guaranteed Gorilla Tours for Seniors and People with Special Needs on a Uganda Safari;
To see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, one needs to hike through the mountainous forests and since gorillas are mobile, it may take some hours of trekking of which the old and people with disabilities may fail to withstand.
This is the reason why we organize special gorilla packages with wellness and health of our older clients in mind. Gorilla Trekking for the Elderly and the Disabled focuses on the means to save these special group from the trekking hurdles.
Gorilla trekking is a once in a lifetime experience that any traveler must include in their bucket list. Gorilla Trekking in Uganda will grant you with a great opportunity to witness these massive primates as they roam in the thick rain forests, which are their habitants.
Not any one should be limited by their physical ability since we organize special trekking safaris for seniors, Elderly and the disabled. To us, disability does not really mean inability since we can prepare special packages that can fit your best interest.
Gorilla Trekking for the Elderly/Seniors.
This is a gorilla trekking safaris we organize to address the challenged of the elders. Trekking to see mountain gorillas is strenuous and many elders may fail to make it if they choose the normal packages.
Some of the challenges we have encountered in our senior travelers include; total body weakness, vulnerability to infections and allergies, loneliness, fatigue, hearing and seeing problems among others.
On booking, we ask our elderly clients to declare any medical/healthy condition that may require special attention. This gives us time to inform our partners in health sector to prepare for such condition, in case a need arise. We can as well carry emergency drugs if the condition is well prescribed by your doctors.
We usually assign guides of 40 plus years unless one choose otherwise. These guides are more experienced, patient and are able to easily relate to stories of the elderly, this helps the senior travelers to feel more comfortable.
When time for gorilla trekking comes, we make sure those who can still walk trek gorilla families that live near park headquarters, else, we employ porters with sedan chairs to carry you throughout the trekking process.
Before entering the forests, we advise seniors to take antibiotics and or use suitable repellents were necessary to avoid infections that may come with strange environments in the forests.
We give our elderly gorilla trackers enough time to rest before and after so that they don’t loose out on any adventure. For example, an 8-hour drive can be 10 hours to give you enough time to stretch while on the way.
We surprisingly offer the best Gorilla Trekking for the Elderly at affordable costs as for we do tourism fir the love of nature and wildlife not wealth accumulation.
You may like; the cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda.
Who is Considered an Elderly / Senior Travelers?
Are you wondering who the seniors could be? Well, these are individuals at their advanced age usually retired at 60 or above. The gorilla trekking safaris arranged for them are different from our normal packages as the trips involves special care features.
We have guides who specialized and have experience in handling seniors who drive them in customized cars that are gives them more comfort. The gorilla trekking safari packages for the elderly are also designed in a way that allows our senior clients to experience gorillas in a more relaxed environment.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking for Disabled.
Just like the elderly, people with disabilities also require special attention in one way or the other. Gorilla trekking being a challenging activity does not mean it is exclusively reserved for the able-bodied travelers only.
No one aware of the existence of mountain gorillas would like to vacate this planet without encountering and support their conservation process and by so, we craft inclusive gorilla trekking packages.
The disability we are discussing are those that are physical, people with mental disability are not allowed to trek gorillas as they act in way that may provoke the gentle giants.
Much emphasis is put on the accessibility of lodges we use on our gorilla safaris for people with disabilities, the cars used and the gorilla group trekked. We also employ sedan chairs on those who move by wheelchairs.
All you need to know about Special Gorilla Tours (7 Gorilla Trekking Tips for the Elderly).
We guarantee instant response to your long awaited question and you will have to enjoy instant updates within your comfort. Senior and elderly gorilla trekkers are advised to disclose their actual age and hiking /physical abilities to the tour operator arranging their gorilla tour.
We recommend the following tips for gorilla trekking for the elderly;
Declare any Medical/Healthy Condition.
We greatly recommend our clients to declare their medical record and the contact of personal doctor. This information will be highly protected and private that is only provided to a private personal guide. This information is just needed incase of an emergency.
Workouts.
If you are going to trek, take some time off your to do some physical exercise so that your body is familiarized. We advise you to do some jogging or walking before your travel time. Mountain gorillas live in mountains and trekking to meet them is only possible through walking or people carrying you.
Carry a Walking Stick.
You might be able to stand upright while walking on flat grounds but, hiking in forests of Bwindi, Mgahinga or Volcanoes may require to bend a lil bit hence the need for support from a walking stick. Walking sticks saves you from falling on slippery grass or mud in case it rains.
Hire a Porter.
Carrying a bag full of packed food, drinking water and other necessities on your back while trekking is very tiresome especially for the seniors and the disabled. Therefore, hiring a porter to carry your items and give you a hand on the trek is ideal and highly recommended.
Choose Gorilla Families that are easily Trekked.
Choosing a short gorilla trek may be tricky however that is what All Uganda Safaris do. Ensure you book early enough to get a mountain gorilla family that lives in low altitude areas or near the park headquarters and easy to trek.
It is during the briefing that elders are assigned to these gorilla families and if you booked early enough, we get to book gorilla permits to sectors with easily trekked mountain gorillas. Parks like Bwindi are separated into sectors of which some sectors are of higher altitudes compared to others.
However, you are still advised and encouraged to disclose any healthy related condition that may require special attention from the rangers. Your safety is our priority.
Hire Sedan Chairs.
For travelers who are too weak to walk and those who ride in wheelchairs, the simplest way to trek mountain gorillas is renting a sedan chair with porters. As you can see in the photo below, a group of porters carrying an elderly gorilla tracker.
The sedan chairs are also comfortable enough so, you won’t get back pain. You don’t need to walk at any moment during the trekking process as the porters are powerful enough and keep on exchanging. This is the most pleasant gorilla trekking for the elderly and the disabled but, costs an extra $400.
Carry enough drinking Water and Packed Food.
Although we promise to book for you an easier gorilla trek and more less tedious means, we strongly encourage you to carry packed food (snacks) and enough drinking water. Higher altitudes tend to drain our bodies through respiration faster than sea level.
Trekking time is unpredictable and therefore, you may get hungry on the way and loose morale for the adventure. So, carry food or energy giving snacks to avoid disappointments.
Extra Days.
For all our senior clients, it is more comforting and relaxing to spend an extra day at the lodge before you take your first gorilla trek. This will basically help them adapt to the altitude and go to the park headquarters to inquire the days experience and explaining to the park officials their needs and also relax before engaging their second trek.
Start Planning for Gorilla Trekking for the Elderly
People also ask;
What is the age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda?
The age limit for gorilla trekking is 15 years old. This is because of the risks and challenges involved in gorilla trekking, which can be physically demanding and require a certain level of fitness. Additionally, young children may not be able to follow the rules and guidelines necessary to ensure the safety of both the gorillas and the visitors. Although, in some instances, children as young as 12 can be allowed to trek gorillas provided they are able to follow rules and walk longer distances. But, you must though your tour operator write to Uganda Wildlife Authority for permission.
Is gorilla trekking strenuous?
Yes, gorilla trekking can be strenuous because, mountain gorillas live in mountainous forests of which tourists have to trek through searching for the gentle giants and it can take about 30 minutes to 8 hours of walking.
Is gorilla trekking worth the money?
The worthiness of gorilla trekking is in the fact that money spent on the gorilla permits is a contribution towards the conservation of these rare primates and the development of the communities around gorilla parks.
What to wear gorilla trekking?
Since gorilla trekking happens in forests, it is advisable to long-sleeved shirts, long pants, comfortable hiking shoes, gardening gloves and rain jackets, see the full list of Uganda safari packing list.