Groups for gorilla habituation experience in Uganda

December 18, 2015

Groups for gorilla habituation experience in Uganda

Gorilla habituation is the process of bringing wild mountain gorillas closer to humans for a limited time. An American Naturalist Dian Fossey during her research from 1967 in Volcanoes National park Rwanda managed to befriend the mountain gorillas first this process. With her observation, she discovered that bringing humans to the presence of the mountain gorillas would reduce the animosity between the two. She was later brutally murdered in 1985 by unknown assailants.

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During gorilla habituation, you follow semi-habituated mountain gorillas in the wild so expect some unusual behavior like hiding away from you and others. They are still shy gorillas so you have to be very careful with every instruction given by the researchers and rangers.

In Uganda, the gorilla habituation process happens in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. So far only two gorilla families have been opened for habituation and the third is still not ready for this process.

Gorilla habituation started in Uganda in 2014 but gained momentum from 2015 to date. Many tourists are requesting this one-in-a-lifetime moment with semi-wild mountain gorillas. This is one reason why the gorilla habituation permits get sold off fast.

How Long Is Gorilla Habituation In Uganda

During gorilla habituation, you use only 4 hours to be with the mountain gorillas when you locate them. a maximum of only 4 tourists are allowed to be in the presence of the mountain gorillas. For gorilla trekking, only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas.

A group of researchers and habituators follows the mountain gorillas with the tourists from de nesting time to the construction of nests.

The way is sometimes slippery and boggy because of regular rains that fall without warning so you need to have some patience. This is because the mountain gorillas are not yet accustomed to human presence. They may keep hiding in the deeper ends of the forest and the ranger guide has to create a way through the crisscrossing creepers that dangle down the branches. Sometimes the ranger has to use a machete to cut through and make a way for the tourists to pass.

How To book Gorilla Habituation Permits In Uganda

Have a date when you wish to do gorilla habituation and the number of people hoping to travel with. Remember two gorilla families are so far open for gorilla habituation and a maximum of 4 persons are allowed to visit per day.

When you enquire from Encounter Africa Safaris, our safari consultant checks availability from the Uganda Wildlife Authority list.

In case it’s positive and the number of people you hope to travel with can be covered, we recommend that you purchase your gorilla habituation permit as soon as possible. Because of their limited number, they are highly demanded and sold off fast.

First come first serve is the method used to sell gorilla habituation permits so none is reserved on behalf of anyone without payment.

Some details are required to issue the gorilla habituation permit card including nationality, date of birth, passport expiry date, and full name as indicated on your passport.

This s card is the one you present on the gorilla habituation day for confirmation as one who is booked for this activity.

How Much Is The Cost Of a Gorilla Habituation Permit

At the moment, each gorilla habituation permits costs $1500 per person per trek but you have more time with the mountain gorillas which is 4 hours compared to 1 hour allowed for gorilla trekking.

The cost of a gorilla habituation permit includes

Park Fees

Each Uganda national park levies park fees per person, which is used to support the conservation of wildlife. The Uganda Wildlife Authority gets its funds from the sale of permits and other activities even from donors.

Part of this fee is included in the cost of the gorilla habituation permit in Uganda.

Ranger guide fees

The gorilla habituation permits include the ranger guide fee which is part of the salary given to the rangers for their dedicated time to conserving the mountain gorillas. The ranger guides provide details about the mountain gorillas, other forest habitats, and much more that make your experience an unforgettable safari. they deserve to be encouraged by giving them their salaries.

Security of the mountain Gorilla area

This being a wild forest, the mountain gorillas need to be protected from poachers and the community around these conservation areas. The ranger guides work with other Uganda security organs to give protection to the tourists and the community around this area.

Community support

To promote mountain gorillas, the community around their habitats must be sensitized and included in the conservation program. 20% of the annual profits from mountain gorilla activities are given to the community to support their projects.

This helps them deal with community projects like medical care, water source maintenance, road maintenance, and others. In turn, the community caters to the mountain gorillas when they stray into their environment.

Park maintenance

To prepare for the gorilla trekkers and habituators, the Uganda Wildlife Authority keeps the trails and tracks clear the headquarters, and communication equipment up to date. Some clearances are made in preparation for the coming of visitors.

Gorilla Medication

The mountain gorillas may be wild and should provide their own medication but at times need support from the ranger guides. They are at times trapped in snares and fall ill so the gorilla doctors come in to assist but this medication has to be bought using part of these funds.

How Difficult Is Gorilla habituation In Uganda?

The nature of the gorilla trekking area is volcanic where you may have to walk over the ridges and plateaus. This is why you need to do some exercises so that you can manage to go through the trek with fewer chances of getting muscle pulls. The jungle is quite challenging at times but when you locate the mountain gorillas, you forget all you have been through. The joy of meeting the mountain gorillas is unmatched.

What Is The Age Limit For Gorilla Habituation In Uganda

The gorilla habituation age limit is 15 years and above because these are assumed to be mature enough for forest huddles.

The time of locating the mountain gorillas during habituation is unknown which requires some patience. It may be quite hard for a child below this age to withstand this time.

The way to the mountain gorillas is slippery, soggy, and sloppy at times. This may be quite challenging for a child below the age of 15 years. So the level of fitness is necessary for you to go through this experience which may not be with a child below this age.

The first glance at the mountain gorillas is scary at times which may cause the child to shout yet unfamiliar noise scares the mountain gorillas. They may go into hiding or cause a stampede in the forest.

The provocative nature of the mountain gorillas may scare a child below this age which may cause them to react in a way that may agitate the mountain gorillas causing them to go into hiding.

When Is the best time to Do Gorilla Habituation In Uganda?

Any time is open for gorilla habituation but the preferred time is the drier months that is June to September and December to January. This is because fewer spots of rain are expected to fall in this period.

Even other forest dwellers like birds, and monkeys. Butterflies and others are more active. Although the sunlight penetration into the Bwindi forest is not strong, it is fairly better in this season.

The low seasons that is March to May and November also have their advantages like

Fewer tourists are received so you have a high chance of taking an unprepared solo gorilla habituation adventure.

The low seasons normally come with discounted services from some providers like accommodations, car hire, driver guides, and others. You may have a chance of using upmarket facilities with a limited budget during this season.

Having obstruction from other tourists when taking photos or filming is limited too in the low seasons. It is easier to get better shots this season.

For exclusive gorilla habituation where you cut off a gorilla family or area for just you, it of possible in the low season when fewer people are booked.

Rules of Gorilla Habituation In Uganda

No, spitting on vegetation as it is food for the mountain gorillas and it’s one way to pass the infection to the mountain gorillas.
When eating or smoking, do it at least 200 meters from the mountain gorillas so that they do not grab it from you. They are wild animals that must search for their own food.
Littering in the forest is forbidden because it alters the nature of the forest where mountain gorillas live. they feed on vegetation that thrives in the forest. Even other forest dwellers feed on this vegetation.
In case you wish to defecate, ask the ranger guide to dig a hole for you about 30 cm deep and cover well afterward beyond recognition. This is to prevent forest dwellers from exhuming this waste.
Anyone with communicable infections like flu, cough, coronavirus, and others is not allowed to be with the mountain gorillas because they are highly susceptible to these infections. Volunteer to stay behind in case you catch any communicable infections.
A person below 15 years is not allowed to be in the presence of mountain gorillas. Because of the above reasons.
Keep your voice low or quiet when searching for the mountain gorillas so that you do not distract even other forest dwellers.
When taking photographs, do not use a flash because it may scare the mountain gorillas. They are agitated by new occurrences in their presence.
If you need to cough or sneeze, do it away from the mountain gorillas so that you do not pass an infection to them
Provoking or teasing the mountain gorillas is not advised because you do not know how they may react to this.
When you meet the mountain gorillas, keep a distance of about 200 meters from them. this is one of the ways of preventing chances of passing an infection to the mountain gorillas.
Only four hours are allowed with the semi-wild mountain gorillas when you meet them. They are habituated to being in the presence of humans for just that time. This is to allow them to go about there day to day activities like feeding, grooming, and making babies and others with less distraction.

What to pack For gorilla Habituation In Uganda

Safari wears colors like tan and Khaki that are wilderness friendly that cannot show dirt.
Safari boots that you can use while in the wilderness to pass through soggy trails and rough surfaces
Garden gloves to cover your palms in case you fall while in the wilderness.
Warm jacket or poncho to cover yourself in case it gets too cold in the morning and late afternoon.
Snacks to feed on because breakfast is taken too early to last you the entire trek.
Insect repellant to smear yourself with and protect yourself from biting insects in the wilderness.
Pajamas to put on at night when it gets cold because this area is extremely cold at the night.
Extra clothes to wear after gorilla trekking.
Waterproof light backpack to carry with your belongings so that they do not get lost in the jungle or when you slip and fall.
Sunscreen to smear on your body because Uganda is a tropical country so expect the sun rays.
A camera to capture photos of the memories of your experience with the mountain gorillas.
Rain gear in case it rains any time without warning. This tropical forest receives rain at any time without warning.
Some money to exchange into local currency in order to purchase anything personal on the ground.
Safari hat to wear over your head and cover your hair from water dripping off the tree branches and moist atmosphere.