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Gorilla Habituation Experience: Complete Guide, What to Know
Gorilla Habituation Experience | A Complete Guide: What to Know
Table of Contents.
- Overview
- What is Gorilla Habituation?
- What is Gorilla Habituation Experience?
- What happens during the experience?
- Is gorilla a shy animal?
Overview
Trekking mountain gorillas in the misty jungles of Uganda and Rwanda is a lifetime dream for many travelers across the globe. However, many travelers interested in gorilla safaris in the pristine African forest jungles would like to know if Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park offers gorilla habituation experiences. Only the Rushaga sector of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers gorilla habituation experiences, where visitors can trek with researchers to experience how these great apes are made to be comfortable in the presence of humans.
It is possible for visitors to book a Gorilla Habituation experience permit besides the standard tracking experience. This is a separate tour which costs $1,500 USD per person and allows you to spend four hours with the gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Thanks to Dian Fossey who made the world aware of the predicament of Africa’s mountain gorillas. As such, it has drawn interest in the gentle giants, and their conservation has grown significantly. Gorilla trekking has been a crucial component in the long-term preservation and protection of mountain gorilla populations. Visitors tracking these gentle apes can take a guided tour into the rainforest jungles and spend an hour with a group of habituated gorillas in their natural environment. However, some visitors are more interested in spending longer time with a family in order to get to know them more intimately.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority created gorilla habituation experience in response to this desire and interest. Just a few visitors each day are given the opportunity to join a team of professionals for four hours as they follow and interact with a gorilla family that isn’t yet entirely accustomed to human presence. These lifetime encounters are truly special. Few people have had this very unique experience, which is much more immersing than a typical gorilla trekking experience.
We encourage travelers visiting Uganda who have a genuine affection for gorillas and an interest in the work that is done behind the scenes to invest in a gorilla habituation experience.
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What is Gorilla Habituation?
Gorilla habituation is the process of gradually making a family of wild gorillas comfortable in the presence of humans. Gorilla trekking groups are only permitted to visit a habituated gorilla family, while unhabituated groups are left alone. This selection is key to the safety and welfare of both humans and gorillas.
A group of experts, including trackers, researchers, park rangers, and conservationists usually conduct the habituation process. Typically, it takes two to three years to complete. Each gorilla family undergoes a very careful procedure, spanning about five years, gradually becoming accustomed to the presence of humans, in order to be available to tourist visits.
To begin, park rangers usually spend a little amount of time each day at a distance that corresponds to the gorillas’ comfort threshold. They gradually lengthen the duration and shorten the distance over the years until they decide the gorillas are prepared for paid visits.
The habituation process allows the team to learn more about the gorillas as individuals, become familiar with their behaviors, and even name each and every one of them. Finally, if the researchers are confident that the wild gorillas are comfortable with human presence, a mock exercise is conducted to verify their claims. The gorilla family is then open for trekking once they have successfully completed this type of exercise, which now includes media and scientists.
What is Gorilla Habituation Experience?
The gorilla habituation experience has you visiting a gorilla family which is in the process of being exposed to human presence for visiting/normal tours. Gorillas are wild animals, and it takes a while for them to become used to humans. This gradual process is referred to as habituation, and the gorilla habituation experience has you visiting a gorilla family which has begun this process.
Although the experience is more expensive, you are assured of a lot longer time with the gorilla family. You get to spend up to four hours with a family instead of the usual one hour. The group size is also strictly limited with only four people per family instead of eight.
The gorilla habituation experience in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was introduced in 2015. Relatively few people have had the honour of experiencing the habituation process. A key difference between the regular gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience is that the latter has you visiting a family that is not yet fully accustomed to human presence.
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What happens during the experience?
A morning briefing commences the gorilla habituation experience, where the ranger will go over what to expect as well as some dos and don’ts when in the presence of the gorilla family.
The habituation team will then lead you into the forest jungles – you leave much earlier than the regular gorilla trekking groups. You’ll go into the mountains to look for a family under the guidance of one or two trackers. You’ll observe how they search locate the trail and nests used by the family the previous night. Observing how the trackers locate a group is part of the habituation process. Later in the day, the gorilla treks are able to proceed directly to a troop because the trackers have previously determined where each troop is located. The rangers will make noises like gorilla calls and grunts when you find the troop. They will also talk among themselves as they use their machetes to cut down some bushes in order to get the gorillas used to these noises.
You will learn more about the troop being visited from the habituation team. They’ll provide information about each gorilla including names, habits, and personality.
Is gorilla a shy animal?
You must understand that individuals in the family that you are tracking will be shy or wary of humans if they are still in the early stages of habituation. This implies that you might not be able to approach them as closely as you would on a typical gorilla trekking experience. Some could even choose to hide.
Therefore, it’s crucial to realize that a gorilla habituation experience frequently introduces visitors to a family that is wary or timid around humans. In a way, you are having a more authentic encounter with the gorillas. However, some people might be let down if they are expecting a particularly close meeting.
Having said all of that, you might have a very intimate session with your family if they have spent much time in the habituation process. We advise managing your expectations, and if you wind up with a family that is genuinely kind, congratulations!
The habituation experience remains a popular activity in Uganda despite the higher price attached to it. Should this be one of the activities you are interested in on a Uganda safari, we recommend booking as far in advance as possible due to limited availability.
