Why choose gorilla habituation over gorilla trekking in Uganda?

Why choose gorilla habituation over gorilla trekking in Uganda? Seeing mountain gorillas is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure experience that attracts tourists from different parts of the world. Gorilla trekking is the most popular activity, allowing tourists to be around mountain gorillas for a maximum of 1 hour. This, however, is not the only way tourists can spend time with the mountain gorillas; they can be around these apes for up to four hours by taking part in gorilla habituation.

Gorilla habituation is the best way for tourists to visit mountain gorillas in the wild, as this comes with taking part in activities that make these apes used to human presence around them. Tourists get to have enough time around the mountain gorillas, which enables them to learn more about their habits. These apes are said to be close relatives of human beings with more than 98% human DNA.

Gorilla habituation is only carried out in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, where one family is still going through the process of getting used to human presence in Rushaga sector. Gorilla trekking is carried out in both Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park. In this article, we look at why tourists need to choose gorilla habituation over gorilla trekking on a safari in Uganda.

Why choose gorilla habituation over gorilla trekking?

Tourists who intend to visit mountain gorillas should choose gorilla habituation over gorilla trekking. With gorilla habituation, tourists get to spend enough time around the mountain gorillas compared to gorilla trekking. Trekkers are given 4 hours around the mountain gorillas, which is enough time for every trekker to learn about the habits of these apes.

Four hours around the mountain gorillas also come with an opportunity to record videos and take photos of the mountain gorillas. The mountain gorillas are spotted and captured carrying out different activities of the day, among which include nesting, hunting, playing, mating, and breastfeeding, to mention a few.

With mountain gorilla habituation, trekkers are allowed to get close to the mountain gorillas. Trekkers are allowed to be part of the activities, which makes the mountain gorillas get used to human presence around them. This is a unique experience which is not possible with gorilla trekking, where trekkers are only asked to watch the mountain gorillas from a distance.

The four hours around the mountain gorillas is always worth the money, as trekkers get to have most of the information about the mountain gorillas. This is done with the help and guidance of well-experienced armed ranger guides, researchers, and doctors. Trekkers must follow the dos and don’ts of the activity in order to have a successful one.

Gorilla trekking, on the other hand, is a once-in-a-lifetime activity where trekkers visit the jungle and search for a fully habituated mountain gorilla family to be around them for 1 hour. The activity comes with an opportunity of learning about the gorillas’ habits, taking photos, and recording videos, but trekkers are not given a chance to be so close to them.

Gorilla habituation permits vs. gorilla trekking permits.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is the only place in the world where trekkers can carry out gorilla habituation. Only one mountain gorilla family is currently available for the activity, and four permits are available for trekkers who are interested in being part of the activities that make the mountain gorillas get used to human presence around them.

Four gorilla habituation permits are available for trekkers in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Each costs $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for foreign residents, and UGX750,000 for citizens of East African Member States. Because the number of these permits is small, tourists are asked to always book 6 months or even a year in advance before they sell out.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, which has the highest number of mountain gorillas, has several mountain gorilla families fully habituated in different sectors of the park, namely Rushaga, Ruhija, Buhoma, and Nkuringo. Over 148 gorilla trekking permits are sold every day in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Mgahinga National Park, another location for mountain gorillas, has one gorilla family with 8 gorilla trekking permits a day.

A single gorilla trekking permit costs $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 Rest of Africa, and UGX300,000 for citizens of East African Member States. They are sold to licensed tour operators who are allowed to carry out tourism activities in the country. Tourists intending to travel are asked to organize their safari with tour operators for a better gorilla safari experience.

When is the best time for a gorilla habituation safari in Uganda?

Tourists can have the best gorilla habituation safari in Uganda at any time of the year, though there are months that are better than others. The driest months of the year, June to September and December to February, are the best for the activity, and this is because the area receives little rainfall. The trekking trails tend to be dry and easier to walk through, which eases the activity.

During the dry season, the vegetation is not too tall, and this allows trekkers to have a clear view of the mountain gorillas. Tourists can still visit the mountain gorillas of Bwindi in the low season, which happens from March to May and October to November. During this period, they should expect heavy rainfall, which can sometimes make the activity less enjoyable.