Gorilla habituation in Bwindi is a unique gorilla activity that takes you for over 4 hours with mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas are endangered species of primates found in a few national parks in the whole world and Bwindi’s impenetrable forest national park is lucky to be one of them. The national park is found in southwestern Uganda and was gazetted in 1991 to protect the mountain gorillas as well as the tropical forest.
Thousands of travelers from different parts of the world come to Bwindi’s impenetrable forest national park to purposely see these mountain gorillas. This is because they are said to be close relatives to human beings with 98% human DNA. Gorilla trekking has been for so long the only activity that can allows you to encounter mountain gorillas but just for one hour in different park sectors which are Rushaga, Ruhija, Buhoma, and Nkuringo. Enjoy more 4 hours while learning the behaviors of these great apes.
Where does Gorilla Habituation Experience take place?
Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi occurs in Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors every day. The activity starts early in the morning at the sector offices where those going for the activity gather for a briefing from the park rangers. Trekkers are taught how to behave around mountain gorillas and they are given armed ranger guides to lead them in the jungle
Different from mountain gorilla trekking, with gorilla habituation the armed ranger guides are accompanied by researchers, conservationists, and trackers. The trekkers are always four and together with the group they head into the jungle here they start searching for the gorilla group. The search can take 2-7 hours and the time taken depends on the speed and the location of mountain gorillas.
When the mountain gorilla family is spotted, it is approached in a non-threatening manner and 4 hours start counting. The rangers try their best to win the favor of these mountain gorillas and the tourists are allowed to be part of the activities that make mountain gorillas get used to human presence. Trekkers can watch members do daily activities such as nesting, playing, coupling, learning about their habits, and also taking photos.
Packing list for Gorilla habituation
The packing list for gorilla habituation in Bwindi would include long-sleeved shirts, long-sleeved pants, waterproof hiking shoes, long cotton stocks, gardening gloves, a light backpack, a rain jacket, a sweater, insect repellents, sunscreen, a camera, a pair of binoculars, drinking water, energy giving snacks, packed lunch, and walking stick among others.
The best time to do Gorilla Habituation in Bwindi National Park.
The best time for gorilla habituation in Bwindi is usually during the dry season which runs from June to September and December to February. The dry season is good because it's characterized by little or no rainfall that makes the trekking trails stay dry, the vegetation is scattered and short with good views of the mountain gorillas as well as other park animals and the roads leading to the park are passable.
Travelers can still visit the park for gorilla habituation in the rainy season of March to May and October to November but they should know that too much rainfall makes the trekking trails muddy ad slippery which affects the speed of trekking, the vegetation is thick with unclear views of the apes and the road to the park are in bad conditions.
Where to stay?
Gorilla habituation is carried out in the Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors of Bwindi and those are areas where you should book accommodation. There are accommodation facilities in these regions ranging from budget to mid-range to luxury options and some of them include Four Gorillas Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, and Gorilla Heights Lodge among others.