The difference between gorilla trekking &gorilla habituation

Mountain gorillas can be encountered in there natural habitats in only three countries all over the world and that is why the great apes of African are considered endangered. With there population estimated to be just slightly above 1000 gorillas that are still existing all over the world. Over half of this number can be found in Uganda while the remaining half can be trekked in Rwanda and DR Congo. The gorilla of Congo and Rwanda lives in the Virunga mountain range. The range has three parks divided among three countries. That is Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. All these three parks are home to the fully habituated mountain gorillas

The park on the side of Rwanda is known as volcanoes national park. The park on the Congo side is called Virunga national park. Where the park on Uganda side is referred to as Mgahinga gorillas national park. The beauty with all these parks share the same terrain of the Virunga massif range.

Another place where you can find mountain gorillas in their natural habitats is Bwindi impenetrable forest national park found in Uganda. With four sectors that makes the park. These sectors include Nkuringo sector, Rushaga sector, Ruhija sector and Buhoma sectors, all these sectors offer gorilla trekking experience.

However, Rushaga sector is the only sector all over the world that do offer gorilla habituation experience. The habituation experience offer you a chance to encounter gorilla family before they are opened up for the general public. This experience allow you to stay with mountain gorilla for 4 hours and this is the longest time you can stay with the mountain gorillas in the wild.

In this article, we are looking at the differences between gorilla trekking experience and gorilla habituation experience to enable you make an informed decision on which experience you should go for.

GORILLA TREKKING

What does gorilla trekking mean?

Gorilla trekking refers to a wild life activity that involves hiking through the dense forests in search of the endangered mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking commences with a briefing at the park main head quarters, where you are told about the dos and don’t s while you are with the mountain gorillas.

After the briefing, you have to join a group of 8 people to go and search for these gorillas and upon meeting them only one hour is offered to you to spend with them. While trekking the gorillas you will be able to look at the different bird species, monkey species, tree species and many more

WHERE IS GORILLA TREKKING DONE FROM?

Gorilla trekking can be done in the parks of countries such as Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. It can be done within Bwindi impenetrable, Mgahinga, volcanoes, and Virunga national parks.  In East Africa these are the main destinations where gorilla trekking can be carried out from.

GORILLA HABITUATION

What is gorilla habituation?

Gorilla habituation refers to the process of introducing mountain gorillas to human presence for care, research and conservation purposes.

Furthermore, gorilla habituation may be described as an activity that allows tourists escort a group of researchers to meet gorillas in the jungle.

There are various people involved in gorilla habituation for instance trackers, conservationists, researchers, and the park rangers. To fully habituate these gorillas become addicted to human presence usually lasts for 2 to 3 years.

THE GORILLA HABITUATION EXPERIENCE.

Gorilla habituation experience opens up with a briefing in the morning at the park headquarters. In Uganda gorilla habituation is usually carried out from Rushaga.

The activity opens up with a briefing that gives tourists detailed information about the rules and regulations to follow while in the forest. From the briefing you will have to go with a group of 4 people to go to the forest.

While in the jungle, you will learn how these trackers lay strategies to find a group of gorillas and also endeavour that you have a thrilling experience. If you are loaded with many equipment you can seek for help from the porter. Hiring a porter is a way of giving back to the community.

Upon meeting the gorillas, you will have 4 hours to observe them, tell you more information about the gorilla family visited, study about them and know every thing about them compared to the gorilla trekking experience that grants one hour.

WHERE IS GORILLA HABITUTION OFFERED?

Gorilla habituation is only offered in Bwindi Impenetrable national park (Uganda). Bwindi is the best destination for gorilla trekking safaris in the whole world because it resides half of the world population of gorillas. However, you still need to notice that gorilla habituation is only offered in one sector of Bwindi, that is Rushaga sector.

AGE LIMIT FOR GORILLA HABITUATION.

Gorilla habituation has got the age limit as the way to conserve the habitats of gorillas and gorilla themselves. Children below 15 years are not allowed to experience gorilla habituation. This is because gorillas are wild and also unpredictable so its better to prevent eventualities.  Adding to that children may also fail to follow the rules and regulations while in the jungle.

There are many factors you need to acknowledge that differentiate gorilla trekking from gorilla habituation.

TIME TAKEN FOR VIEWING.

This is one of the main factors to consider while giving a difference between gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation.

Gorilla trekking.  This wonderful activity only offers typically one hour for tourists to spend with the gorillas in their jungle. The one hour includes taking photos of the gorillas, see them feed and many more

While

Gorilla habituation usually takes four hours. The four hours usually include making vast research about the gorillas, see them carry out their own activities such as feeding if lucky you can see them giving birth and many more. Note that trekkers always go with trained researchers since the gorillas are learning to become addicted to humans so something may happen.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS.

Gorilla trekking.

Tourists carrying out gorilla trekking usually move in a group of eight people to go and visit the gorillas in the jungle.

While.

Gorilla habituation is a bit limited; it only allows a maximum of four people to visit a particular gorilla family.  This is all done to cater for the gorillas well being.

PRICE.

Price is among the key factors to consider while comparing gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation.

Tourists interested in viewing the gorillas in their habitat’s gorilla trekking is the best option. The gorilla trekking. The gorilla trekking permit is a bit affordable compared to the gorilla habituation permit.

The gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is $ 800 and in Rwanda it is at $1500.

The gorilla habituation experience is quite expensive though tourists with enough funds have the opportunity to enjoy it. The price of a gorilla habituation permit goes for $1500 for foreign non residents.

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GORILLAS.

For those seeking for the best experience that offers enough knowledge and information about the gorillas, gorilla habituation is the best option.  This is because gorilla habituation fully immerses you in learning and have detailed information about the gorillas compared to gorilla trekking.

Gorilla habituation requires a large team while carrying it and grants tourists with enough time to enjoy this experience (one hour). If lucky, tourists can still may have an opportunity to also to view the doctor forest call, all in all gorilla habituation offers a lot to tourists compared to gorilla trekking.

Gorilla habituation still offers extensive and prior understanding of gorillas thus making it a very out standing activity since it connects tourists deeply with these magnificent creatures. The thing is that habituation offers enough time to tourists compared to trekking.

PERMIT AVAILABILITY.

Gorilla permits are limited and usually on a very high demand as there are very few places where you can see gorillas in there natural habitats (4 places). Therefore, you need to book your permit in advance to avoid any disappointment due to the lack of availability of the permit more so in peak season.

Tourists always pay in time in order to enable your tour operator book in advance for you whether its gorilla trekking or habituation.

WHAT TO WEAR FOR YOUR GORILLA TREKKING OR HABITUATION EXPERIENCE.

The wearing attires usually don’t differ a lot since gorilla trekking and habituation have some similar characteristics.

Please select clothes with no bright colours. Pick clothes with colours like grey, brown, Khaki and other dull colours. You also need to carry your hiking boots, long sleeved Clothings rain jackets, sweater and many more.

Things to pack.

Insect repellents.

Thick gloves.

Safe drinking water.

Binoculars.

Cameras.

Sun hats and sunscreens.

The above are some of the requirements to pack while going for either gorilla trekking or habituation process. However, you should know that there are other requirements to pack.

Every tourist would love to take part in the gorilla habituation process because it offers enough time, research while you are with these great apes in their jungle though either trekking or habituation will depend on one’s desires.

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