Uganda is a home to approximately half of the world’s endangered mountain gorilla population, and gorilla habituation in Uganda is one of the most incredible wildlife experiences on the continent.
Gorilla habituation is the process of taming a group of extremely wild gorillas and getting them to be less aggressive to human visits. Upon the discovery of gorillas, human interest to visit and see them (up close) was birthed. However, because wild gorillas can be very aggressive, a plan to slowly get them accustomed to human visits (Habituation) was necessary before humans could risk being attacked and killed by the gorillas – it’s this proceed that we now call Gorilla Habituation.
WHERE TO FIND MOUNTAIN GORILLAS IN UGANDA
You can find mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (in the southwest of Uganda) and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (near the northern border of Rwanda). Bwindi is the larger and more popular of the two habitats, and it’s also the home of the Gorilla Habituation Experience.
Bwindi is divided into four sectors for gorilla trekking, spread across 331 square kilometers of dense forest.
The sectors are Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga, with each sector housing multiple gorilla families.
Buhoma, located in the north, is the most popular sector as the treks are less strenuous and the gorilla families are easier to find here. The Gorilla Habituation Experience takes place in the Rushaga sector, located in the south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
HOW GORILLAS ARE HABITUATED
The habituation process usually lasts a period of 2-3 years and involves a team of qualified researchers and veterinarians (accompanied by the locals for extra support). The team sets out on a long term mission to visit a selected wild gorilla group whilst closely studying its behavior and getting it used to humans getting gradually closed and closer till the group accepts and tolerant to visits,. It is after confirmation that the group is accepting of human visits that it is considered ready for gorilla trekking.
Park rangers start the habituation process by spending a short period of time with the gorillas each day, maintaining a specific distance at the limit of the gorillas’ comfort zone. Every few months they gradually increase the time and reduce the distance until they are certain that the gorillas are ready for tourists to visit them.
Whilst the gorillas are not yet completely habituated (the gorillas are used to trackers and rangers, but not to strangers or tourists) the Gorilla Habituation Experience will help to ensure that they will eventually become fully comfortable in the company of humans.
WHAT DOES IT COST TO DO GORILLA HABITUATION?
The price of gorilla habituation permits in Uganda varies based on residence status as indicated below;
- Non- residents (Foreign tourists) $1500 per person
- Residents (expats) $1000 per person
- East Africans (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi) UGX 750,000 PER PERSON
NOTE: Rates mentioned above include guide fee, park entrance fees for the day and community development contribution.
WHY IS GORILLA HABITUATION SO EXPENSIVE?
While you are pondering and thinking gorilla habituation is expensive, be informed that Rwanda charges the same ($1500 per person) for a standard 01 hour with a group of habituated mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national park, it starts to sound more financially worthwhile spending $1500 to stay 4 hours while a gorilla family in Uganda’s Bwindi forest national park.
The money charged as permit fees is re-invested in gorilla conservation. Remember there is only a few (approximately 1000) of them left on earth. The numbers were far less before gorilla trekking and habituation was introduced. Together lets support gorilla conservation.
HOW DOES GORILLA HABITUATION COMPARE TO NORMAL GORILLA TREKKING?
- The price & the experience
Gorilla trekking costs $700 per person and you get to spend 01 hour with an already habituated gorilla family. Gorilla habituation unlike gorilla trekking costs more ($1500 per person) but allows you to spend 04 hours with mountain gorillas still under habituation (still wild and not yet ready for gorilla trekking).
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION WORTH READING BEFORE YOU GO
What is the official age limit for habituation?
Like it is with the regular gorilla trekking, the minimum age to go for the habituation experience is 15 years old.
Gorilla habituation permits.
Upon inquiry about booking a habituation safari, we will revert to your email asking you to state the actual intended dates) that you would prefer to do the habituation experience. We will then contact UWA for the availability of permits) for the dates) you sent us. After confirming that there is gorilla habituation permits) available, then our consultants) will send you an email with all relevant information regarding your gorilla habituation permit booking procedure, documentation and safari payment plan.
Special note: Just as is for gorilla trekking, so it is for habituation permits- full amount $1500 in order for Primate Safari Experiences to book you on this tour.
Best time to go on a habituation encounter
The best time to go is in the drier months of June-October and December to March when the area receives less rainfall and it is drier. This is also the time people have summer holidays. However, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is a rain forest, meaning it can rain anytime of the year and of the day. The forest is wet most of the time and that is why we recommend that you come with a rain jacket for gorilla trekking and habituation. During the wet months, mountain gorillas do not move very far to look for their favorite food.
Gorilla Habituation rules and regulations
- Keep a distance of about 5 to 7 meters which is about 15 feet from the mountain gorillas. This way you protect the mountain gorillas from diseases and illness humans may be carrying and not seem threatening to gorillas.
- Stay together as a group when are in the presence of the gorillas to reduce potential confusion of the gorillas.
- Voices need to be kept low and it is best to keep silence and just treasure the moment with the mountain gorillas.
- Do not partake of food or drinks and no smoking in the presence of the mountain gorillas
- Don’t stare straight into gorilla’s eyes – this can be seen to be aggressive.
- Don’t ever run from a gorilla – if one approaches you just act submissive and crouch down.
- If you sneeze or cough, turn your head away from gorillas so as not to spread your germs.
- No flash photography is permitted. Do not make a lot of movement when taking pictures keep it calm.
- There is no touching or attempting to touch the Gorillas.
- Keep your voices down until you are well out of range of the mountain gorillas.
What to wear / bring on your gorilla habituation experience?
What to wear on the trek
Hiking Boots: As we mentioned earlier, gorilla trekking requires one to hike for long distances in dense forest. The forest trails can be muddy and steep hence presenting challenges to trackers. With the challenges in mind, a tracker needs to acquire shoes with good grip/traction and can cover the feet/ankles. With such shoes, one can easily walk for long hours in the forest without slipping or getting pierced by thorns.
Clothing: Not all clothes are suitable for the African jungle. The clothes for gorilla trekking should be made of light material and water proof. They should cover most parts of your body to protect you from thorns and sharp vegetation in the jungle. A tracker must wear a long sleeved top and a long pair of trousers. A tracker must also be selective of the colors. He or she should choose what is known as jungle colors – cream, brown, grey and dark green. Very bright colors make you stand out and could attract unnecessary attention from the gorillas.
Raincoat and sweater: The weather in most of the gorilla parks is very unpredictable. You can start the hike when the sun is bright and the rains come suddenly. As a tracker, you must carry a rain jacket before going out to look for the gorillas. The Volcanoes and Mgahinga National Park are located in areas of high altitude. It can get very cold especially during the wet season. A sweater will help you keep warm during and after gorilla trekking. You also need a cap to protect your head from sunlight and sunglasses to protect your eyes from the same. Hand gloves will help protect your hands from sharp tree branches.
What to bring on the trek
Insect Repellents: Mountain gorillas live in countries lying in the tropics with many irritating insects like mosquitos. We recommend that you carry an insect repellent to protect yourself from insect bites. Try to pack deodorants, perfumes, shavers and hand sanitizers so that you can look and smell good during your trip. You should even consider packing toilet paper, wipes, tooth paste and a tooth brush.
Snacks, packed lunch and drinking water: Gorilla trekking takes between 2 to 4 hours depending on the group you will be tracking. You might find yourself exhausted, thirsty and hungry. You will therefore need drinking water, energy drinks and light snacks for lunch. The packed lunch and water can be arranged from your lodge but if that is not possible, and then you can buy them from a supermarket in the nearby towns.
Camera with a great focus, strong battery and memory: Why would you go for a gorilla trekking without taking any photos? Gorilla trekking is a very special wildlife experience and you need to have both mental and physical memories that you can show your friends/family. A very good camera is important to capture the primates but also the beautiful volcanoes and forest creatures. Do not use flash cameras while with the gorillas.
Binoculars: Gorilla trekking is not all about gorillas. You will be encountering pristine wilderness with an amazing collection of wildlife including small primates, butterflies, moths, birds, antelopes, forest hogs and much more. A binocular will help you spot all these creatures as you search for the gorillas.
CONCLUSION
The habituation experience offers a more relaxed and enriching encounter with the gorillas. You’ll feel less rushed and you’ll have plenty of time to fully absorb this incredible wildlife experience.
