Planning to book luxury gorilla habituation tours?
This is one of the best luxury gorilla trekking options that we have.
Mountain gorillas are an endangered species of primates living in the tropical rain-forests of Africa.
They cannot survive in captivity, which is why you must travel to Africa to encounter these relatives of humans.
Gorilla habituation is the process by which mountain gorillas become accustomed to the presence of humans.
This normally takes an average of two to three years, during which researchers and rangers regularly visit a particular gorilla family.
Once the gorillas are habituated to the rangers and researchers, a mock exercise is conducted before the family is opened up for gorilla trekking.
Luxury Gorilla Habituation in Rushaga Sector of Bwindi
Researchers and rangers study each gorilla’s behavior, and names are later assigned according to each one’s character.
Gorillas are gentle and calm, but humans must demonstrate no harm to avoid attacks, as gorillas can become aggressive when they feel insecure.
Tourists have the privilege of joining trackers and researchers in the gorilla habituation experience, which is exclusive to the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda.
This allows tourists to spend more time with mountain gorillas than they would during regular gorilla trekking.
Gorilla habituation involves four hours of observation, while gorilla trekking allows for one hour.
This provides visitors with the opportunity to take more photos and learn more about mountain gorilla behavior.
Unlike gorilla trekking, which can include up to eight people, gorilla habituation is limited to four individuals.
The gorilla habituation experience begins early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters.
After the briefing, participants start their hike into the jungle to find the gorilla family.
The duration of gorilla habituation depends on the location of the family and the pace of the hikers.
Luxury clients interested in mountain gorilla habituation can fly into Entebbe International Airport and then to Kisoro airstrip near the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Entebbe or Kajjansi airfield.
Alternatively, they can opt for Kigali to Bwindi gorilla trekking tours.
The Rushaga sector of Bwindi National Park, where trekking is conducted, offers the most spectacular views in the park, including panoramic views of the Virunga Massif volcanoes and the stunning twin lakes, Lake Mutanda and Lake Mulehe.
Accommodation options and permits are varied.
Luxurious lodges in the Rushaga sector include Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, and others.
Gorilla habituation permits cost $1500 per person, and gorilla trekking permits cost $700 per person.
Due to high demand, all permits should be obtained 3-6 months in advance.
Children under 15 years of age and adults with infections are not allowed to trek mountain gorillas.
The best time to visit Uganda for gorilla habituation is during the dry seasons from June to September and December to February, when the trails are less slippery and muddy.
