Gorilla trekking in Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo is a bucket list adventure that every nature lover wants to tick off, and yet it is a physically demanding activity that will require walking through thick jungles and hiking across tough terrain on highlands and mountains before finding the Mountain Gorillas, that as their name tells it, live in the mountains and are found in only those three countries (Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo). The level of difficulty of the gorilla trekking is therefore a concern for even the regular outdoors goers, which leaves one wondering, should the handicapped or disabled even think about taking part in this once-in-a-lifetime adventure??
Can a handicapped or disabled do gorilla trekking? This is an important question I want to address in this article.
The answer is YES! The handicapped, disabled, elderly or any physically impaired and challenged person has a chance of tracking the gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda.
Provisions have been put in place to enable every person have the opportunity to track the gorillas, as long as one is aged 15 years and above which is the age requirement for the gorilla trekking.
The famous “helicopter” in Bwindi National Park Uganda
The sedan seat stretcher, famously called the “helicopter” in Bwindi National Park, is a comfortable seat fixed to a metallic platform with handles that is lifted on shoulders by a group of four young and energetic men. The handicapped or elderly person is carried shoulder high to the gorillas and back.
The royal stretcher in Rwanda
In Rwanda, a well-sawn stretcher is what is used to carry the handicapped or disabled person to the gorillas. Unlike the “helicopter” chair in Uganda that a person sits on and is carried in that sitting posture, the stretcher in Rwanda is flexible as it allows one to lie-down or seat as you are carried through the trekking.
Is there an extra cost for the provision of carrying the handicapped?
Yes, hiring the stretcher or sedan seat stretcher costs about $300
This money goes directly to the community who are called on by the park to provide this service. Perhaps this can be another opportunity to give back to the local community.
Blind couple goes gorilla trekking in Uganda
Insane.. right? Well this was our first thought when our friend Miriam from Kagera Safaris informed me they were organizing a gorilla trekking trip to Bwindi for a blind couple. It happened and in November 2019, Uganda got the first blind people to track the gorillas.
A testimony that no matter the handicap, one can still track the gorillas. If a blind person that relied on the eyes of another to “see” the gorillas can do it, then why not you?