Facts about Gorilla Habituation Experience

Facts about gorilla habituation experience. Gorilla habituation is the process of making gorillas, wild animals in their natural inhabitants the jungles, get used to human interactions and presence. Gorilla habituation experience is one of the gorilla activities that tourists can take part in while on gorilla safaris, in particular gorilla destinations. In Uganda, gorilla habituation experience is only available in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and not anywhere else. Gorilla habituation is an undertaking of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which is in charge of the conservation and protection of all Uganda national parks and all its inhabitants.

 Gorilla habituation can take about 2-3 years, just to get the gorillas comfortable around humans for a particular amount of time. During the gorilla habituation process, researchers, scientists and rangers constantly visit the gorilla family in question (the one earmarked to be habituated) on a daily basis, for 2-3 years until the gorillas are deemed to be fully habituated and can accommodate human interaction and then availed to tourists for gorilla trekking adventures.

When the gorillas are near completion of their gorilla habituation process, tourists are allowed to visit them with a gorilla habituation experience while they are in the company of the researchers and all gorilla experts who do take part in the gorilla habituation process. The facts about gorilla habituation experience shall be looked at in form of questions, and they include;

Where does gorilla habituation experience take place?

Gorilla habituation experience in Uganda only takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and particularly in the Rushaga gorilla sector of Bwindi. The Rushaga gorilla sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southern part of the park. About 1 or 2 gorilla families are usually available for gorilla habituation experiences in the Rushaga gorilla sector of Bwindi, and this means that gorilla habituation experience permits do sell out fast, especially during the peak season of tourism.

How do I get to take part in a gorilla habituation experience?

To be able to take part in a gorilla habituation experience, you ought to purchase a gorilla habituation experience permit, which costs USD1500 per person per experience. This gorilla habituation experience has you spending four hours with the gorillas in their natural habitat, learning their way of life and watching the gorilla experts do their thing or even be allowed to do it too.

When does gorilla habituation experience start?

Gorilla habituation experience, just like gorilla trekking experience, starts very early in the morning and therefore entails travellers waking up much earlier to prepare and get to the starting point of the gorilla habituation experience. Gorilla habituation experience starts at 6:30am, with a briefing from the park officials, and then set off to meet the gorillas by 7am. The hours are quite early because the gorillas too are early risers; to find them around the expected place therefore entails even the researchers and consequently the tourists to keep time.

How long is a gorilla habituation experience?

A gorilla habituation experience can take about half a day or full day, depending on the location of the gorillas being habituated. Once the gorillas are encountered, tourists get to spend about 4 hours with the gorillas, depending on how they react to the human presence on that particular day. But yes, gorilla habituation experience has travellers spending more than just one hour with the gorillas as is the case with gorilla trekking experiences.

What is the minimum age for a gorilla habituation experience?
The Uganda Wildlife Authority, (UWA), only allows persons above the age of 15 years to take part in the gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. On top of having an age limit, the number of tourists allowed per group on a gorilla habituation experience is only 4.

What is the difference between gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience?

Gorilla trekking involves travellers searching for fully habituated gorillas in their natural habitat, in the company of only park rangers and in a group of up to 8 tourists per gorilla group to be visited, and tourists spend only one hour with the gorillas when encountered. On the other hand however, gorilla habituation experience involves tourists visiting almost-habituated gorilla families in their natural habitat, in the company of park rangers and gorilla experts like researchers, and in a group of only 4 tourists who spend up to 4 full hours with the gorillas learning of their traits and characters. Also, gorilla trekking permits are much cheaper as compared to gorilla habituation experience permits.

Gorilla habituation experience is an amazing gorilla activity that travellers keen on encountering with primates, especially the endangered mountain gorillas on a much deeper level should consider booking. Gorilla habituation experience can be enjoyed alongside other activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park like gorilla trekking, nature walks to appreciate the surroundings and inhabitant of the gorillas, cultural encounters, community visits, among so many others. You could also combine a gorilla habituation experience with a chimpanzee tracking or chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale National Park. Get in touch with a tour operator of your choice, and be guided while planning for your amazing gorilla safari, and get to enjoy a gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.