How different is gorilla habituation from gorilla trekking.
When comparing a typical one-hour gorilla trekking trip with a habituation session, there are more contrasts than parallels. Here we’ll evaluate the two options for you based on price, length, experience, ease of booking, and likelihood of seeing gorillas.
Even though all of these popular tourist activities entail seeing mountain gorillas, we’ll explain the differences between them so you can make an informed choice before you add either to your African safari.
An overview of gorilla habituation, its background and significance
Mountain gorillas may be “habituated” by humans such that they get used to being around people. For as long as three years, a group of primatologists, researchers, and specialists in gorilla habituation will visit a specific family of mountain gorillas and teach them new skills until they are comfortable being visited by tourists. Depending on the family, different wild mountain gorillas may take different amounts of time to adjust to human presence.
Adventure vacations, safaris, and the history of habituation with gorillas…
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has offered a gorilla habituation experience as a visitor excursion for the last four years. There is a 4-hour gorilla walk in the southern section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that was instituted in 2014 by the park’s administration.
During this journey, no more than four visitors were permitted to see a gorilla family under habituation. When it came to guided gorilla habituation trips to Nkuringo and Rushaga, Katland Safaris was among the pioneers. Katland Safaris has been the go-to destination for thrilling four-hour gorilla treks since 2014 and will continue to do so in 2025.
How does a habituation encounter with gorillas vary from a typical gorilla trek?
The most recent offering is the gorilla habituation experience, which debuted in Uganda in 2014. An opportunity to spend more time with mountain gorillas was seen as a sensible choice by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which is part of the Ugandan government. There have been hundreds of excursions to Bwindi since then, all organized by Katland Safaris.
Spend four hours learning about mountain gorilla behavior via activities like naming, calling, collecting and testing stool, and listening to knowledgeable speakers. You’ll visit a gorilla family that is still under habituation, so they haven’t fully acclimated yet. Such actions are indicative of how these gorillas feel, such as whether they are enraged, delighted, or just sick of humans. We can discuss this in further depth if you contact us.
In a habituation household, how many individuals are allowed to visit at once?
Each gorilla family is limited to no more than four visitors each day. Due to the fact that these gorillas are only partially accustomed to humans, we have decided to limit the group size at four. This translates to 4 permits every day, 150 per month, and 1440 per year.
For anyone interested in gorilla habituation experiences starting in 2024–2025, it is recommended to get in touch with Katland Safaris ahead of time so we can verify availability, make reservations, and arrange your permit. For all-inclusive tours booked with Katland Safaris, gorilla habituation permits are free of charge. Further information might be obtained by contacting us.
Can you tell me how much a habituation experience permit for gorillas would cost?
The fee to view and spend four hours with habituated mountain gorillas is $1,500 for non-resident foreigners, $1,000 for foreign residents with a valid passport, and Shs750,000 for inhabitants of East Africa. The regular gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs $800 as of July 1st, thus this makes it more costly.
For this price, you may spend up to four hours in the company of mountain gorillas, embark on a forest walk led by specialists in gorilla habituation, pay to enter Bwindi National Park, have your bearings, and get a certificate upon completion of the journey. Your lodging, food, and transportation to and from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are not included in the charge.
Reasoning behind the $1500 price tag for gorilla habituation permits
To spend $1500 on a mountain gorilla safari, as opposed to, say, $800 for a gorilla permit in Uganda, requires compelling reasons. One should think about spending $1500 or $1,000 on habituation for two reasons.
First, you’ll have four hours of viewing time with the gorillas on a habituation trip, which means you’ll have more time for other things. Getting four hours would need four days of planning, which isn’t feasible with the standard gorilla trek permit, which only permits one hour. This is why gorilla habituation safaris are so worthwhile.
The second justification is that, rather of spending $2800 (for four standard gorilla licenses) to spend four hours with gorillas, one may have a gorilla habituation experience for far less money.
Gorilla habituation permits are available for $1500, which is a great deal since you may save $1300 if you feel the urge to spend additional time with mountain gorillas. Gorilla habituation safaris are a great investment; all you have to do is do the arithmetic.
Safari odds of seeing habituation encounter gorillas
In all honesty, mountain gorillas are still adjusting to human presence, so there’s a possibility you could spot one. This is due to the fact that the whereabouts and actions of these animals are completely unpredictable. The usual journey offers a 98% chance of sighting gorillas, but this setup makes that impossible.
Regardless, every single habituation safari we’ve ever run has been a resounding success. Due to the fact that these are wild creatures that would do whatever to avoid humans, the only real difficulty that visitors face is the rather difficult nature of the walks. The best part is that you won’t just observe and take pictures; you’ll be actively involved in everything that happens during the day.
Where can I find a national park where I may go monkey trekking?
Gorilla habituation safaris are only available in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of four national parks that are home to mountain gorillas. The only area of Bwindi that can host participants in this 4-hour gorilla trekking excursion is the southern half of the park. Bwindi National Park’s southern half is made up of the Kisoro district’s Rushaga and Nkuringo sections.
Since all gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park and Mgahinga National Park have habituated and none remain, it is now impossible to have a gorilla habituation experience there. Consequently, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Uganda are the best places to go gorilla habituating. Take a safari with Katland and see the world.
When it comes to gorilla habituation safaris, how many families or groups are available?
The only mountain gorilla groups now available for habuation experiences are in Uganda and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Both of these may be found in the forest’s southernmost section. There are a total of 3,880 gorilla permits available every year, with 8 available daily, 240 available monthly, and 4 visitors allowed per gorilla group. The aim is that other places, such as Buhoma in the north and Ruhija in the east, would be able to welcome additional families as the gorilla population grows.
Worst Questions Ever Received Regarding Habituation with Gorillas
If you are looking for up-to-date information on gorilla trekking and habituation in Uganda, go no further than Katland Safaris. Send us an email using this form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible with additional details about our gorilla journey and the packages we provide.
Typical one-hour gorilla trekking, as well as its description and background
Gorilla trekking is venturing into the forest or wild in pursuit of habituated gorilla families. After a briefing at 8:30 in the morning, participants proceed on a trip through the jungle in search of habituated gorillas, who are able to welcome or permit humans to see them.
This may take anywhere from half an hour to three quarters of a day, depending on how active the trekkers are and how far the animals go. Experience the thrill of gorilla trekking with the help of a knowledgeable ranger guide. Accompanied by other armed rangers, they will ensure your safety and direction as you go into the jungle.
The hike begins at the park headquarters and continues along a predetermined path to the first sleeping spot of these gorillas. If you want to know where a certain family is going, you may discover their nests here. It is usually simple to locate these gorillas since they leave behind a pass. You will have one hour to spend with these gorillas once they are cited.
During this hour, you may snap pictures while watching their actions and asking them any questions you have. It is imperative that you adhere to the protocols established by UWA while interacting with mountain gorillas.
You will often return to the park headquarters by a small trail or path after the allotted hour. A certificate attesting to your involvement in gorilla trekking and conservation activities will be bestowed to you at the Park headquarters. Kindly inform Katland Safaris in advance if you would want to arrange for a different trip the following day.
Trekking with mountain gorillas in the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda
No discussion of gorilla trekking’s past would be complete without including Diane Fossel. Among the many things this illustrious primatologist did during his extensive stays in Rwanda and the Virunga area was to pioneer gorilla habituation and hiking. This is how the practice of going on gorilla treks began in Rwanda and eventually expanded to other nations.
In 1993, the first completely habituated gorilla family was opened up in Buhoma, situated in the northern section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, in Uganda, marking the beginning of gorilla trekking. The Mubale group is the first gorilla family.
Travelers interested in seeing the world’s oldest gorilla group continue to flock to the Mubare family. Following Ruhondeza’s (the chief silverback) death, this family has seen a steady decline in size. There was a sharp decline in the group’s numbers, but things turned around when the new silverback began raiding other families for members.
The best way to arrange to see gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda
Getting a gorilla permit is the first step in ensuring sightings of gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda. The Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda and the Rwandan Department of Culture and Tourism (RDC) in Rwanda both provide gorilla permits that, when shown, let visitors to spend one hour in the company of habituated gorilla families. You may also see the mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Contact Katland Safaris with your desired dates to begin the process of reserving gorilla permits. We went on to verify their availability and, if feasible, make a reservation. After you make the payment, we will take care of purchasing your gorilla permit and scheduling your trip accordingly. Go on a gorilla safari with assured permits and see some of our most popular adventures.
What is the average duration of a visit to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda?
You may spend an hour in the company of habituated mountain gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda on a gorilla trekking adventure. As long as you obey the guidelines established by the relevant authorities in Rwanda and Uganda, you are free to capture still images and short movies.
The total duration of the hike might range from thirty minutes to three quarters of a day, however the time allotted for observing gorillas is one hour. An prior reservation is required for a gorilla permit if your gorilla viewing ambitions extend beyond that. Seeking or pursuing gorillas on consecutive days is not possible. In order to go on the second or third trek you wanted to do in Uganda, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow.
What is the going rate for a Rwandan and Ugandan gorilla permit?
Gorilla permits are subject to fluctuating prices, particularly after a two-year period. Seeing gorillas for an hour in Rwanda costs $1500 per person in 2020–2025, but in Uganda, the price drops to $800 per person beginning July 1, 2020. When you book your gorilla excursion with Katland Safaris before June 30, 2020, you may save $800. Rwanda aspires to be a premium destination, which is why it is far more costly than Uganda. Looking for something more budget-friendly? Uganda has you covered.
No matter which nation you select, your gorilla permit will include an hour with the primates, a ranger guide, security, and a certificate to be given to you after the walk is over.
What is the number of habituated gorilla families in Rwanda and Uganda?
According to the most recent count, Uganda is home to more mountain gorillas than any other nation on Earth. More over half of the 460 people in Bwindi and Mgahinga are in Uganda. When compared to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda has the highest concentration of habituated mountain gorillas.
Currently, there is one mountain gorilla in Mgahinga and perhaps twenty habituated gorillas in Bwindi. This woodland is home to fifty gorilla families in Bwindi alone. The 20 gorilla families in Rwanda are split evenly between those used for research and those for gorilla trekking.
On any given journey in Uganda or Rwanda, how likely is it that one may spot gorillas?
Mountain gorilla sightings in Rwanda and Uganda are more likely than on a gorilla habituation experience safari. Our research indicates that the odds of seeing gorillas on a typical walk through Rwanda or Uganda are 98%. Assuming both nations’ gorilla trekking programs are well-structured, this may happen.
In most cases, a reconnaissance group will track these gorillas and then tell the remainder to meet them. The restrictions and conditions will be enforced in the event that the gorillas are not seen.
Get in touch with Katland Safaris if you would want more details on their gorilla habituation experience or gorilla trekking. Katland Safaris has perfected the art of tailoring unforgettable gorilla excursions to Rwanda and Uganda to each client’s unique interests, schedule, and budget.
