Habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park may increase following the news that Uganda wildlife Authority is habituating another gorilla family called Bikingi. Biking is not yet open to visits by tourist but healthy visits and habituation is still going on. Habituation can take from two to three years where researchers keep visiting a given gorilla family every day as they observe the behaviours of individual gorillas and the way they respond to human presence. Mountain gorillas are then given names and as they get used to humans, a mock exercise is conducted before tourists visit the family. If the mock exercise becomes successful, then the family may be opened for tracking by tourists.

According to report, Dr Rick in a company of Uganda Wildlife Authority Rangers and guides trekked this new family Bikingi and it was discovered that it has 16 individuals which is quite a good number and fourteen members were seen on the day. The dominant silver back Bikingi was un easy with the visit of humans but it is hoped that as habituation progressed, he will get used to them. Other members remained calm and showed signs of friendship. It was further noted that Bikingi silverback had a fresh wood on his eye will the rest of the family members looked healthy.

If this habituation is completed then Bwindi Impenetrable National Park will have 11 habituated mountain gorilla families which include Bitukura, Kyaguriro, Oruzogo in the east, Mubare, Habinyanja and Rushegura in the north, Busingye, Mishaya, Nshongi, Kahungye, Bweza and Nkuringo in the south.

For anyone to trek mountain gorillas, a permit costing USD600.00 is required and can be obtained/booked when you contact us and it allows you to trek and spend one hour with a given habituated gorilla family. During low season, Uganda wildlife Authorit offers discounted gorilla permits and are currently at USD350.00 per person per trek for the months of April, May and November. Please note that the age limit for trekking mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda is 15 years and if your age is doubted, you may be asked to produce your birth certificate. It is believed that children below the age of 15 can sometime be emotions and they reaction may be strange if they encounter mountain gorillas. Others believe that children may easily spread diseases to mountain gorillas which may in turn become dangerous to them.

For more information about mountain gorillas, gorilla trekking and how to book a gorilla tour, do not hesitate to contact us