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Gorilla habituation experience safari, is a newly opened adventurous activity in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. It was introduced by the Uganda wildlife Authority a government body managing all national parks in Uganda. Gorilla habituation is when the visitors Spend extended time with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Also known as gorilla training, which is a process whereby the gorillas are made to get used to the sight of people, mountain gorilla habituation experience guarantee travellers an opportunity to spend four hours with the gorillas which is approximately the whole days activity with the gentle giants in their natural habitat. Gorilla habituation is the best way to meet, see, interact face to face and enjoy the human like characters of mountain gorillas, where by the travellers are active participants in the habituation process such as naming of the new gorilla families and accompanied by the researchers, scientist and the game rangers. These creatures are exceptional as you get to study their behavior. Most people tend to mistake habituation with gorilla trekking, these two experiences are different from each other, It’s an experience of its own nature.
About gorilla habituation experience
People always mistake gorilla trekking for gorilla habituation experience. Gorilla habituation is the practice of training wild gorillas to make them familiar with human presence before they are declared ready for trekking. Gorilla training is an everyday venture, which last for about 2-3 years before a gorilla family is opened for trekking. This excise is done by the researchers, scientists, game rangers and travellers if they are any who are interested in the activity, conservationists and gorilla doctors who visit the gorillas on a daily basis until they are used to the sight of humans then a mock exercise is introduced and when they pass the mock exercise, is when they are declared ready for tracking. During this period, the travellers are reminded to be extra careful to ensure safety in the presence of wild gorillas. Also, travellers must follow all trekking rules and regulations to ensure your safety and the safety of the wild animals. including like keeping seven-meter feet away from the gorillas, keeping calm, staying within your groups are all highly emphasized, visitors are not allowed to touch the gorillas, do not feed the gorillas, and many more.
The cost of the gorilla habituation permit
The policy for gorilla trekking, applies to gorilla habituation experience to. Every traveller taking part in gorilla habituation, is recommended to have a valid gorilla trekking permit as the gate pass to the forest to trek the gorillas. The habituation permit costs $1500 per permit which much expensive than the normal gorilla trekking which is $600 per person, but the experience is worth the penny since traveller’s gat to have much time spent with the gorillas than gorilla trekking that lasts for only one hour. The time spend with the gorillas starts from the point when you encounter the gorillas. But the normal excise can last for 30 min to 7 hours of the day depending on the current location of the gorillas on that particular day Every day, maximum of 8 people is allowed to visit a single gorilla family making a total of eight permits sold on a particular day.
Therefor, travellers are advised to always book their permits early approximately 4 months in advance before the actual gorilla tracking day since they be on high demand and can be quickly sold out. The fee for gorilla habituation, includes the park entry fees, ranger guide fees and others. the permits can be booked directly through Uganda wild life Authority or any of the registered tour operator company offering gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.
The shortest route to Bwindi for gorilla habituation experience
Gorilla habituation currently is done at the Rushaga sector one of the four sectors in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. The sector is easily accessible from Kigali airport in Rwanda connecting to Kisoro, the drive time is approximately 2-3hours drive from the cyanikia boarder in Rwanda to Uganda. Its much easier to fly in Rwanda and track gorillas in Uganda since the distance is not long compared to travelling from Entebbe airport in Uganda to Bwindi which takes about 8-9 hours drive, this is quite a long journey but worth it since you will have a lot to view on the country side
Accommodation facilities in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park
Gorilla habituation experience safari takes you to Rushaga sector where this activity only takes place and having gorilla habituated families. The sector has several accommodation facilities established here ranging from mid-range, luxury and budget lodges with well furnished rooms and specious accommodation facilities from bar and lodge, with a restaurant serving both local and international cuisines to meet the interest of the clients. Some of the lodges in this sector include; Rushaga gorilla camp, Nshongi camp and Ichumbi gorilla lodge among others. Professional waiters, waitresses, chefs and housekeepers have been put in this lodges to ensure that travellers have an excellent and timely service delivery.
Other activities offered in Bwindi impenetrable forest
Besides gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation, which are the highlight of all the activities in the park, Bwindi also offers visitors other activities to complement the popular activities. These activities include; cultural visits to the nearby communities of the Bakiga and pygmy who were the fast inhabitants of the forest, nature walks where you will sight other animal species like, the whit and black colobus monkeys, baboons, forest elephants and others, Bwindi is a paradise of birds with over 360 recorded bird species, this is an ideal location for bird lovers. With all this together, you have a complete package to Bwindi national park for gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience a life changing experience.
for more information on gorilla habituation experience safari, or planning for this experience in Uganda, do contact us at adventure in the wild safaris we will be able to arrange this for you. We offer the best and memorable experience to our clients right from the start to the end of the safari.
