Why Is Gorilla Habituation Experience In Bwindi Overrated

Why is the gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi overrated and very expensive? Gorilla habitation in Bwindi Impenetrable National park is one of the costly activities but it’s worth every penny. Knowing that you are one of the lucky four tourists to help semi-wild mountain gorillas get used to the presence of humans is one in a lifetime experience.

A lot of research is required before a gorilla family is finally announced ready to be visited by tourists. Gorilla habituation for a fresh wild gorilla family may take over 5 years. This may not be the case for a breakaway family from a former gorilla trekking family which may take about 3 years. All this needs funding and this is one of the reasons for over-rating gorilla habituation in Bwindi Forest.

Gorilla habituation in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park is done in the southern sector of the park. Gorilla habituation in Bwindi was opened for tourists in 2014 by Uganda. A maximum of only 4 permits for gorilla habituation safari are released for the public to book per day.

Highlight Of Why Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Is Overrated

• For Funding mountain gorilla Research
• Salary For Ranger guides and Park wardens
• For security for the Mountain Gorillas
• Support Gorilla Medical treatment.
• Support the Community close to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
• To limit the number of Gorilla Habituators in Bwindi                                                                                 

For Funding mountain gorilla Research

Gorilla habituation goes hand in hand with research, so the price is quite high for this experience. Every day a team of rangers and researchers under the habituation program dedicate their time to following and noting done about a gorilla family under their surveillance.

This helps to understand the behavior of that gorilla family, note down the number of family members, and so much more. Such work requires a committed person who dedicated a big part of their life and days to following the wild mountain gorillas. In Bwindi, two gorilla families are served to cater for gorilla habituation but only 4 gorilla permits per family are opened to the public. Funds from gorilla habituation adventure are used to facilitate a part of this program.

Salary For Ranger guides and Park wardens in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

To encourage the ranger guides and park wardens to continue with the research work on gorilla habituation some funds must be in place. The staff of Uganda Wildlife Authority must be given financial support to facilitate their livelihood amidst the gorilla habituation process. This support boosts their lives as children are able to go to school and their home needs are catered for.

Some of the funds to support this comes from the gorilla habituation permits.

For the security Of the Mountain Gorillas

During gorilla habituation, adventure security officials check out the lives of mountain gorillas, and note down their numbers which assist in monitoring them. Also, mountain gorilla researchers offset snares in the forest by monitoring the environment in the forest.

The Uganda security operatives with the ranger guides ensure law and order is kept in and around the park. Gorilla monitoring equipment like radio calls must be serviced in time as this is the most used means of communication used amongst rangers in the field.

The funds from gorilla habituation are used to support this communication service.

Support Gorilla Medical treatment.

During gorilla habituation, some treatment may be required to be administered to injured mountain gorillas. Even if the mountain gorillas are wild animals and must do their own treatment, in case one is found badly injured, some treatment is used to save it. Mountain gorilla conservation has come a long way from about 250 gorillas left in the world to currently over 1000 mountain gorillas.

The gorilla veterinary officers need to buy the right treatment to save the mountain gorilla and this calls for using some funds from buying gorilla habituation permits.

Support the Community close to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

For the local community to continue participating in mountain gorilla conservation about 20% of the proceeds accrued annually are given to them to support local projects. Some of the funds are got from the sale of gorilla habituation permits.

Initially, the local people were against the existence of mountain gorillas especially after they strayed and ate their crops. When the locals were encouraged to participate in gorilla conservation through community projects, employed as ranger guides, some money from profits accumulated annually was given back to the local community, they started desiring to save the mountain gorillas.

To limit the number of Gorilla Habituators in Bwindi

Gorilla conservation is the main reason for gorilla habituation. To regulate the number of tourists who visit the mountain gorillas is one of the ways to encourage conservation. With the price of gorilla habituation which cost $1500 per person in Bwindi Forest the number of interested persons is regulated.

In case the gorilla habituators are many, they may trample on the vegetation that feeds the mountain gorillas, reduce on the chances for the mountain gorillas to reproduce and so much more inconvenience.

How To Book Gorilla Habituation Permit Of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After confirming the dates when you wish to do gorilla habituation, send us an inquiry then our safari personnel checks availability from Uganda Wildlife Authority. Remember only for gorilla habituation permits are released per day.

Upon getting availability, making a deposit for your gorilla habituation permit is the only confirmation that you are interested in this safari. No one is allowed to reserve the permit without a down payment. Due to high demand positive availability changes at any time yet a first come first served basis is used.

After acquiring your gorilla habituation permit, you are required to provide the details of your full name as per your passport, nationality, age, and passport expiry date as required by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

What Is the Cost of Gorilla Habituation Permit In Bwindi

$1500 per person is the cost of a gorilla Habituation permit of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. with this permit, you can spend at least 4 hours with the mountain gorillas and researchers. You take part in noting down the activities of the gorillas per that day, check the health condition of the mountain gorillas and so much more.

Is Gorilla Habituation Dangerous

Although these mountain gorillas are half habituated, they still have their wild side so follow the instructions from the researcher and ranger guide on escorting the group. In nature, mountain gorillas are serene primates that have never been announced as being violent to anyone. They are gentle and in case of any provocative behavior, they protest thumping their chest or retreating to the deeper ends of the park.

What Is the Best Time For Gorilla Habituation In Bwindi Forest

This is an all-year-round activity but the drier months that is June to September are more interesting. Even other primates like olive baboons, blue monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabey are very active because the forest is not so wet. The sun’s rays penetrate through the dense canopy to dry up the boggy trails. Even the Rivers do not overflow during this time

The severe wet seasons that is March to May have more wet paths and rainfalls without warning, expect to get wet while gorilla habituating during this time. Carry some rainproof gear for your safety.

What Is the Age Limit For gorilla habitation in Bwindi Forest

15 years and above is the age limit for gorilla habituation. This is because of the nature of the terrain that makes up the topography of Bwindi Forest.  Tourist below this age may not be in a position to hike to get to the gorillas during the gorilla habituation program.

Some provocative mountain gorillas may cause a child below this age to throw a tantrum which may cause a rampage in the forest.

The time taken to locate the mountain gorillas under habitation or even the 4 hours used to follow the mountain gorillas may not be convenient for a child below this age.

What To park For Gorilla habituation In Bwindi National park

• Foldable safari hat for covering your hair from dripping water off the tree leaves and flying insects in the jungle
• Tracking Boots to hike and locate the mountain gorillas especially when they are feeding from the slopes. Even if the forest is generally dense and boggy you need to protect your feet.
• Raincoat or Poncho as it rains without warning in this area so to avoid getting wet and cold and rainproof gear is important
• Garden gloves for holding a tighter grip when in the jungle as chances of tripping and failing may be unavoidable at times.
• Safari clothing long sleeved to cover your body from stinging nettles and rough surfaces in the jungle
• A pair of Binoculars to capture a clearer picture of the far-ranging beauties of the forest
• A camera to capture every important moment of the forest for memories
• Foldable water Bottle to carry drinking water during gorilla habituation
• A torch to use at the lodge when lights go out
• Travel Charger to use for recharging when your chargeable electronics run low on battery
• First Aid Box for quick help in case you get injured 
• Toiletries in case your lodge doesn’t offer them
• Energy treats to bite at when you get hungry.

For more information about why the Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi is overrated and expensive, kindly connect with our staff at the office via email and they will be glad to explain more. Please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and trip advisor to see what others have written about Encounter Africa Safaris.