Gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience are distinct gorilla safari adventures offered in Bwindi national park bring tourists up-close to see mountain gorillas in the wild. Bwindi National Park is 331sq.kms and its establishment in 1994 was to harbor mountain gorillas that today make up a total of not more than 1004 in the world and only thrive in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Half of all the 1004 mountain gorillas are confined within the lush rainforest of Bwindi National Park.

Gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience differ from each other, each rewarding travel endeavors with unique experiences. To help differentiate them and for purposes of planning your gorilla safari, we have come with comparison between gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience.

Gorilla trekking began in 1993 when the first gorilla family-Mubare group was officially opened for tourism whereas gorilla habituation experience commenced in 2015 making it a new and unique primate adventure.

What is the cost of a Uganda gorilla permit

Currently the price of a Uganda gorilla permit is $800 for international tourists and $700 for East African residents. The gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 since it comes with 4 hours watching the mountain gorillas in the jungle. While gorilla trekking is just 1 hour with the gorillas, tourists are vising a gorilla family that’s already fully habituated and used to tourists which gorilla habituation experience, the gorilla family is still under habituation and you are part of the team doing the habituation on that specific day.

How many hours for gorilla trekking vs gorilla habituation?

Visitors on gorilla trek have only one hour of magical encounter and also for them to take as many photos as possible, explore their behaviors and body gestures. Gorilla habituation experience on other hand gets you 4 hours of magical encounters. On other hand, gorilla treks are done in already habituated families unlike habituation experience which is conducted in semi habituated families.

How many people are allowed to trek a gorilla group?

Gorilla trekking strictly allows 1 group of 8 visitors per day for one hour with the gorillas while gorilla habituation experience is limited to 4 visitors each day per gorilla visited.

Where to Go gorilla trekking in Uganda?

Gorilla trekking is conducted in all 4 national parks-Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park in southwestern Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda and Virunga National Park eastern DR Congo. Gorilla Habituation Experience on the other hand is conducted in only Bwindi National Park and currently, Kutu gorilla family is set for this remarkable primate experience.

What to pack for gorilla trekking and habituation experience

• Rain jacket
• Adequate drinking water
• Energy giving snacks
• Insect repellents
• Toiletries
• Camera with no flash light
• First aid kit
• Waterproof hiking boots and others

When to go for gorilla trekking and habituation experience

Both gorilla trekking and habituation experience are ideal during the dry months of the years given the nature of habitat where mountain gorillas live. The dry season starts in the months of June, July, August, September and December, January, February.