COMPARISON BETWEEN GORILLA TREKKING AND GORILLA HABITUATION EXPERIENCE, BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK-UGANDA

Do you love gorilla safaris? Do you know the difference between Gorilla trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience? Well, traveling to either Uganda or Rwanda to see the critically endangered mountain gorillas is some thing that every visitor yearns to achieve in life. However, many visitors face great challenge when it comes to distinguishing between Gorilla trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience hence a critical factor in decision making especially on tourism products in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Besides the famous gorilla trekking that has captured the eyes of most tourists in the world, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has also launched Gorilla Habituation Experience one of the spectacular products for visitors to spark imaginations with the world star attractions the “rare mountain gorillas.” In case you are planning your trip to Uganda, it is important to consider not only gorilla trekking but also Gorilla Habituation Experience in order to have a life time experiences. Gorilla trekking was introduced in 1993 in the Northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with its ancient Mubare Habituation Gorilla Group while Gorilla Habituation Experience was launched recently in 2015, South of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest-Rushaga. These two remarkable tourism products tend to confuse visitors but we can help you to understand them.

MIST AT BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST

Below is comparison between Gorilla trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience. We hope this will be of help to you as you plan your gorilla safari to Uganda.

TREK AND HABITUATE MOUNTAIN GORILLA

The cost of gorilla permits

If you are interested in partaking gorilla trekking experiences in Uganda, the permit costs $600 during the peak season. This price applies to visitors who wish to track the mountain gorillas from the months of June to September and December to February. It is during these months that gorilla tracking or trekking is said to be at its peak season in Uganda and several tourists travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park a reason why the price for the gorilla permit remains at $600. During the low season the price for the gorilla permit costs $450 especially from the months of March to May, October to November. The gorilla permit is very vital in for Gorilla trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience because it is what allows the visitors to interact with the mountain gorillas. These gorilla permits also include costs on park entrance, tour guide who will be there to make your trek fantastic. However, price for gorilla trekking is relatively cheaper. Whereas Gorilla Habituation Experience, the cost of gorilla permit goes at $1500 per person and this caters for the same costs like it is in gorilla trekking but the difference is a visitor is accompanied by Researchers whose duty is to habituate the wild mountain gorillas. Remember gorilla permit gives visitors over 95% golden opportunity to stare into the eyes of these impressive creatures. Get your permit and share your experiences with the rest of world because a handful of experts have managed to see these world stars in their jungle!

GORILLA PERMITS ARE ONLY $600 AND $1500 

To book the gorilla permit

The gorilla permit for habituation experience can be obtained on the ground whereas for gorilla trekking can be obtained at any authorized tour operator and in this case you can consult Maranatha Tours and Travel to help you book your permit in advance from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) head offices in Kampala.

The time spent in gorilla trekking and habituation experience

The cost of the gorilla permit is worth rewarding the senses with spark of imaginations mostly with the majestic mountain gorillas once in a life time as you spend only 1 hour with them during the trek. Depending on the Habituated Gorilla Group that will be assigned to you, but in normal cases visitors spend from 30 minutes to three quarters of the trek while looking for these astonishing wild creatures in their habitat. On the other hand, never miss to get an incredible experience during Gorilla Habituation Experience because visitors have all the 4 hours to be with the mountain gorillas in their wilderness, some thing that rewards beyond what you expected in life. If you are not on hurry and you want to spend much time or to explore the reality about the mountain gorillas, then consider Gorilla Habituation Experience in your list of experiential gorilla adventures to be encountered in Uganda. One most important thing to note is that Gorilla Habituation Experience is an all day experience that visitors have to spend while habituating the mountain gorillas with the researchers. This is an amazing experience indeed for scientists or researchers to grab to help them explore more on the feeding, nesting, mating and other unique features of the mountain gorillas in their wilderness.

SILVERBACK GORILLA

Where to go for gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience

Gorilla trekking can be perfectly done within the 4 trail-heads of Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Visitors are assigned one of the habituated gorilla groups that are set for tourism purposes in any of the four trail-heads. However, for Gorilla Habituation Experiences you will be at Rushaga area because it is the only place for you to inspire the senses. At Rushaga, there are only 2 gorilla groups that are set for visitors to do Gorilla Habituation Experience and this takes place in Bushaho and Biking. You should also bear in mind that only 4 persons are allowed to go for Gorilla Habituation Experience hence only 2 groups are allowed per day and there is no crowding unlike for gorilla trekking only 8 people are allowed to trek one gorilla family each day.

MOUNTAIN GORILLAS AT BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST

In conclusion, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park has got diverse opportunities for visitors to achieve their dreams on gorilla safaris. Visitors can now choose to do Gorilla trekking or Gorilla Habituation Experience where they will be acclimatize the mountain gorillas to human presence. Gorilla Habituation Experience is only found in Uganda, no where else in the world! However, if you fail to trek the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, then never miss to be at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for you to get fascinating gorilla experiences. Enjoy your gorilla safaris in Uganda!