Among all the tourist activities done in most of the protected areas in the region, gorilla habituation is the least common. This is attributed to the activity’s exclusiveness to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Because of the rarity of this gorilla habituation activity, most visitors sometimes confuse it with the standard gorilla trekking.
However, these two gorilla activities are very different. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is, without any doubt, the ultimate and only gorilla destination where gorilla habituation takes place. Below are some of the reasons as to why is gorilla habituation limited to Bwindi.
High costs
A gorilla habituation process is a long-term process often taking over 2-3 years of constant monitoring and habituation. With such a long period of habituating mountain gorillas to human presence, require unbelievable pricing. These costs usually go to facilitating the researchers and scientists, as well as the ranger guides.
The Ugandan government, through the Uganda Wildlife Authority and funding from the international community, funds these habituation programs. Visitors also offer support through the purchase of gorilla habituation permits. The high costs involved may not necessarily be the only or main reason, but it’s surely something to look at.
Number of gorilla groups
Gorilla habituation requires large numbers of unhabituated gorilla families. Such a large number of unhabituated wild mountain gorilla groups can only be found in Bwindi. With over 50 gorilla families recorded in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, only about 22 gorilla families are habituated and available for gorilla trekking. This leaves over 28 gorilla families unhabituated and wild to human presence.
With such a large number of unhabituated gorilla families, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park remains the ideal destination for gorilla habituation. The number of unhabituated gorilla groups is actually the most ideal reason why is gorilla habituation limited to Bwindi.
Specialized personnel
Gorilla habituation is a sophisticated venture that requires specialized personnel from researchers to scientists. These specialized personnel are required to carefully study and record the wild gorilla behaviours. These specialized personnel collect samples from the gorillas’ droppings for further research and monitoring of any unhealthy individuals. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has a number of these specialized personnel, who make it an ideal place for gorilla habituation.
Size of the habitat
The size of the habitat also matters because gorilla habituation requires a wide working scope. With a vast size of over 331 square kilometers of ultimate impenetrable jungle, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is surely a place to reckon with for gorilla habituation.
Done is specifically the Rushaga gorilla sector, gorilla habituation requires these primates to move and have a wide space to operate. Wild mountain gorillas are often alert to human presence or intruders, space is very key for visitors, researchers, and other personnel to maintain a good distance from the primates.
What is gorilla habituation?
Gorilla habituation is an important activity that ought to gently bring wild mountain gorillas to slowly adapt to human presence. Gorilla habituation is the most important step to gorilla conservation, through constant monitoring and research. The Rushaga gorilla sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park serves as the only place where gorilla habituation is carried out.
Rushaga gorilla sector is among the four gorilla sectors of Bwindi, including Buhoma, Nkuringo, and Ruhija. Rushaga is located in the southern region of the park, offering an exclusive experience in a cinematic territory. Gorilla habituation often takes about 2-3 years for each gorilla group. It is carried by a limited number of only four visitors in the company of researchers, scientists, and rangers. After a gorilla family or group is habituated, it is cleared for gorilla trekking daily.
About Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Often categorized as the best gorilla destination in the world, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is truly a marvel. This awe-inspiring destination is situated in the further southwestern region of Uganda. Bwindi has a vast land mass area of about 331 square kilometers, crossing the districts of Kisoro, Kabale, and Kanungu.
Long before the discovery of the presence of mountain gorillas, this park was gazetted as a Crown Forest Reserve covering two crown forest reserves of Kayonza and Kasatora. Later in 1964, following the sighting of mountain gorillas, this forest reserve was formally designated as an animal sanctuary. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to over 449 mountain gorillas living in its four gorilla sectors, Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Ruhija.
This animal sanctuary was further elevated and established as a national park in 1991. About three years later, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park gained formal recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, this recognition was not limited to Bwindi’s capacity as a gorilla habitat, but also to its flora species collection. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has flora species, specifically trees that date back 25,000 years.
What is the cost of gorilla habituation in Bwindi?
The costs involved in having a gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are classified by nationality and origin of the visitors. Each cost represents a gorilla habituation permit that is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority through a local tour operator like Monteero Safaris after payment. This costing is shown as follows.
Foreign non-residents – USD 1,800
Foreign residents – USD 1,600
Rest of Africa – USD 1,000
East Africans/ Ugandans – UGX 750,000
The above costs paid by visitors for a gorilla habituation experience are important for the maintenance of the park. These costs also fund the various conservation efforts in place to protect the mountain gorillas. Additionally, through responsible and sustainable tourism, the communities around the park benefit through infrastructure development, like set up of schools and hospitals.