How Does Gorilla Trekking differ from Habituation in Uganda?
How does gorilla trekking differ from habituation in Uganda? Uganda is one of the few countries in Africa that offers visitors, especially primate enthusiasts, the chance to encounter mountain gorillas in their natural setting. Gorilla tracking and gorilla habituation are the two most famous adventure activities that offer visitors an amazing experience in Uganda’s two gorilla parks, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.
These two activities take place in Bwindi, and only gorilla trekking takes place in Mgahinga National Park. Bwindi is one of the top mountain gorilla destinations in Africa, famous for its amazing gorilla population, which accounts for 53% of the world’s mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. However, gorilla habituation takes place in only Rushaga, one sector that is part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Below is an insight into how the gorilla trekking experience differs from gorilla habituation.
How Does Gorilla Trekking Differ from Habituation in Uganda?
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Gorilla trekking is the top activity in all the trekking sectors of the park, where different gorilla families have been habituated and are open for trekking activities. The park has over 23 mountain gorilla families that are set for trekking activities to allow travellers get close to mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. This encounter takes place for a maximum of an hour, and the tracking sector to visit is determined by the gorilla permit purchased.
The gorilla trekking exercise in all the sectors of the park begins early in the morning at various information points where visitors converge for a briefing concerning the exercise from the park wardens. These park wardens always check for these gorilla trekking permits and sensitise visitors about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking. After, visitors are grouped into 8, followed by trekkers and armed ranger guides to lead the trekkers in the jungle.
The armed ranger guides lead visitors through the easiest and fastest routes to the assigned gorilla family after coordinating with the trackers to locate where the gorilla family is. This search mainly takes about 2-7 hours, and the duration depends on the pace of the trekkers and the location of the gorilla family based on the previous nesting point. Once these apes are spotted, you are allocated an hour 1 hour to study and interact with mountain gorillas about their behaviours, take photos and videos as you enjoy watching them do their daily activities. However, visitors who may prefer to stay with mountain gorillas for longer hours may opt for gorilla habituation, where trekkers spend more time than standard gorilla trekking.
Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi
This is one of the remarkable activities that offers a chance for primate lovers and nature enthusiasts to get familiar with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. This gorilla habituation experience takes place only in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is located in the southwestern part of the country. Bwindi has a total of 4 gorilla trekking sectors, including Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga, but out of these four sectors of the park, this unique experience takes place only in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It allows trekkers to get up close to the endangered mountain gorillas and also study their behaviours for a duration of 4 hours in a row in their natural environment.
Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi
This fascinating activity was introduced in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by the Uganda Wildlife Authority in order to allow travellers interact with the primates, particularly the great apes, and observe how they might be conditioned to get familiar with human presence. This became a unique activity in the country only after the American primatologist Dian Fossey initiated the habituation exercise in Rwanda, “a country of a thousand hills”, since mountain gorillas, to many, were recognised as dangerous wild apes. During this exercise, through a process known as “habituation”, a team of primatologists, conservationists, scientists, rangers, and trackers slowly acclimatise primates such as gorillas, chimpanzees, and other wildlife animals to human presence.
How does gorilla trekking differ from habituation in Uganda? This package is one of the most incredible primate adventure experiences and is slightly different from the standard gorilla trekking experience. Gorilla habituation is an adventure activity where gorillas are trained to get used to human presence.
Gorilla and nature lovers get the chance to spend ample time of about 4 hours with the gorillas in their natural habitat, more than the standard one hour allocated to gorilla tracking. The duration of habituation may take about 2-3 hours, and during this process, researchers keep on visiting and monitoring this gorilla group or family daily until it’s declared ready for tracking.
What is the Cost of Gorilla Trekking and Habituation in Bwindi?
To track the majestic gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a gorilla trekking and habituation permit is a must, and without it, the park wardens won’t allow you to take part in this fascinating activity. These permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority early in advance, where gorilla trekking costs $800 for non-foreign residents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 for the rest of Africa, and UGX300,000 for citizens of East Africa. On the other hand, the gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 for non-foreign residents, $1000 for foreign residents, and UGX 750,000 for citizens of East Africa. However, travellers should be aware that habituation permits should be reserved 3 to 4 months in advance to avoid missing out.
How to Access Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda and can be accessed by either road or air. Air transport is the best and fastest option, with two airstrips in Kihihi and Kisoro, served by airlines like Aerolink Uganda, Pearl Sky, and Bar Aviation, especially for those preferring quick travel.
Road transport is the most common type of transport, taking a length of 9-10 hours to access Bwindi from Kampala, involving some stops and scenic views. Travellers may use the Kampala-Masaka highway through Lyantonde, Mbarara, Kabale, or Kisoro to access Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
What is the Best Time to do Gorilla Activities in Uganda?
The best time to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is during the dry season, stretching from June to September and December to February. These months receive intermittent rainfall, making the trails easier for travellers to trek, providing a clear view of the apes for better photography. However, travelling during the rainy season can make the trekking trails slick, muddy, and slippery.
Accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
While on a gorilla habituation safari in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, there are various accommodation options, ranging from affordable to luxury options. Visitors are advised to book lodges based on their budget and in the sectors where they opt to track gorillas.
Lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Oruzogo Safari Lodge, Bwindi Neck Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Mirambi Safari Lodge, Karaa Safari Lodge, Gorilla Heights, Clouds Safari Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Rushaga Haven Lodge, Dorotia Safari Lodge, Cuckooland Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Broadbill Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Lodge, Silverback Safari Lodge, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Ride 4 A Woman, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Resort, Wagtail Eco Safari Lodge, and others.
