Gorilla habituation is the process of getting mountain gorillas used to seeing people. This usually takes about two years and involves researchers visiting a gorilla family every day to help them get used to human presence in their natural home.
The best time for budget gorilla habituation is during the low season. A good option is to take a tour from Kigali to Bwindi for gorilla trekking.
The gorilla habituation experience allows tourists to join rangers and researchers as they work with a gorilla family every day.
This activity is only done in one place in the world—Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda, which is home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas.
Gorilla habituation costs more than normal gorilla trekking, but travelers on a budget can still enjoy the experience by staying in budget or mid-range lodges.
Bwindi has many lodges at different price levels, from budget to mid-range and luxury. To save money on a gorilla habituation trip, you can stay in lodges with cheaper rates.
The low season is a good time to visit because some lodges offer discounted prices for accommodation. However, during this time, the trekking trails can be muddy and slippery, which makes hiking more difficult.
Another way to save is by choosing a more affordable tour company. You can compare prices from different companies to find the best offer.
You can also reduce travel costs by flying into Kigali International Airport in Rwanda and then driving to Bwindi National Park’s Rushaga sector, which is near the border. This is faster than flying into Uganda and driving for 10 to 11 hours to Rushaga.
The cost of a gorilla habituation permit is $1500 per person. You can get it through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a trusted tour company.
Mountain gorillas are active during the day. They begin looking for food early in the morning at around 6 a.m. and continue until midday, when they take a break. This break is also a time for grooming and bonding.
In the afternoon, they go back to feeding until around 6 p.m., when they build new nests to sleep in. They never sleep in the same nest as the night before.
Mountain gorillas have long, thick fur that helps them live in cold areas.
They share about 95% of their DNA with humans. Each gorilla has a unique nose print, just like people have different fingerprints.
Baby gorillas are very weak at birth, like human babies. They breastfeed from their mothers until they are around 3 to 4 years old.
