Differences Between Gorilla Habituation and Gorilla Trekking in Uganda : Gorilla habituation/trekking experiences can only be conducted in Bwindi Impenetrable national park, which is located in the southwestern part of Uganda.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority officially announced the Gorilla Habituation experience in Uganda to the public as a tourism service in 2014. This was done with efforts to carter for tourists who would love to spend more time with mountain gorillas since the in the gorilla trekking activity, trekkers are only allowed to spend one good hour with the mountain gorillas.
During the Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda, Bwindi National park is a habitat for over 400 gorillas and 19 gorilla groups where gorilla family groups can be tracked from four sectors and these include;
- The Buhoma sector, which has four habituated gorilla groups, which are; Rushegura, Katwe, Habinyanja and Mubare gorilla groups.
- The Ruhija sector which has four habituated gorilla families and these include; Oruzogo, Bitukura, Mukiza, and Kyaguriro.
- The Nkuringo sector which is in the southern part of Bwindi has three habituated gorilla animals and these include; Bushaho, Rushegura and Christmas.
- The Rushaga sector which has eight habituated groups where visitors can be able to track gorillas from include; Mishaya, Kahunge, Busingye, Nshongi, Bweza, Rwigi, Bikyingi and Muchunguzi and many others.
Whereby the gorilla habituation experience in Uganda can only be conducted in Rushaga sector, which is based in Bwindi National Park.
What is Gorilla Habituation Experience?
Gorilla habituation experience has no specific definition, the only it is different from gorilla trekking is that, visitors get to spend enough time with the mountain gorillas compared to the time they spend during gorilla trekking. During the Gorilla habituation experience, tourists spend enough time monitoring the behaviours and understanding the lifestyle of gorillas in their natural habitats, which takes up about 4hours. Habituated mountain gorillas are used to being in the presence of humans, while being watched by humans and thus this makes them being more tolerant and comfortable around human beings.
During the Gorilla habituation experience, it takes tourists about 2 to 3 years to get a group of mountain gorillas fully habituated.
How different is the Gorilla Habituation Experience different from Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
The Gorilla trekking activity experience is slightly different from the gorilla habituation experience in many ways that include the following;
- The gorilla habituation experience lasts for 4 hours while studying and observing the behaviours of the mountain gorillas while in the gorilla trekking activity, they are given one hour of direct contact with the mountain gorillas but in the process, all tourists are advised to keep a distance of 7 meters between themselves and the gorillas.
- The Gorilla Habituation experience is conducted with a maximum number of four people while in Gorilla Trekking is conducted in conducted in groups with a maximum of only eight members per group.
- Gorilla trekking activities in Uganda cost USD 700 dollars per person while Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda costs USD 1500 per person.
- Gorilla Habituation experience in Uganda is only conducted in Bwindi Impenetrable National park while in Gorilla Trekking activities, tourists can only get to track mountain gorillas from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which are all located in the southern western part of the country.
- Lastly, there are only two gorilla groups available for the gorilla habituation experience in Uganda while there are 15 gorilla groups available for gorilla trekking in Uganda.
What to pack for Gorilla Habituation Experience/ Gorilla trekking activities in Uganda.
Tourists planning to for Gorilla Habituation/ Gorilla trekking experience in Uganda are advised to pack the following essentials; a gorilla habituation/ trekking Permit, a good pair of hiking boots, a hat/ cap, sunscreen cream, insect repellant, long sleeved shirts and trousers, binoculars, a light raincoat, water bottle/ mineral water, some packed food and snacks and a camera.
Cost of a Gorilla Trekking/ Gorilla Habituation Permit in Uganda.
Gorilla Trekking Permit.
Gorilla Trekking permits in Uganda cost 700 USD per person and all tourists are encouraged to acquire gorilla trekking permits of 4-6 months in advance.
Gorilla Habituation Permit.
The Gorilla Habituation permit in Uganda costs 1500 USD per person. Tourists interested in participating in these activities can be able to book their permits up to two years in advance, directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority or through a trusted tour operator company like; Achieve Global Safari, Focus East Africa Tours, Explore Rwanda Tours.
The advantage that most of the tourists in Uganda have is that the cost of the permit covers a bunch of things like; the entrance fees, guide fees and a contribution towards the development of the communities in the neighborhood.
Safety of Gorilla Trekking /Habituation in Uganda.
All trekkers before Gorilla trekking or Habituation are always briefed and given a set of guidelines to follow while tracking Gorillas. Uganda is totally and absolutely a safe place for any visitors having an interest to participate in these adventurous, exciting and thrilling activities.
Best time to go for Gorilla Trekking/ Gorilla Habituation in Uganda.
The best time for Tourists to go for Gorilla Trekking activity and Gorilla Trekking should be during the two dry seasons, which are from June to September and December to February. During this period of the year, it becomes so much easier for the trekkers to trek through the forests while locating a number of gorilla groups within the National Park. However, Gorilla trekking can be done at any time of the year one plans to have their tour.
More so, Visitors need to note that, there are only three countries in the whole world where endangered mountain gorilla species can easily be tracked. In addition, these countries include the following; Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Apart from the Gorilla Trekking and Gorilla Habituation, there are a variety number of activities that tourists can involve themselves during their stay in Bwindi National Park. And these activities include; Bird watching, hiking and guided nature walks in Bwindi Forest, community visits cultural encounters, the Batwa trail experiences and mountain biking.
Gorilla Trekking Gorilla Habituation are the best activities explore and learn more about Mountain Gorilla species as they tend to have more time to spend with the gorillas. In order not to miss out these unique activities, contact our trusted tour operator companies like; Achieve Global Safaris, Explore Rwanda Tours, and Focus East Africa Tours.
