A Sedan Stretch Seater is a mobility aid used by tourists trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi. Gorillas live in subtropical and tropical rainforests at elevations of 1,000 to 2,000 meters above sea level, which is why they are called mountain gorillas. Trekking mountain gorillas requires hiking, so it is usually recommended for people who are physically fit due to the challenging terrain.
However, gorilla trekking is not limited to physically fit people. Elderly visitors, people with disabilities, and pregnant women can also trek mountain gorillas using a Sedan Stretch Seater for convenience.
A Sedan Stretch Seater is a type of chair used to carry people with mobility challenges, elderly visitors, or pregnant women through the forest. Porters carry you on the Sedan Stretch Seater along with your luggage through the jungle to the gorillas’ habitat.
How the Sedan Stretch Seater Works
Once mountain gorillas are found, the porters set the Sedan Stretch Seater down, allowing you one hour for observation and photography. Afterward, they carry you back to the starting point.
A Sedan Stretch Seater is made with a chair slung between poles and secured with seat belts. There are also bamboo versions of the Sedan Stretch Seater, made from bamboo trees found in the gorillas’ habitat, which are used the same way. Four porters carry the client, one from each corner of the chair.
Cost of a Sedan Stretch Seater
A Sedan Stretch Seater costs $400 in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. These are limited in number and must be booked in advance before arriving in the park. Sometimes, the cost of the Sedan Stretch Seater depends on the client’s weight and the distance to be covered.
Cost of Gorilla Permits
Gorilla trekking is one of the most expensive tourist activities in Africa. In Uganda, permits cost $800 per person. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park also offers a gorilla habituation experience, which costs $1,500 per person. In Rwanda, gorilla permits cost $1,500 per person.
Best Time to Use a Sedan Stretch Seater in Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be visited year-round. However, for people using a Sedan Stretch Seater, the best time to visit is during the dry months of June to September and December to February. During this time, the roads to the park are accessible, and the trekking trails are less muddy and slippery, making it easier for porters to navigate the jungle while carrying the stretcher. See our full best time to visit Uganda guide for more detail.
How to Get to Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda. It can be reached by road in 9 to 10 hours from Kampala. Alternatively, tourists can fly to Kihihi Airstrip near the park from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield.
