Gorilla trekking with children: the age rule, and how to plan around it

The question comes up in almost every enquiry that mentions gorillas: can the children come?

Yes, once they are 15. Not fourteen and a half, and not "tall for his age". Rwanda and Uganda both hold the line at 15, and ages are checked at the park gate.

I think of it less as a rule and more as a window. Most families have a handful of summers between the youngest turning 15 and the eldest leaving home. That is the gorilla window, and it is worth planning around.

What the age rule means in practice

• Minimum age 15 in both Rwanda and Uganda. There are no exceptions.
• Groups of up to eight people, with one hour in the company of a habituated gorilla family.
• The walk varies a great deal. It can take 90 minutes or most of a day, depending on where the family has moved overnight. Expect steep slopes, mud and nettles. Porters can be hired, and I always suggest it.

For a fit, curious 15-year-old, it is one of the most memorable mornings Africa has to offer. For a reluctant one, it is a long walk in the rain so knowing which teenager you have matters.

Rwanda or Uganda?

Both countries offer the same hour with a gorilla family, and both hold the same age rule. The difference is in everything around that hour.

Rwanda is the choice for families with a tight window. Trekking takes place in Volcanoes National Park, a road transfer from Kigali, so you can arrive, trek and move on without long travel days. The permit is USD 1,500 per person. The park is also home to golden monkeys, which gives younger siblings something of their own.

Uganda suits families with more time. Trekking takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga, deep green forest that feels wilder underfoot. Getting there takes longer, often with a light-aircraft flight. Permits cost less than in Rwanda, so check the current tariff. Bwindi also offers a longer four-hour habituation experience, which Rwanda does not.

My view: Rwanda when time is short and you want the day to run smoothly. Uganda when you have longer, want more forest, and don't mind the extra travel.

If your youngest is under 15

There are three good options:

• Golden monkeys. The minimum age is 12, the walk through bamboo is gentler, and the monkeys are lively and entertaining. For many 12 to 14-year-olds, this is the highlight.
• Split the morning. One parent treks with the older children while the other stays with the younger ones.
• Wait. Sometimes the right answer is a Kenya or Tanzania safari now, with the gorillas saved for a few years' time. A trip they can do fully beats one they half do.

When to go

Gorilla trekking runs all year. The drier months, roughly June to mid-September, are easiest underfoot, and they are also the most booked. The wetter months are muddier but quieter. Rwanda has offered discounted permits in quieter months when combined with another park, so ask me about current terms.

Book earlier than you think

Each gorilla family receives only one small group a day, so permits are limited. For summer dates I start planning six months or more ahead, and earlier for larger families who need permits on the same day.

If you are thinking about summer 2027 with teenagers, now is the right time to start. My booking calendar has the detail.

How I build it into a family trip

The trek is one morning, but I never plan it as a dash in and out. I allow two or three nights near the park, so the day after is free for rest or golden monkeys.

From there, I usually pair the gorillas with big game; the plains of Kenya or Tanzania or Rwanda's own Akagera, for a simpler single-country trip

Who it suits, and who should wait

It suits:

• families where every child is 15 or over
• teenagers who like a physical challenge
• families happy to trade a little comfort for a morning they will not forget

It is worth waiting if:

• your youngest is several years short of 15
• anyone in the family struggles with long, steep walks

If you have a teenager, a summer to plan and a family who would love this, tell me about them. I will help you work out whether this is the year, or whether it is worth waiting.