
Is Bwindi gorilla habituation worth the money?
Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is the only place where tourists can habituate mountain gorillas and the activity is worth the money.
How much is gorilla habituation in Bwindi
Bwindi gorilla habituation requires trekkers to be having gorilla habituation permits. These are documents purchased from Uganda Wildlife Authority a government agency managing and controlling activities with in Bwindi. Four gorilla habituation permits are available in Bwindi a day and each costs $1500 for foreign non residents, $1000 for foreign residents, and UGX750,000 citizens of East African member states.
Gorilla habituation in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park
On the day of gorilla habituation, trekkers wake up early in the morning hours and mpove to the headquarters of Rushaga sector. Its from there that they get briefed about the rules and regulations of he activity. Once the bvrifeing is done, the trekkers are joined by armed ranger guides, a team of doctors and resarchers to go into the jungle and search where they mountain gorillas could be.
The search for the semi habituated mountain gorilla family of Rushaga sector may take 2 to 5 hour depending on the location of the group and the speed of trekkers. During the search, trekkers are able to use different trekking trails which come with opportunities of meeting some of the attraction of the park like the mammals, primates, birds and watyer sources.
The moment members of the semi habituated mountain gorilla family are spotted, trekkers are given 4 hours to be around the members. The trekkers get to see the mountain gorillas carry out daily activities like hunting, mating, breast feeding and playing among others. The trekkers are allowed to participate in activities that make the mountain gorillas get used to human presence around them. After the 4 hours with the apes, trekkers move out the jungle and get their habituation certificates.
When to go gorilla habituation in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park?
The driest months of the year June to September and December is when one needs to for gorilla habituation in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. This is because these months have little rainfall and plenty of sunshine which is a perfect weather for the activity to happen. The trekking trails are dry and easier to pass through, vegetation in the jungle is short with good views of the mountain gorillas and other park attractions.
Tourists who get travel time during the rainy season can still visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for gorilla habituation for the park is ever open. Tourists should travel knowing that there is plenty of rainfall and little sunshine with in the park which affects the trekking activities. The weather affects the gorilal serach activity because the trekking trails are muddy and slippery and vegetation is tall with unclear views of the gorillas.