Time with the Gorillas (Gorilla Trekking vs Gorilla Habituation)
Gorilla Trekking vs Gorilla Habituation in Bwindi: A normal Gorilla Trek is 3 to 5 hours depending on the group that you are tracking while the Gorilla Habituation Experience is all-day. You are 4 hours with a Family, plus the time it takes to hike in and out to where the group is located that day. The location of any group varies by up to one kilometre a day and pre-trackers are out at the crack of dawn to find the site of the group you will be with on that day.
One hour with a Gorilla Family is a great experience, while 4 hours with a family for others is the greatest dream. Those who are into Photography and love to take some up close pictures of the Gentle Giants of the Forest prefer the Habituation Experience over the normal Trek. BOOK NOW
The Gorilla Habituation Experience means fewer Participants:
A normal trek takes 8 participants on the activity where on the Habituation Experience Trek there is a maximum of 4 participants, this means a more exclusive experience for you. You will also learn more about the Mountain Gorillas, their habits, their ways, their daily routines from the Researches and Trackers that you are with on your Trek.
Not only are there fewer participants, there is fewer porters, Rangers, support staff, making it experience that allows you to focus on what you came for, the Mountain Gorillas. There have been only words of thanks from participants in the Habituation experience that is only offered in Uganda. It is not offered in Uganda or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is a unique Ugandan Activity Offering.
The Location of the Gorilla Habituation Experience versus Trekking:
The Gorilla Habituation Experience takes place only in the Rushaga area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest because Trekking is done in the Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga Areas of the park.
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda is from one site in Uganda, it is from 5 locations – 4 locations inside of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest plus Mgahinga Gorilla Park. Rushaga and Nkuringo can be accessed from Kigali, Rwanda in a mere 3 hours, while it takes longer to travel to the Buhoma or Ruhija Area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Rushaga and Nkuringo areas are convenient locations if your fly into Kigali Rwanda, from there it is a three-hour drive to the southern areas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Comparing Gorilla Trekking with the Gorilla Habituation Experience – Our Recommendations
The Gorilla Habituation Experience since its inception has been a popular activity with our Clients, over 65% of those wanting to see the Mountain Gorillas in the wild are choosing the Gorilla Habituation Experience over normal Gorilla Trekking.
The Main Reason for their choice is the time spent with a Gorilla Family – the 4 hours versus the 1-hour trekking. There is also the smaller number of visitors (4) allowed on a Gorilla Habituation Experience versus Trekking and lastly, they like being with those involved in the Habituation Process, the insights, and knowledge that they receive from them. The cost of the Habituation Experience is a reason, but those choosing the 4-hour Experience go with the one of a kind of activity that they can be part of, where there are only 4 participants and it is a learning experience.
There are already myths about the Habituation Experience. The two gorilla families are used to Humans, have been habituated for over two years, you are as close to them as you are during a Gorilla Trek, Gorillas, however, may get closer than the rules call for, they don’t have the Internet. At the end of the day your experience may be different since we are in the wild where things are not always predictable.
Comparing Gorilla Trekking safaris with the Gorilla Habituation Experience – No matter whether you choose Gorilla Trekking or the Gorilla Habituation Experience, your money goes further, gives you more value in Uganda.