The Difference Between Uganda Gorilla Trekking and Gorilla Habituation Safaris.
When looking for a place to see gorgeous mountain gorillas, one of the best bets is Uganda. Tourists interested in seeing these rare animals may choose between two primary activities: gorilla trekking and habituation safaris.
The two options vary in length, focus, and general experience, but both provide amazing opportunities to see gorillas in their native environment. Choose the right gorilla trekking or habituation safari for your Ugandan journey by reading this page, where we’ll compare and contrast the two.
How Does One Go Gorilla Trekking?
The most recognized and most well-liked method to visit Uganda’s mountain gorillas is on a gorilla trekking adventure. To do this, you’ll need to spend an hour trekking through the thick jungles of either Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in search of a habituated gorilla family.
Spend an hour in the company of the gorilla family after you’ve found them. The duration of the journey might range from one to seven hours, depending upon the whereabouts of the mountain gorillas.
The goal of a gorilla hike is to see a family of habituated gorillas in their natural habitat. The gorillas have become used to people and will go on with their normal activities while guests observe.
There are many areas in Bwindi and Mgahinga where tourists may go gorilla trekking.
Price: While permits in neighboring Rwanda cost $1,500 per person, gorilla trekking in Uganda is $800 per person, which is a more economical choice.
Gorilla habituation.
You may spend as much as four hours in the company of a gorilla family on a habituation safari, making for a more in-depth and extensive encounter. The gorillas in these groups have not yet completed the habituation process necessary to feel comfortable among humans.
Researchers, environmentalists, and park rangers collaborate closely with the gorillas for months—if not years—during the delicate and time-consuming habituation process. Guests on habituation safaris get to see firsthand how a troop of gorillas adjusts to human presence and interacts with one another during this time.
Spending up to four hours in the company of the gorillas allows for a more in-depth and immersive experience.
Helping the gorillas adjust to human presence is the main objective of habituation. In contrast to the highly habituated gorilla groups seen on typical treks, visitors will get to see these primates in their more “wild” form and experience this process unfold firsthand.
Your sole option for gorilla habituation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the Rushaga area. It’s not something that many people get to do.
The price for a habituation permit for gorillas is $1,500 for each individual. For those who want a more profound encounter with the gorillas, the longer time and more comprehensive experience may justify the higher cost compared to regular gorilla trekking.
Time Spent during trekking and habituation.
How much time you spend with the gorillas is the main distinction between a habituation safari and a gorilla trekking.
When you go gorilla trekking, you’ll spend an hour in the company of habituated gorillas.
To get acclimated to living with gorillas, you may spend as much as four hours in the company of a semi-habituated family.
Gorilla trekking is perfect if you want a shorter but yet impactful adventure. However, habituation safaris provide a more immersive experience if you are willing to pay a premium to really immerse yourself in the gorillas’ world.
Gorillas on a trip are more likely to be relaxed and engaged in normal activities like eating, playing, and grooming each other, unconcerned about the presence of tourists. The reason for this is because they have developed a tolerance for human presence due to years of habituation.
Gorillas on a habituation safari are just starting to warm up to people. Because of this, their responses could be more diverse, providing an engagement that is more genuine and unexpected. Learn about the gorillas’ social dynamics, body language, and behavior as you see researchers and trackers earn the gorillas’ confidence over time.
Necessary Physical Activity and trekking Difficulty
Trekking through thick woods, sometimes on rugged and uneven ground, is a common component of both gorilla habituation and trekking with gorillas. The whereabouts of the gorilla family on any given day determine the degree of difficulty of the expedition. As far as physical exertion goes, some hikes are easier and shorter than others.
Although it’s a tough journey, it usually doesn’t last long since once you find the gorillas, you only get to spend an hour with them.
Because of the increased time spent with the gorillas (up to four hours), the walk may be longer and more physically taxing, which is necessary for gorilla habituation. A long day of touring and trekking is ahead of you.
The costs of Uganda gorilla trekking and habituation safaris
One individual may get a gorilla trekking permit for $800. In comparison to Rwanda and other popular gorilla trekking sites, this one is less expensive.
Gorilla Habituation, this premium experience requires a $1,500 per person gorilla habituation permit. The longer time spent with the gorillas and more active participation in their habituation process are reflected in the increased expense.
Gorilla Trekking, each habituated gorilla family in Uganda allows 8 visitors per group, for a daily total of 160 permits.
When it comes to gorilla habituation, there are a limited amount of permits available each day—typically about four—so it’s a more intimate encounter with fewer people.
Think about what you want out of an encounter like this before deciding between gorilla trekking and a habituation safari.
In order to see gorillas in their native environment in a quicker and more affordable manner, gorilla trekking is the way to go. It’s ideal for those who wish they could spend more time and money immersing themselves in nature but just cannot.
If you’re up for a lengthier, more immersive encounter with gorillas and interested in learning about the conservation and research activities that go into habituation, then opt for Gorilla Habituation. The longer time spent with the gorillas and the exclusivity of the experience more than make up for the additional fee.
Gorilla trekking and habituation safaris in Uganda provide once-in-a-lifetime chances to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. You will leave with lifelong memories whether you choose the classic one-hour hike or the more intense habituation session. How much money you have, what kind of wildlife experience you want, and your hobbies will determine which one is best for you.
