The Gorilla Habituation Experience from Bwindi National Park

October 10, 2018

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gorilla habituation- 6 Days Gorilla Trekking & Wildlife Safari

The endangered Mountain Gorillas are very impressive animals that are found in the Virunga mountains and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In the virunga mountains they are found in Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo.

Gorilla trekking is one of the best and special wildlife experience while on safari in Rwanda and Uganda considering that so much energy has been incorporated into the livelihood and protection of these magnificent creatures. Even with the high price tag, these funds are directly utilized for supporting the conservation and protection of mountain gorillas in Africa.

The Gorilla Habituation Experience lasts up to 4 hours compared to the limited 1 hour on a normal gorilla trek, giving the travelers ample time to interact with the habituated gorillas and as well observe how these gorillas are habituated. During this experience, the travelers move alongside the researchers that train the gorillas to get familiar with people because they help to give advice and guidance on how to handle and interact with these gorillas.

Gorilla Habituation is a process where the wild mountain gorillas are trained to become used to people. The training is done by researchers, trackers, rangers and conservationists and it usually takes them a period of 2-3 years to complete the process. During this period of time, the researchers always visit particular groups of the wild gorillas on a daily basis and are able to learn much about each gorilla and the way they behave and also give them individual names and group names. When the gorillas are used to human beings and it is confirmed by the researchers that the mountain gorillas can now be trekked, a mocking exercise is brought up where some people are allowed to visit them.

Gorilla Habituation Experience Permit

Uganda has two gorilla families which are under habituation process in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, with only 4 permits offered per day for the habituation process that costs USD1500 compared to the normal gorilla trekking permit at USD800 per person.

Rwanda gorilla tracking permit costs USD1500 per person and you are allowed to spend only one hour with the gorillas compared to Uganda where you pay a similar price and spend 4 hours with the impressive animals.