Gorilla Habituation experience in Uganda.
Gorilla habituation experience, a life time experience and bucket list worthy activity that allows you to spend 4 hours with the Gorillas in Bwindi forest national park.
Bwindi national park is home to 50% of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas and it currently has 15 Habituated gorilla families and 2 more gorilla families are still under habituation. Habituation is the process through which gorillas are tamed to get used to human presence so that a particular gorilla family can be visited during gorilla treks every day. Currently there are two gorilla families that are being habituated in Rushaga area and these are Bushaho and Biking group.
The process of habituating gorillas involves park rangers, following a particular gorilla family and spending 4 hours with them on a daily basis. In the due course, they learn about the individual behaviours of each gorilla in the family and thus they end up naming the gorillas according to their character. This takes some time and it can take as many years as possible.
The difference between gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience.
Both activities are very unique and can-not be found elsewhere in the world. However the different is in the hours you spend following and learning about a particular gorilla family. Gorilla habituation experiences allows you 4 hours with the gorillas whereas gorilla trekking allows you 1 hour with the gorillas. During the gorilla trekking safari, 8 tourists are allowed to trek a gorilla group. However during the gorilla habituation experience process only 4 tourists are allowed to join the process of a particular gorilla family per day. Gorilla habituation experience permit costs USD 1500 per person whereas the gorilla trekking permit costs USD 700 each.
Gorilla habituation experience, is a little strenuous sometimes, because these groups of gorilla are not yet fully habituated and sometimes, they forage deep down in the forest and since they are not fully habituated. The gorillas are sometimes still shy, and the young ones might not show off like those in a fully habituated group.
All Uganda gorilla permits whether habituation permits or gorilla trek permits are booked through the Uganda wildlife authority. Tour operators can help you to book the gorilla permits for you and organize the entire safari for you.
Is gorilla habituation experience possible in Rwanda or D.R.Congo?.
Unfortunately, despite the fact that Rwanda and DR. Congo have gorillas the habituation experience is only possible in Uganda. Rwanda has a private gorilla experience which is almost the same as gorilla habituation experience in Uganda. The private gorilla trekking in Rwanda allows you to privately trek a gorilla family, without allowing other clients to join you. This is a gorilla experience for those who love their privacy and also have the money to pay for privacy. The private gorilla experience allows you to spend one hour with the gorillas and with the guidance or park rangers, and it costs USD 15,000 per group.
Sample Uganda gorilla habituation experience safari.
Day 1: Arrive Entebbe International Airport.
The driver will be waiting for you at the airport. Meet and greet and then transfer to your hotel or accommodation.
Overnight at Cassia Lodge.
Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi.
Today you drive to Bwindi or you can opt to fly to Bwindi. Arriving the park in the evening.Overnight at Gorilla safari lodge
Day 3: Gorilla habituation experience.
In the morning right after breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters. After briefing before you embark on the trail in search of the gorillas. Spend 4 hours with the gorillas learning about their individual characters and recording down. Later return to the lodge.
Day 4: Drive back to Kampala.
In the morning right after, breakfast, you wild rev to transfer back to Kampala. End of Tour.
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