Gorilla Trekking Vs Habituation Experience (Updated 2024)
Gorilla Trekking Vs Habituation – What is a gorilla habituation experience, and how does it differ from gorilla trekking? We’ve got all the info you need to know, as well as advice on what to wear, how much it costs, and other such details to help you plan a fantastic adventure!
The argument between gorilla trekking and habituation experience is relevant when discussing gorilla safaris because these two activities are the main attractions. Mountain gorillas are found in the three nations of Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo, and they can be traveled there. The only way to observe them since they are habituated in their natural environment is by going on a gorilla trekking expedition.
Since Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda is the only park with a family that isn’t yet fully habituated and allows visitors to experience gorilla habituation, it is the only park where mountain gorilla habituation is conducted.
The best activity to partake in is a topic of constant discussion for travelers. To assist you to decide exactly how you want to view the surviving population of these endangered mountain gorillas, we are providing you with this guide on gorilla trekking and habituation.
Exploring Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla Trekking Experiences & Testimonies
Exploring Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | Uganda
Our first stop in Uganda – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park turned out to be so much more than we expected. Not only is it THE place to track mountain gorillas in Uganda, but it is a beautiful forest, home to other primates, many birds, and some nice waterfalls. During our time in Bwindi, we stayed at Gorilla Safari Lodge, located in Rushaga sector and got a chance to visit the Rushaga community as well as the Batwa Community living just outside the forest. Before Bwindi was declared a National Park, the Batwa people used to live in the forest. They hunted, ate fruits, and lived in harmony with the forest. After being kicked out of the park, they were forced to move to Rushaga and now rely on tourism for income to sustain themselves and their families. We hope our visit will inspire others to add Bwindi to their list of must-see destinations in Uganda!
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Almost half of the planet’s remaining mountain gorillas live within the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. It’s one of only three locations left in the world where people can see these critically endangered animals in the wild. Located in Southwestern Uganda, Bwindi covers 124 square miles (320 square kilometers) of mountain forests and jungle well-known for its rich biodiversity. Besides the iconic mountain gorillas, there are about 120 species of mammals, 300 birds, and 202 species of butterflies who all live amongst the 200 different tree types and 100 types of fern. While the park is also a birdwatcher’s paradise (typical sightings of 150 species in a single day isn’t uncommon) and has more mammal species than any other of Uganda’s national parks, travelers come to this UNESCO World Heritage Site to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. After our recent gorilla trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, we realized that our trekking guides, their families, and the community were in desperate need of supplies. We have contacts with the local clinic and can send supplies directly to them. The people that protect and care for the last remaining 700 mountain gorillas in the wild also need our help. Without these women, men, and children who tirelessly watch over these majestic animals, gorillas in the wild will go extinct. Please help the gracious community who do not have the resources they need for basic health, schooling, playtime. There aren’t any deep-pocket NGOs supporting this community. They fund their own school and clinic both of which are completely drained of all imaginable resources. Remember, buying something off of this list will go directly to all the people we met in the Kahurire Village in Uganda.
Gorilla Habituation Experiences & Testimonies
Our Gorilla Habituation Experience in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
On our recent trip to Uganda we visited the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and did a Gorilla Habituation Experience. Unlike the standard gorilla trekking experience, this trek allowed us to meet a semi-habituated gorilla family and observe them for almost four hours. The most impressive moment came soon after we reached the family and they were all up in the trees. After a few minutes the huge silverback male climbed down from his tree and ambled straight past us, totally unconcerned with our presence. This is because he has come from a family that had been fully habituated before forming his own family. Everyone in the gorilla family follows the lead of this enormous gorilla and so did we! The family consisted of 8 gorillas in total, the silverback, five females and a male and female infant. Half of the family were reluctant to come close but two of the females, the silverback and the male infant were quite happy with us around. The baby tried to show us how brave he was by beating his chest in front of us – too cute! They truly are beautiful creatures and it’s great that the money we spent goes toward helping protect them. We were blessed with excellent weather for our experience, except on our way back where we had a little bit of rain. It could have been a lot worse!
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda – Mountain Gorilla Habituation Experience
We tracked the Mishaya family for our Mountain Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. The Habituation Experience is different from a “normal” trek in that the Gorilla group is not yet completely habituated to (i.e. used to) humans and are more unpredictable in their behavior as a result. We also got to spend up to 4 hours with the Gorillas as opposed to 1 hour when visiting habituated families. Only 4 guests are allowed on each habituation trek, although this particular trek turned out to be a private experience – only us and the guide/ranger and trackers.