Mountain Gorillas are an endangered species found in only two isolated forests of Central-Eastern Africa, spanning parts of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Approximately 50% of the remaining mountain gorilla populations inhabit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southwestern Uganda and since 1993, a robust tourism industry has developed around tourists viewing Mountain Gorilla groups.
Habituating mountain gorillas has been encouraged for conservation, tourism, and research purposes, the decision to habituate a Gorilla group weigh cost and benefits.
Gorilla Habituation Experience - Rushaga Gorilla Sector Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
African great apes have long elicited a deep fascination among their human relatives. Because of their close physical and behavioral resemblance to our species, local traditional beliefs portray great apes as distant relatives, often prohibiting their killing and consumption. Researchers from all over the world have been drawn to Africa by the opportunity to study great apes, providing insight into how our species evolved under similar environmental conditions.
What is Mountain Gorilla Habituation?
Gorilla habituation is the gradual and mild introduction of a family of wild gorillas to the presence of humans. Wild gorillas are habituated so researchers can learn about the species, treat them for illness and injuries, guard them against hunters, and enhance their conservation efforts with sustainable tourism.
How to purchase a Mountain Gorilla Habituation Permit
Travelers who want to habituate Wild Mountain Gorillas must book a gorilla habituation permit in advance; Adyeri Creations Limited is a trusted tour operator in Africa, kindly send us your travel dates and the date you would like to habituate wild mountain gorillas, so we can book for you a gorilla habituation permit in advance since they sell out so fast.
What is the difference between Gorilla Habituation and Gorilla Tracking?
Gorilla Habituation is much more enjoyable than the Gorilla Tracking encounter, Gorilla habituation takes all day with the gentle giants while the normal gorilla tracking experience only takes only one hour upon seeing a gorilla family. Gorilla habituation experience cost USD 1500 per person for foreign non residents, USD 1000 per person for foreign residents, and USD 200 per person for East African citizens while gorilla tracking experience cost USD 700 per person for foreign non residents, USD 400 per person for foreign residents and USD 40 per person for East African citizens. Only 4 visitors are allowed to habituate mountain gorillas per day and 8 visitors are allowed to track the Ape on a normal gorilla tracking excursion daily.
There are 21 habituated gorilla families active for tracking daily, these include Mubare, Rushegura, Katwe, Muyambi, Habinyanja in Buhoma Gorilla Sector, Oruzogo, Bitukura, Kyaguliro in Ruhija Gorilla Sector, Bweza, Nshogi, Mishaya, Kahungye in Rushaga Gorilla Sector, Christmas, Bushaho, Bikingi, and Nkuringo in Nkuringo Gorilla Sector, Nyakagezi in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and only two gorilla families on research and habituation in the Rushaga Sector – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Best months of the Year to habituate Wild Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat
The best time to habituate mountain gorillas in Uganda in June, July, August, and September, and December, January, February, and March when forest trails are dry. From June to September gorilla habituation permits should be booked in advance – this period is called the pick/high season. Mountain Gorillas habituation experience can be done in the Rushaga Sector - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda, the wet season starts in April to May, and October to November, it’s during this period the roads become slippery, tracking trail become so thick and bushy hence poor visibility and photography of the wild mountain gorillas.
Mountain Gorilla Habitat altitudes
Due to the extensive habitat conversion surrounding the national parks, mountain gorillas are confined to high altitudes 1,100-2,400 m in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
How do Wild Mountain Gorillas survive in the Forest?
Their diet is predominantly herbaceous, although significant differences exist between the Virunga and the Bwindi populations. The Bwindi population also incorporates considerable amounts of fruit in its diet according to seasonal availability. Mountain gorilla groups generally comprise 10-18 individuals.
What to pack on your Gorilla Trek
This the most asked question for travelers intending to habituate wild mountain gorillas, Gorilla habituation experience is a unique adventure – for one to habituate gentle giants, travelers are required to possess a valid passport, covid 19 certificates, yellow fever card, valid gorilla habituation permit, hiking boots, long-sleeved shirt, waterproof trouser, sweater, gloves, headgear or a hat, sunglasses, good camera, snacks, packed lunch, drinking water, a walking stick and binoculars, when these items are in hand with potential travelers, mark it as a successful gorilla trek and a memorable once in a lifetime experience.
Mountain Gorilla Rules and Regulations
Before habituating wild mountain gorillas, all travelers attend a simple briefing about the rules and regulations while with the mountain gorillas. These rules are put to ensure the safety of gorillas and trekkers in the jungle. These rules and regulations were put by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to protect the endangered mountain gorillas and travelers from the possibility of disease transmission from human to gorilla hence gorilla conservation and protection of the gentle giants.
Rules and regulations
Maintenance of a distance of 7 meters between the tourist and the gorillas.
A maximum of four tourists can visit a group of wild mountain gorillas in a day.
When you approach the gorillas, the guide will inform you when to get your cameras ready - No flash photography is allowed in the presence of mountain gorillas.
Eating, drinking, and smoking while you are near wild Mountain Gorillas are not permitted.
Tourists with cough or flu will not be allowed to habituate wild mountain gorillas because we share almost the same DNA.
Littering in the park is not permitted. Everything you bring into the park should be carried out with you or your potter.
After a successful gorilla trek, you are advised to keep your voice low until you are 200 meters away from the gorillas.
Feeding wild mountain gorillas is not allowed.