Compare gorilla trekking and habituation experience in Uganda.
Following previously acclimated chimpanzees acquainted with human presence is known as gorilla trekking. Following semi-habited chimpanzees under researcher and habituator control helps them to get acclimated to human presence.
To be regarded as a participant, you have to have a gorilla trekking permission or habituation permit from Uganda’s Wildlife Education Center.
Gorilla habituation experience is so far done in only two gorilla trekking families located in southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In Uganda gorilla trekking is done Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National park with about 19 gorilla families open at the moment.
The expense of either a habituation permit or gorilla trekking
While gorilla habituation costs $1500 per person per day, the price for gorilla treking permits in Uganda right now is $800 per person. Booking beforehand may enable you to buy in installment as long as you top up before the day of trekking.
Others expenses related to gorilla trekking might be comparable to lodging, however for gorilla habitation you must reserve lodges in the southern portion of Bwindi Impenetrable National park.
Allowance for hiking or habitation of mountain gorillas
While only maximum of 4 visitors are permitted to perform gorilla habituation in Uganda, maximum of 8 tourists are allowed to be in the vicinity of the mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking. This is meant to lower the number of humans living in the forest who would damage the food source for those large apes—that is, the flora.
About 300 pounds of leaves will let a full-grown mountain gorilla sustain its own weight both night and day.
Time permitted for gorilla habituation or hiking among the mountain gorillas
Only one hour is permitted to remain in their presence to let the mountain gorillas go about their daily routines once you find them during gorilla trekking.
You must spend four hours tracking the mountain gorillas with researchers and rangers to accomplish gorilla habituation. You help to record data about mountain gorillas with unique traits.
Starting times for gorilla hiking and habituation
Every day, gorilla trekking begins with a briefing about at 0730 hours. To be at ease seeing the mountain gorillas in the wild, you have to carry your gorilla trekking equipment.
On the other hand, gorilla habituation begins earlier—between 0530 and 0630 hours—to enable one to see de-nesting. You track the gorilla family all day and record their actions for historical use.
Where in Uganda Gorilla Trekking and gorilla habituation is carried out
Currently residing in Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Mgahinga National park are nineteen live gorilla trekking families exposed to visitors. Two gorilla families are accessible for gorilla habituation residing in the southern portion of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park exclusively.
Besides Gorilla Trekking and Gorilla Habituation, what else is to do? Within Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Birding Uganda
In Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R. Congo, the Virunga region is the main birding hotspot. Among the many birds found here are around 23 species of the 24 species of Albertine Rift endemics. The finest birding display in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is found in Ruhowicz region of Mubwindi Swamp.
You could find shelley’s Crimmsonwing, African Green Broadbill, Western Green Tinkerbird, Red-faced Woodland Wabers, Rwenzori Batis, Collared Apalis and more.
Given Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks harbors around 350 bird species, skilled birders may see over 100 species when gorilla trekking.
Though the area is rarely frequented, the list of bird species found in Mgahinga National area is continually growing; currently reported numbers range from around 115.
Other Primate walks
Apart from mountain gorillas, Mgahinga national parks and the Biwndi Impenetrable National park house additional primates. On some of the paths built by frequent users, you may see primates such olive baboons, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus and others on nature walks.
Neighborhood walks
Run by local people, Buhoma settlement in the Buhoma section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park You enjoy in the life of the area such local brewing, farmhouse visit, traditional healer visit and others along the tour. During the Nkuringo Community tour in southern Bwindi Impenetrable National park, you could have opportunity to observe native black smith, rural house stead, local brewer and more.
The Batwa path and Garama cave tour in Mgahinga National park transports you into the lives of displaced Batwa people from past forest living. A Mutwa leads this route under a plateau known as Garama cave. After attacking the Bafumbira farmers, the Batwa used this as a retreat place. Cultural dances are being carried out here, however on prior request.
Mountain climbing in Mgahinga National Park
Apart from gorilla walking, you may spend a day hiking on one of the three volcanic mountains inside Mgahinga National Park. Mountain Sabyinyo locally meaning old man’s teeth is 3669 meters above or Mountain Muhavura; Mountain Gahinga whose meaning is pile of little stones sits at 3474 meters above sea level.
For hiking any of these mountains, advance scheduling is required, as is a ranger guide to accompany you all through the walk and return.
Other Events To Combine with Habituation and Gorilla Trekking
You may link with wildlife drives in Uganda National parks include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National park, Lake Mburo National park and others after seeing the mountain gorillas. It is rather remarkable to go chimpanzee trekking in Kibale national park either before or after gorilla trekking. Highlights of Uganda safari experience include the launch expeditions at Murchison Falls national park and Queen Elizabeth National park.
River Nile flows from Uganda into Jinja; so, visiting here is rather unique. Although instructors are in place to guide you through all processes, white water rafting on the Nile is exhilarating; you do not need any expertise to visit.
Safety of Gorilla Trekking and Habituation in Uganda
Because the ranger guides operate with other Uganda security authorities and surrounding security agencies to guard the region, gorilla treking in Uganda is secure.
Before entering the jungle to begin looking for the mountain gorillas, you must show early morning attendance at briefing.
Carrying your gorilla trekking gear provides additional bodily protection, much like wearing long sleeved shirts and pants, safari boots, smearing insect repellant, garden gloves and others.
Make sure you go at the speed of other hikers to avoid becoming lost in the wildness. Though the ranger guide moves at the slowest speed of the slowest trekkers, avoid letting the remainder of the group cross you.
Never encourage the mountain gorillas or forest dwellers—like the monkeys—to stir around. They fluctuate in mood as well.
During gorilla trekking, you should not trust anybody you know not acquainted as you could draw individuals with bad intentions.
Never count money in public, particularly if the amounts are big; you could draw burglars.
Since individuals from all walks of life engage in gorilla trekking safari, carrying precious goods may not be secure.
Buy meals from approved areas to prevent food contamination on the gorilla trekking trip.
The Difficulties of Gorilla Trekking and Habituation in Uganda
Expect to climb at times to find the mountain gorillas; the overall geography of the gorilla trekking or habituation zone is volcanic.
Even the local flora is full of twisted vines and creepers that must be cleared with a machete to create space.
Rivers over flow causes the pathways to be slick when it rains particularly during the extreme wet seasons. You have to be ready to follow marshy route ways to discover the mountain gorillas; these monkeys sometimes eat from the slopes therefore you must trek there to spot them.
Since you may have to climb at times, some degree of fitness is required for gorilla treking and habituation.
When Should You See The Mountain Gorillas?
Finding the mountain gorillas might take two hours to over three quarters of the day. Though not speedy, mountain gorillas are mobile creatures. One reason a group of rangers gets up early than others is to hunt the mountain gorillas. They report back to park headquarters, who use it as one of the hints to pursue throughout the hunt.
This indication does not imply the gorillas will not depart where the rangers found them. They look for food, in case they are assaulted by wild gorilla families, lose a family member and so much more.
To really appreciate the gorilla trekking experience, one must be somewhat patient. Having an open mind also helps you to stay on because the jungle offers plenty to see beyond only the site of the mountain gorillas.
Once you find the gorillas, you need maintain about eight meters away from them to avoid any possibility of spreading any disease. You must optimize every second to realize your ambition of seeing the mountain gorillas; just one hour is permitted to be in their company.
The Guidelines of Gorilla Trekking and Habituation
All operations carried out in the mountain gorilla habitat have as their goal preservation of the mountain gorillas. It is to gather the money for the campaign on mountain gorilla preservation; yet, certain regulations must be in place to control these operations.
Although mountain gorillas are prone to human diseases, anybody with a communicative infection is not permitted to go gorilla trekking; you do not know what it will do to the now celebrated gorilla population.
Once you find the mountain gorillas, keep about eight meters away. This lowers the possibility of any virus transferring to these gorillas.
Flash photography is against usage as it disturbs the mountain gorillas.
The mountain gorillas feel attacked, hence you do not need to surround them. They may also go into the deeper parts of the forest when they get upset.
It is against policy to provoke the mountain gorillas as they are timid creatures that could get uneasy in this regard.
Eat and smoke far from the mountain gorillas; they may grab what you have and it may not be in line with their health. One major loss is losing even one mountain gorilla due to thoughtlessness.
Should you have to cough or sneeze, avoid the mountain gorillas or cover your mouth to lower the risk of transferring infections to them.
Ask the ranger guide to dig a hole for you thirty cm deep and hide all waste beyond recognition for extended calls in the forest. This is to stop anybody living in the jungle from exhuming anything.
Littering the forest is illegal as it changes the environment in which mountain gorillas find food.
Spitting on plants is not advised as it looks bad and harmful. The ideal method is to keep the ecosystem where mountain gorillas reside as it is found.
As a covid-19 precaution, wear a fresh mask before seeing the mountain gorillas. Even your footwear are cleaned before the trip starts.
Gorilla treking is not permitted anybody under fifteen years old.
Once you find the mountain gorillas, one hour is allotted.
