Gorilla Trekking With Parkinson’s: MP’s Story of a Slow, Accommodating Safari

Yes, gorilla trekking with Parkinson’s is possible. In May 2024, MP, a 68-year-old guest from the United States living with Parkinson’s, reached the mountain gorillas of Bwindi’s Buhoma sector by sedan chair, on a slow safari built around rest.

This is MP’s story, told with his permission and without his full name, by the person who planned it and walked beside him: Lindah, co-founder of Pomelo-Ibis Adventures. It is part of our guide to gorilla trekking for seniors and disabled travelers.

Can People With Parkinson’s Go Gorilla Trekking?

Yes. People with Parkinson’s can go gorilla trekking, usually with a sedan chair or two porters, extra rest days, and short flights instead of long road journeys.

Parkinson’s affects balance, stamina and how the body copes with long days, and Bwindi’s trails are steep and muddy. Gorilla trekking with Parkinson’s works when the whole trip, not just trek day, is planned around those limits.

Who Is MP, and Why Did He Wait Four Years?

MP is a 68-year-old American who held on to his gorilla trip for four years, unsure whether he would ever make it.

In the end he made a decision: he would come, come what may. After the trip, he told Lindah it was the best decision he had ever made, apart from marrying the love of his life.

Many people living with Parkinson’s wait like MP did, unsure whether it is still possible. His trip shows that with the right pace and support, it can be.

How Was MP’s Gorilla Trekking With Parkinson’s Planned?

MP’s trip was planned as a slow, accommodating safari: rest days before and after every big day, flights instead of long drives, and stopovers on every road transfer.

Stage	What happened	Why it was planned this way
Arrival in Entebbe	Two nights of rest after the long flight from the United States	Recover from jet lag before any travel inside Uganda
Flight to Bwindi	Short flight to Bwindi, then to Buhoma Community Haven Lodge	Avoid the 8 to 10 hour road journey
Trek day	Sedan chair to the gorillas in the Buhoma sector, on day 4 of the trip	The gentlest sector, and no walking on steep, muddy trails
After the trek	A full rest day at the lodge	No travel straight after a long day
Ishasha	One night at Ishasha Wilderness Camp, with stops to stretch on the road	Break the journey to Queen Elizabeth into short sections
Queen Elizabeth National Park	An early morning game drive and a mid-morning boat cruise	Wildlife seen from a seat, with no walking needed
Return to Entebbe	A flight back, then two full rest days before flying home	Rest before the long international journey

Takeaway: the secret was not the trek. It was the rest days around it.

What Happened on Trek Day?

On trek day, MP was carried through Bwindi’s Buhoma sector in a sedan chair by a team of local porters, with Lindah and his guide beside him the whole way.

• The trek started with the usual ranger briefing at Buhoma park headquarters.
• Porters carried MP in the sedan chair to the gorilla family and back.
• He had the same one hour with the gorillas as every other visitor.
• Lindah travelled with him and the guide at every step, and BARSOS emergency evacuation cover was active for the whole trip.
• That night he was back at Buhoma Community Haven Lodge, with a rest day to follow.

Read more about what gorilla trekking on a sedan chair is really like.

What Made MP’s Trip Work?

Five things made MP’s trip work: rest days, flights, the gentlest sector, a sedan chair, and one person responsible for him from start to finish.

• Rest days. Two nights in Entebbe at each end, and a full rest day after the trek.
• Flights instead of long drives. The flight to Bwindi replaced a full day on the road.
• Stopovers. Every road transfer had breaks to stretch, and one night in Ishasha split the longest drive.
• The right sector and support. Buhoma, the gentlest sector, and a sedan chair instead of walking. See the easiest Bwindi sector for seniors.
• One person in charge. Lindah planned the trip and travelled with him, with evacuation cover ready.

How Should You Plan Gorilla Trekking With Parkinson’s?

Plan gorilla trekking with Parkinson’s with your neurologist first, then build in rest days, keep travel short, and decide early between two porters and a sedan chair.

• Talk to your neurologist about altitude, long days, and keeping your medication on schedule across time zones.
• Carry your medication with you, with a spare supply in a second bag.
• Choose support honestly. Two porters if your balance is fair, a sedan chair if walking on rough ground is hard.
• Allow rest days before and after the trek, and at both ends of the trip.
• Get travel insurance that covers Parkinson’s as a declared condition. Our guide to travel insurance for gorilla trekking explains what to check.

This is planning advice from an operator, not medical advice. Our page on gorilla trekking with health conditions covers other conditions too.

For general travel advice, the Parkinson’s Foundation has a guide to traveling with Parkinson’s, reviewed by a movement disorders specialist, and Parkinson’s UK explains how to find travel insurance that covers Parkinson’s.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gorilla Trekking With Parkinson’s

Can you go gorilla trekking with Parkinson’s disease?

Yes. Travelers with Parkinson’s can go gorilla trekking using a sedan chair or two porters, with rest days built into the trip. Pomelo-Ibis Adventures guest MP, aged 68, trekked in Bwindi’s Buhoma sector by sedan chair in May 2024.

Which Bwindi sector is best for someone with Parkinson’s?

Buhoma is usually best, because it has the gentlest terrain of Bwindi’s four sectors and Bwindi Community Hospital is nearby.

How long should a gorilla safari with Parkinson’s be?

Allow more time than usual. MP’s trip ran for just under two weeks, with rest days in Entebbe at each end and a rest day after the trek.

Is a sedan chair safe for someone with Parkinson’s?

A sedan chair has a seat belt and is carried by a rotating team of porters, so the traveler does not need to walk or balance on steep ground. The ride can be bumpy, so discuss it with your doctor first.

Will someone stay with me during the trek?

Yes. With Pomelo-Ibis Adventures, your guide stays with you throughout, and for MP’s trip Lindah travelled with him at every step.