Is there gorilla habituation in Rwanda? Gorilla habituation is the process of training mountain gorillas to get used to people. This takes about 2 to 3 years and is done by researchers, rangers, conservationists, and scientists who study each gorilla closely.
Later, they give each gorilla a name based on its behavior and personality.
Before mountain gorillas are ready for trekking, they must pass a “mocking exercise” to make sure they are calm around humans.
Rwanda is one of the few countries where mountain gorillas live. However, Rwanda only offers gorilla trekking, not gorilla habituation.
The gorilla habituation experience is only available in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
From this sector, visitors can enjoy either gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation, and many choose to travel from Kigali, Rwanda.
Gorilla habituation is different from gorilla trekking because you get to spend four hours with the gorillas instead of just one. Also, fewer people are allowed in the group during habituation.
Right now, two gorilla families in Bwindi are undergoing habituation: the Bikingi gorilla family and the Bishaho gorilla family.
One of the benefits of doing gorilla habituation in Bwindi is that these families live in the southern part of the park, which is closer to Rwanda. It takes about 5 to 6 hours to drive there from Kigali and 2 to 3 hours from Volcanoes National Park.
This means tourists can fly into Rwanda and drive to Bwindi for the habituation experience.
The Rushaga sector of Bwindi is the only place where you can do gorilla habituation in Uganda. The families currently being habituated are Bikingi and Bishaho.
While gorilla habituation is more expensive, it is worth it because you spend more time with the gorillas, and the group is not crowded like in regular trekking.
Gorilla habituation permits cost $1500 per person, which is the same price as gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
You must book your habituation permit 5 to 6 months in advance because they are limited and highly demanded, especially in the peak season.
Children under 15 years are not allowed to take part in gorilla habituation.
Also, people with illnesses like cough, flu, or other contagious diseases will not be allowed to visit the gorillas.
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