How different is gorilla tracking from gorilla habituation, this is one of the thoughtful question that any visitor would ask and preferably ask before deciding on which experience. Gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation is currently done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. It’s only in Uganda where gorilla trekking and habituation experience is undergoing in Rushaga sector of Bwindi forest with two gorilla families undergoing habituation process and the rest of the groups in the sector are open for trekking by visitors.

History behind gorilla trekking.

Gorilla trekking drives way back in 1993 when the first visitors maneuvered to the thick forest of Bwindi and sported the first habituated gorilla family known as Mubare in Buhoma in located in the northern part of Bwindi impenetrable National Park. This followed the previous works of the renowned philanthropist DR. Diana Fossey who led to invention of gorilla habituation and trekking in the Virunga ranges in Rwanda and Congo. However much gorilla trekking existed the wind of change came in 2015 when gorilla habituation process began in Bwindi Impenetrable forest in Rushaga sector introduced by Uganda Wildlife Authority for specifically visitors who would love to spend much more time compared to trekking time with primates  in the jungle.

How many people are required to undertake gorilla trekking/habituation experience.

There set standards upon which both gorilla trekking and habituation experience are to adhere to especially in response to the number of visitors to visit a specified gorilla family, both in Uganda and Rwanda and therefore Gorilla trekking accommodates only 8 visitors per trek and habituation experience is limited to 4 visitors.

Time spent with gorillas.

how different is Gorilla tracking and habituation experience differ in the period that visitors spend with the primates however both activities start early in the morning at exactly 7:30am where you gather at the park headquarters for briefing before you proceed to the jungle to search for the primates, the search can be between 30 minutes to a full day but the time spent once you meet these gentle apes differ in experience whereby on gorilla trekking experience once you meet your allocated gorilla family you will be allowed to spend one hour with the before you return back to the headquarters unlike on gorilla habituation experience you are allocated four hours to whole day experience with semi habituated mountain gorillas in Bwindi. Travelers doing habituation must be accompanied by trained researchers because these endangered species will still be undergoing series of learning and they may end up behaving in a way that may scare humans while in case of trekking, a knowledgeable guide is enough to take you through the entire process.

Cost of both gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience.

As noted above that both experiences differ in time to spend with primates in the jungle so is the amount that is charged for the experience. A Gorilla trekking permit costs a tune of $600 ($700 starting July 2020) and gorilla habituation experience cost $1500 which is equivalent to gorilla trekking permit cost in Rwanda.

How different is gorilla tracking permit acquisition from Habituation permits.

Permits of both activities are acquired either directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) or through contacting your trusted tour operator, It is advisable to always book your permit early enough in order to avoid missing it out on the actual day that you intend to track or habituate a gorilla family.

Where to go for gorilla trekking/habituation experience.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in two Afro-montane areas of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga national park in southwestern Uganda Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda and Virunga National Park eastern DR Congo. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is done in four sectors that’s; Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo and as well Nyakagezi family in Mgahinga. All the mentioned sectors are open for visitors to undertake gorilla trekking experience all year round however its only Rushaga sector where gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience takes place at the same time and apparently only two gorilla families are under habituation.

Safari Vacations & Travel Services is one of the registered local companies to operate tour and travel business. Given our trip advisor and safari booking we exercise high level of professionalism while handling client’s inquiries to better serve them and thus our travel consultants will be ready to offer you relevant and accurate information for your safari.