Is Gorilla Habituation and Gorilla Trekking Worth the Price?

Is gorilla trekking and Habituation worth the price?is a common question asked by travelers considering their gorilla safari experience in Uganda; the answer is a definite yes! Many travelerswho have conducted the activity have found it memorable, exciting, enjoyable,and an experience of a lifetime;it offers guests the chance to see the critically endangered species within their natural ecosystem. Gorilla tracking activity ranks as one of East Africa’s most sought-after things to do during a typical African safari in Uganda; gorillas are tracked in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park a popular destination in the western part of Country, it is home to half of the remaining population of the critically endangered species of the Mountain gorillas, these live within the 4 sectors of Nkuringo, Buhoma, Rushaga, and Ruhija each of these comprises of habituated gorilla families ready for guest visits, there are several species present in the park for example the L’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and over 200 species of birds some of which are endemics of the destination. The park at large is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

Gorilla trekking takes place beginning at 7:00 am with a briefing at the park headquarters with a briefing from the park rangers on how to conduct yourself during gorilla trekking; it takes 2-8 hours doing the activity depending on how far the gorilla families have moved. Upon finding the primates, an hour is allowed to interact and take pictures while following the gorilla rules and regulations. This year the permit is $800 per person for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, and 300,000 shillings for East African citizens. Tracking is done in groups of 8 people per gorilla family depending on availability.

Gorilla Habituation takes place only in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi; the activity begins earlier compared to gorilla trekking. By 6:00 am East African Time, guests ought to be at the beginning point; it involves a group of researchers, guides, and visitors following gorilla families that are in the process of getting used to human presence; it is a whole-day experience taking a maximum of 4 pax, this year the habituation permit is at $1,500 per person foreign nonresidents, $1000 foreign residents and 750,000 shillings for East African residents.

Gorilla trekking is worth the price as visitors get the chance to meet the world’s largest primates, the Mountain gorilla, it is characterized by its large fur bodies, brown eyes, human like hands and other features similar to mankind, they live in families of up to 20 members led by a male Silver back, each of the families consists of babies, black bucks and females interacting with the gorillas, watching them dance, jump up and down of trees is quite an experience to witness.

Tracking Mountain gorillas does not stop at merely seeing the primates it goes way beyond it including exploring the authentic African culture, Bwindi is home to the Batwa a group of the last remaining short-stature people in the country these used to live in the forest freely together with primates however due to conservation purposes these were evicted from the forest and continued living in the surrounding communities, they showcase their culture and how they lived in the forest, they dance and perform to their traditional songs.

Booking a gorilla permit indirectly supports the community through hiring porters around the park areas, job creation within the community, hospital projects, as well as proper amenities for both travelers and the people.

In conclusion, the fact that gorilla trekking is an amazing experience,several people are always interested in doing the activity twice in the same trip or twice in the same year.