Gorilla habituation involves training the mountain gorillas to get used to the presence of human beings without altering their behavior. This activity only takes place in Bwindi impenetrable forest in the southwestern parts of Uganda. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) introduced gorilla habituation experience to all interested clients effective 1st January 2014. Two gorilla families have been put aside and are available for gorilla habituation experience and are located in the Nkuringo and Rushaga side of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
This great activity takes about 2-3 years to be completed and during this time, researchers keep on visiting an identified Wild gorilla group on a daily basis to learn more about individual gorillas and the way they behave. With time, the gorillas get used to these researchers, and each of the gorillas is given a name. Once researchers are sure that these mountain gorillas can be trekked without any alteration in their behavior, they then introduce a mock exercise where some few people who may include scientists, journalists start visiting it. After a gorilla family passes the mock exercise, it is then opened for trekking.
Cost of Gorilla permit for habituation
All those interested in the habituation experience pay USD1500.00 per person in Uganda. Two gorilla families in the Rushaga region have been put aside and dedicated for this experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The cost includes park entrance fees, rangers, and spending four hours with mountain gorillas under habituation.
How long do visitors stay with gorillas during the gorilla habituation experience?
Clients will be allowed to spend 4 hours with mountain gorillas under habituation. The 4 hours exclude the time you spend moving around the forest in search of the gorillas. This gives you more time compared to the gorilla tracking experience which gives you only 1 hour.
When does the gorilla habituation experience start?
Unlike gorilla trekking which starts at 8:30 am, gorilla habituation starts at 7:30 am, and briefing is done much earlier to catch up with time spent with the Gorillas.
Where else can gorilla habituation experience be done other than Bwindi?
Gorilla habituation experience is currently possible in Rushaga located in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. It is thus not possible in the Buhoma or Ruhija side of the forest because the two mountain gorilla families being habituated are in Rushaga. If you are interested in this activity, you should be ready to book accommodation closer to Rushaga since this activity requires an early start.
How different is gorilla trekking from gorilla habituation?
Gorilla habituation allows you to spend 4 hours with mountain gorillas while the Gorillas tracking allows you to spend only one full hour with the Gorillas. This means that the guests have more time to interact with the Gorillas during habituation than just tracking a habituated family.
Minimum age for gorilla habituation experience
The minimum age for gorilla habituation is 15 years and above just like the case with the gorilla tracking experience. Gorilla habituation is limited to only six people per Gorilla group joining the team of UWA researchers who lead them to the location of the Gorilla family under habituation.
Where to Stay
Choosing the best safari lodge or accommodation will depend on your budget for accommodation, there are different facilities available to cater for budget, midrange, and high-end guests. Luxury accommodation facilities include; Buhoma Lodge, Clouds Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, and Mahogany Springs.
What to Wear for Gorilla habituation
Just like the gorilla trekking gear guide, you will need quality walking boots if trying any hikes or even climbs, warm clothes for the cold evenings, and clothing for wet weather as it may become cold and wet at this high altitude.
Are Mountain Gorillas Dangerous to human beings?
Though dominant and very strong, gorillas are gentle and shy because they have been habituated and are used to the presence of human beings.
When mountain gorillas are threatened they do attack so as to protect their very own. When different Mountain Gorilla groups meet, there is a fight between the lead Silverbacks to death.
Mountain gorillas exist in groups that differ in size from 2–30 or 40 but they are mostly in groups of 10. There is no specific mating season for these apes and babies are born through the year. The Male ones begin breeding at around 15 years while the females start giving birth around 10-12 years. Females can give birth after every 2 to 3 years giving birth to 4 – 6 offspring through their lifetime. Males leave their group at about 11 years of age, while a little over half of the females will leave with it to form their group. Mountain gorillas do not speak but communicate through sounds like roars, grunts, and shouts, and 25 sounds currently have been documented by researchers.
Conclusion: Habituation of gorillas is the best Gorillas experience you can ever have as it gives you much more time to interact with the Gorillas. Gorilla permits for this activity are on a very high demand those interested must book early enough through a trusted tour operator in Uganda.