Gorilla Habituation Verses Gorilla Trekking Experience. The two may seem similar, but in real sense they are too different, from one another, as will be further clarified here by Rwanda Eco Company & Safaris, the leading tour company in Rwanda to operate gorilla safaris both in Rwanda and Uganda. Whereas gorilla trekking can be done in both Uganda and Rwanda and in all families, this is quite different with the gorilla habituation experience. Gorilla habituation is only done in Uganda, and only two gorilla families have been put aside for gorilla habituation experience and are located in the Nkuringo and Rushaga side of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It’s for this reason that Gorilla Habituation Verses Gorilla Trekking Experience can be done in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Gorilla Permits.
Permits for a gorilla habituation experience costs US$1500 per person in Uganda. For gorilla trekking, permit prices; US$600 in Uganda and US$1500 in Rwanda and prices all are per person.
Number of people
For gorilla trekking, 8 people are allowed per group to trek in each gorilla family they are allowed, but for the gorilla habituation, only four people are allowed to trek and only two groups are available to be use.
Gorilla families.
Unlike trekking where you can decide on which group to trek, for gorilla habituation, only two groups are permitted and are located in the southern sector of the park in Rushaga in Bwindi.
Time frame
You are allowed one hour with the gorillas when you go gorilla trekking, while with the habituation experience you spend three to four hours with the gorillas.
When to go
The best time for both the experience and trekking are from December through March, and June through to October. However, year round, you can still have a wonderful experience.
Gorilla habituation and gorilla trekking have the same rules and regulations
♦ Anyone below age of 15 is not permitted to trek gorillas.
♦ Anyone suffering from a communicable disease, such as the flu or diarrhea, is not permitted to enter the park because of the risk of transmitting these diseases onto the gorillas.
♦ You should always stay together in a tight group while with the gorillas – do not surround them.
♦ Avoid making loud noises or moving suddenly while trekking gorillas.
♦ The use of flash photography while trekking gorillas is not allowed.
♦ It is not permitted to eat, drink and smoke when with the gorillas, or within 200 meters from them.
♦ You should not get closer than seven meters of the gorillas.
All in all, the entire experience for both activities is one of its kinds, no matter the above mentioned difference. The adventure relies more on your budget, Rwanda Eco Company & Safaris, can still work out for you something that is very friendly to your budget, just send them an email, they will be right there for you, and you work it out.
For any of the above experience, either, gorilla habituation or trekking, Rwanda Eco Company & Safari, is more than ready to take you to the jungle for your gorilla safari, so that you can encounter the gentle giants, and have some amazing an interactive time with them, as you gaze at them, in surprise. Check out on our website for some amazing gorilla safari packages that may suit your interest.