Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda, any mountain gorilla family/group that is open for tourism has to first go through the habituation process, mountain gorillas live in the jungles of Africa which Means that mountain gorillas are wild, this means that they would not tolerate the presence of tourists and other visitors who trek them on daily bases.
Mountain gorilla habituation process is the slow progressive process of visiting a gorilla family that is under habituation process which is also known as preparing a gorilla family to get used to the presence of humans in their natural habitat, for the mountain gorilla family to become habituated meaning that it is now used to the presence of humans. Every gorilla family has undergone an extremely delicate process of habituation for about 2 to 3 years, gradually getting used to the presence of humans, the activity of gorilla habituation is done by the professional researchers, well-experienced park rangers, and trekkers who visit them for that period of time every day until they deem the gorillas ready be opened for tourism,
Six years ago in addition to gorilla trekking, Uganda introduced a new activity the Gorilla Habituation Experience for the tourists to join professional researchers and experienced rangers in the gorilla habituation process of a family that is under habituation, this activity gives the opportunity tourists of at least 4 hours in the presence of Africa’s wild mountain gorillas compared to the normal gorilla trekking where you are allowed to spend only one hour with them. Every minute you spend with mountain gorillas is a lifetime experience as it has been described by many of our clients.
mountain gorilla habituation experience in Uganda it can only be done in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Those who are interested in habituation experience can now join the researchers to experience how mountain gorillas are habituated in African rain forests.
The cost of a mountain gorilla habituation permit in Bwindi forest is $1,500 per person per day for four hours with the gorillas, while the normal gorilla trekking permit costs $700 and one is allowed to send only one hour with gorillas.
Mountain gorillas can also be found in volcanoes national park of Rwanda, Virunga national park of DR-Congo, the famous Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, and Mgahinga gorilla national park both located in Uganda. But currently, the only recommended safe gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda and Rwanda, currently, we are not recommending to our clients to trek gorilla in Congo because of insecurity in the North Kivu region where Virunga national park is found.
The difference between gorilla trekking and habituation-gorilla habituation is a jungle experience of tracking and sending time with wild unhabituated mountain gorillas (meaning not used to humans) this experience allows up to 4 hours with those great giants in the African jungle while gorilla trekking is exhilarating but you are only allowed to spend only one hour with them which is not as close as a habituation experience. Take a note that the gorilla habituation experience can only be done in Uganda’s Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.
Current Uganda gorilla trekking permit price is $700 per person, with this you are allowed to spend one full hour with a habituated gorilla family while gorilla habituation permit costs $1,500 which allows you up 4 hours with an unhabituated gorilla family that is under habituation process, also gorilla trekking is limited to 8 people per gorilla family per day while habituation is limited to 4 people per gorilla family per day
The age limit for both gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation in Uganda is the same 15 years and above and also when booking guidelines are the same for gorilla habituation and gorilla trekking.
For one to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat you must first purchase a trekking permit which is issued by Uganda wildlife Authority in their head office in Kamala to avoid disappointments, Kisoro tours Uganda we are able to purchase permits on your behalf for up to 2 years in advance. We also book your Rwanda and Congo gorilla permit on your behalf. Contact us we will organize for you a memorable trip to East Africa.