Luxury Gorilla Habituation
Luxury gorilla habituation experience- Mountain gorillas are endangered species of primates living in the tropical rain forest in Africa, they cannot survive in zoos that’s why you travel to Africa if you would like to encounter these human close relatives. Gorilla habituation can be described as the process of making mountain gorillas get used to human presence, this normally takes an average of 2-3 researchers and rangers visiting a particular gorilla family. When mountain gorillas finally get used to rangers and researchers, they undergo a mocking exercise before they are fully opened up for gorilla trekking.
The researchers and rangers study each gorilla’s behavior and the names are later given according to each one’s character. Gorillas are gentle and calm animals but humans must prove no harm to them to avoid being attacked because they can become aggressive when insecure. Tourists have the privilege to join group of trackers and researchers in the gorilla habituation process and this can only be done at the Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in southwestern Uganda. This offers tourists an opportunity of spending more time with mountain gorillas than gorilla trekking.
The Gorilla habituation experience begins early in the morning with a briefing from the park headquarters where they teach about you the rules and regulations, after the briefing, you will begin your hike into the jungle to look for a gorilla family assigned to you. the time taken to find the gorilla family depends on the speed of trekkers and the nature of the terrain. After locating a gorilla family, you will be given a maximum of 4 hours to take part in the habituation process.
For luxurious tourists who would love to take part in mountain gorilla habituation, they can fly into Entebbe international airport and then fly to Entebbe international airport and the fly to Kihihi airstrip near Buhoma sector or Kisoro airstrip near Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park from Entebbe or Kajjansi airfield. Though you can also fly to Kigali international airport in Rwanda and drive for 4-5 hours to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park through Katuna or Cyanika border.
The Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is where trekkers get a spectacular view of the entire Bwindi impenetrable forest national park with a panoramic view of the Virunga massif volcanoes and the stunning lakes Mutanda and Mulehe.
Accommodation and permits
There are various luxury accommodations in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park where you can have a comfortable sleep and these include Bwindi jungle gorilla lodge, Lake Mulehe safari lodge, Gorilla safari lodge, Rushaga gorilla camp, Chameleon hill lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, Four Gorilla Lodge, you can as well stay at Clouds Mountains Gorilla Lodge, Icumbi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, and Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge among other accommodation facilities.
Price of gorilla permits
Gorilla habituation permits cost $1500 per person per trek and gorilla trekking permits cost $700 for foreign nonresidents, $600 foreign residents, and shs250,000 East African citizens. You are advised to obtain your permits in advance of 3-6 months before coming to the country most especially in the dry season because the demand is high. Children below the age of 15 and adults with the infection will not be allowed to trek mountain gorillas.
Best time for gorilla habituation
The best time for luxury gorilla habituation experience in Rushaga Uganda is definitely the traditional dry and warm months of June, July, August, Mid September, December, January and February when the weather conditions are good with no slippery and muddy trails.. During these months, there is less rainfall that is likely to interrupt your whole day gorilla habituation experience.
