GORILLA HABITUATION EXPERIENCE IN BWINDI.

This experience involves an interaction of the human beings with the mountain gorillas in the Rushaga area of the Bwindi Impenetrable Park that is located in south western region of Uganda. Tourists and gorilla researchers get to spend a period of over 4 hours observing and studying the unique behaviors of the wild animals and contrary to gorilla trekking safaris in Bwindi, where maximum of 8 people are allowed, during the gorilla habituation its only 4 people that are allowed. However the process of habituation can take a period of about 3 years for the gorillas to fully get used to the human interactions in Bwindi.

Best Time for Gorilla Habituation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The best period for the habitation in Bwindi is in the months of June, July, August to early September and from early December to Late February, however during this time it’s usually the peak season because of the great weather conditions that ease and make this experience more enjoyable therefore only a few permits are usually issued hence many tourists are likely to miss out on this experience if they do not book early.

When is the worst period for gorilla habituation in Bwindi Impenetrable Park?

From early March to May, the rains in  the Bwindi Impenetrable park are heavy and this makes the trails in the park soggy and slippery   and gorilla habituation becomes is less enjoyable because the  mountain gorillas are less social and interactive during this time .

 

 Gorilla habituation Experience cost in Bwindi.                                                      

The permits are attainable from the Uganda wildlife Authority. But in most cases tour operators for the gorilla habituation experience in the Bwindi Impenetrable park such as Serengeti Masai Mara usually attain them for their clients. Each gorilla habituation permit for Bwindi in Uganda costs 1500 US dollars for each individual from the foreign country, for Ugandan residents that are foreigners it costs 1000US dollars and for East African citizens, they pay 750,000 Ugandan shillings for the permit.  It is best for tourists to book this gorilla habituation experience 4 months earlier so as to because at this time the permits are easily attainable.

 Safety guidelines for gorilla habituation Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Park.                                                                                    

• Before the gorilla habituation process in Bwindi the safari guide lays out rules that are to be followed by everyone, individuals should listen and adhere to them in order to have an exquisite adventurous habitation experiences.

 

• Photography of the species is allowed however the use of flashlight when taking pictures or recording could seem as threat to the mountain gorillas hence one should avoid use of the flashlight.

 

 

• Individuals gong for the gorilla habituation should wear masks because there could be transmission of diseases from the human being to the mountain gorillas.
• Vaccinations such as the yellow fever vaccinations are required before the gorilla habituation process in the Bwindi Impenetrable Park and one should do a whole body checkup so as not to pose as threat to the health of the mountain gorillas.

 

• During the gorilla habituation express in Bwindi individuals should avoid making close contact with the mountain gorillas (a distance of 7m is to be kept) and unless they’re given permission by the guide, these wild species also like submissiveness hence one is not to make eye to eye contact with them.

 

• Individuals are to be alert at all time and beware of the surroundings and not to make un necessary noises that will be a disturbance to the mountain gorillas.

 

• Individuals should have their meals and refreshments before the gorilla habituation because eating in the presence of the gorillas is prohibited and people are not to dump any kind of litter in the Bwindi Impenetrable Park.

 

Why Choose Bwindi for Gorilla Habituation Experience?

• The Bwindi Impenetrable Park has the largest population of the Mountain gorillas globally an approximate of over 1000 of these induvial and hence visitors at this park are availed to a variety of these.

 

• Visitors who come to Bwindi get to have an ultimate habituation experience by having an exclusive encounter with the mountain gorillas since they have ample time limit of 4 hours to observe and socially connect with the mountain gorillas.
• The guides at the Bwindi Impenetrable Park are highly skilled and have great knowledge about the mountain gorillas that they share with the visitors hence one does not leave the same as they are able to attain and gain more awareness about the conservation and the livelihoods of the se endemic species.

 

• Not only do visitors engage with Mother Nature at Bwindi Impenetrable Park but they also have the opportunity to explore the distinctive culture of the Batwa people and immerse themselves in their traditions and skills such as fire making skills.

 

                     

How to prepare for gorilla habituation Experience in Bwindi.

 

• Gorilla habituation in Bwindi involves hiking through the steep slopes that cannot be easily traversed with normal shoes therefore, one should get hiking boots for preparation of this experience.

 

• The sun could be of effect on one’s skin because of the long period of time that is spent with the mountain gorillas hence to reduce this effect, people can carry the sunscreen.

 

• In order to be prepared for anything, one should carry a first aid kit because unexpected injuries like small wounds and blisters could occur during the hike to meet the mountain gorillas in Bwindi.

 

• The tropical rainforests of the Bwindi Impenetrable park are a habitat of dangerous insects such as the mosquitoes hence the need to carry insect repellents for the habituation experience.

 

• If one is going for this experience in the morning, they should carry heavy clothes like a jacket for warmth because of the cold weather however if one is to go for this experience in the day, they could wear light weight clothes for more comfortability however individuals should always be ready because the weather in Bwindi is unpredictable.

 

• Some of the hiking trails Bwindi Impenetrable Park are hardly traversable therefore, individuals use walking sticks or even hold onto different plants to make their way through and this I why one would need garden gloves in order not to get blisters.

 

Where to Stay During Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi

• Bwindi Neck view lodge ; US$72( Buhoma)
• Bwindi Forest Lodge; US$86. (Buhoma)
• Agandi Uganda Eco-Lodges; US$124(Bwindi).
• Buhoma community rest camp; US$149(Bwindi).
• Gorilla Leisure Lodge ;US$396 (Kisoro)
• Dorotias Bwindi Eco tourism Resort; US$ 560(Kisoro).
• Gorilla Safari Lodge; US$675(Rubuguli).

 

Note; the prices are for one  adult per night however they keep changing per  season and the location for each of the safari hotel / safari camp is put in the brackets.

 

Minimum Age Requirement for Gorilla habituation experience in Uganda                  

Individuals above the age of 15 years are the ones that are allowed to indulge in the gorilla habituation process in Bwindi and the young ones are not allowed because this activity could be tiresome and overwhelming for them.

 

Why is it that only 4 people allowed during gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi?

In case  a large group is allowed for the gorilla habituation experience   they could interfere with the mountain gorilla activities by making un  necessary noises  and  a  big number of people  could also  cause tension  and distress to the gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable park.

 

Other Gorilla Habituation Locations in Africa       

• Volcanoes national park in Rwanda.
• Virunga national park in the Democratic republic of Congo.
• Mgahinga national park in Uganda.

 

How many gorilla families are under habituation in the Bwindi Impenetrable Park?

The Bikigi gorilla family and the Bushaho family are the only two of mountain gorilla families in Bwindi that are under habituation in the park.

Other Activities in Bwindi Besides Gorilla Habituation in Uganda

Other activities that can be experienced in Bwindi impenetrable park are; birdwatching, nature walks, Batwa cultural experiences and also game viewing.

Gorilla Habituation Experience vs Gorilla Trekking

 

Comparing the Physical requirements.

In both experiences, hiking is required to and from where the mountain gorillas are congregated, however gorilla habituation is more physically straining since it takes more hours compared to gorilla trekking hence one needs to prepare sufficiently for this experience.

 

Comparing the costs.

The gorilla habituation permit in Bwindi  impenetrable park is  more expensive than the  gorilla trekking permit for example  foreigners pay  a cost of 1500 US dollars for gorilla habituation and for gorilla trekking, they pay 800$.

 

Comparing the time and the number of people.

During gorilla habituation, only 4 people are allowed   and they spend a period of 4 hours with the mountain gorillas while during gorilla trekking, a group of 8 is to have interactions with the mountain gorillas for a maximum of one hour.

Comparing the Gorilla habituation and the gorilla trekking experience, which is better?

the gorilla habituation  offers  greater opportunity of observing the different behavioral patterns of the gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable park and hence people are able to  gain more knowledge  about the mountain gorillas since  during this experience  guides get to teach   the visitors more about these wild species compared to gorilla  trekking where the time is limited  and one might not  be able to get exclusive observation of the  animals. However gorilla trekking is less straining and a more flexible experience than the habituation since one gets less tired and could use the rest of the time for other activities in the park.

 However whichever experience one chooses they are still able to get a unique and thrilling adventure at Bwindi Impenetrable Park.