Gorilla Habituation in Uganda
Gorilla Habituation in Uganda is one of the top Gorilla Safari Experiences where travelers get to spend more time with the gorillas. Gorilla Habituation in Uganda is an activity that involves habituators (travelers) alongside armed rangers and the guide to penetrate deep into Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park in search of semi habituated mountain gorilla families and train them to be comfortable in presence of human beings. The art of gorilla habituation experience in Uganda lasts with in a period of 2 to 3 years for a particular gorilla family to get used to human presence and be open for gorilla trekking which the major activity is done in Uganda the pearl of Africa.
In 2014, the board governing the wildlife in Uganda known as the Uganda Wildlife Authority “UWA” introduced gorilla habituation experience as part of tourist activity other than gorilla trekking that allows just an hour in presence of mountain gorillas, this was done to allow travelers who wish spend ample time in the jungle and take part in learning different behaviors of mountain gorillas and training them how to be free with human beings. Gorilla habituation experience in Uganda allows only 4 people with researcher and armed rangers to take part in this fascinating excursion of following up the semi- habituated mountain gorillas as they roam the forest in search of food, and do their daily duties of breastfeeding, copulating, nesting among others. During habituation, habituators are in position to take as many photographs as possible as long as the cameras have no flash light.
Gorilla habituation experience in Uganda is done at a cost of $1500 per person for Foreign Nonresidents, $1000 for Foreign Residents and UgX.750, 000 for Ugandans and other East African community members. Since there are always few gorilla families available for habituation in most cases only two gorilla families in Rushaga sector are always set aside for habituation experience and only four people per family are allowed to take part in this activity, this calls for a timely booking of the gorilla habituation permit to avoid missing out this adventurous activity in the pearl of Africa. These habituation permits can be obtained either directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) or by using a registered tour operator to book these permits for you at ease.
Well gorilla habituation experience in Uganda is carried out in only one sector and that is none other than Rushaga sector situated in the southern corner of Bwindi impenetrable national park. Rushaga sector not only the best destination for gorilla habituation experience in Uganda but also the best place for gorilla trekking adventures as it is the home to the biggest percentage of habituated mountain gorillas. More so, Rushaga sector is the best place to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda from Rwanda due to its close vicinity which take roughly 3-5 hours to drive from Kigali to Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Other than Rushaga sector, Bwindi has other three sectors for gorilla trekking including Buhoma sector in the Northern part of the park which was the first sector to be opened up for gorilla trekking in uganda. Other sectors include Ruhija, and Nkuringo all situated in Bwindi impenetrable national park. However, these other three sectors aren’t open for gorilla habituation and it is still being conducted in Rushaga sector.
Requirements for gorilla habituation experience in Uganda
Since gorilla habituation experience in Uganda requires real hiking up and down Bwindi Impenetrable forest, one need to plan for it in advance and obtain all the possible information about the requirements necessary for a successful gorilla habituation in Uganda the pearl of Africa. Below are some of the requirements and the things to include in your backpack for a gorilla habituation experience.
First of all, book your Gorilla Habituation at least 6 months in advance and it goes for $1500 to habituate gorillas in Uganda.
A camera should never miss out in any travelers backpack to take all the everlasting fascinating moments with the primates.
An appropriate hiking attire with include water proof hiking shoes, Long sleeved attire both light and heavy, a rain jacket , a warm sweater , sun glasses, and garden gloves.
Since this is a full day trail in the jungle, one needs to pack enough drinking water and some snack to munch on as you hike in the jungles.
A hiking stick is always provided at the lodge during briefing session and it assists in hiking hilly trails and slippery trails.
Endeavor to hire a porter to assist in carrying excess luggage.
Where to stay during gorilla habituation experience in Uganda
Worried of where to stay during gorilla habituation experience in Uganda? I bring you the accommodation facilities where travelers on a gorilla habituation experience in Uganda stay. Since gorilla habituation experience in Uganda is carried out in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable national park, habituators should opt for accommodation facilities with in Rushaga sector. There are several accommodation facilities within the sector with different amenities ranging from Budget, Midrange and Luxury depending on the choice of the habituators and their budget. Some of these accommodations include; Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Chameleon hill lodge, Gorilla safari lodge, Nshongi forest camp, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Ichumbi Gorilla camp among others.
What are other things to do in Uganda other than gorilla habituation?
Gorilla habituation experience can easily be combined with other Uganda safaris such as Gorilla trekking safari, wildlife safaris, birding safaris, cultural tours among others. This is best achieved by getting in touch with a reputable tour operator such as Achieve Global Safaris that mobilizes the best Uganda safaris in the pearl of Africa.
Conclusion
Taking part in Gorilla habituation experience in Uganda is one of the best gorilla safari that one ought to enjoy at least once in the lifetime. Allowing travelers to spend a full day in the jungles Bwindi Impenetrable forest a home to more than a half of mountain gorillas that exist in the wild today. This tiring adventure is always considered full day due to the fact that semi- habituated gorillas keep running away from human beings and habituators have to follow them up until they finally stop and no one is ever sure of when these endangered primates stop moving thus habituation time is unpredicted.
