Overview
With over 1000 gorillas in the world, more than half of these magnificent creatures are situated in the Bwindi Impenetrable Conservation Area, and the remaining number in the Central part of Africa. Gorillas have been listed and considered Endangered by the IUCN. Mountain Gorillas are located in both East and Central Africa, with the larger group in Uganda and the smaller group in the Virunga Volcanoes. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is unearthed in the South Western part on Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley inside the most densely populated areas which are Kanungu, Kabale and Kisoro, occupying about 331km2 and in 1994, it was listed as UNESCO world heritage site due to its ecological importance and it became popular to the world because of Gorilla trekking. In 1932, two blocks of Bwindi were designated as Crown Forest Reserves. The Northern sector was known as Kayonza Crown Forest, and the Southern sector was known as the Kasatora Crown Forest. Ten years later, in 1942, the two sections were combined to create the Impenetrable Crown Forest. In 1964, it was designated as an animal sanctuary to provide extra protection for gorillas and renamed the Impenetrable Central Forest Reserve.
Gorilla habituation is a process by which wild gorillas are gradually acclimated to the presence of humans, with the ultimate goal of making them comfortable enough to tolerate close observation by researchers, conservationists, and tourists. Unlike habituated gorilla groups, which are already accustomed to human presence and are available for gorilla trekking experiences, habituation involves working with wild gorillas that are initially wary of humans. Researchers and trackers locate a wild gorilla group in their natural habitat and observe the gorillas from a distance to assess their behavior, group dynamics, and the level of human tolerance.
Gorilla habituation is done in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for 4 hours after the intended family is located. Trekking takes 30 minutes to 8 hours, depending on the location of the gorilla family. It is also worth noting that the Nkuringo sector also has a family undergoing habituation much although the group is not available for the experience yet. Only 4 visitors are permitted to join the one group scheduled for the process. Once a gorilla group has been successfully habituated, it may become available for gorilla trekking experiences, allowing tourists to observe and learn about gorillas in their natural habitat.
Currently, there are two main gorilla families set aside for this experience, which are the Bikingi and Bushaho gorilla families. Both groups are semi-habituated, making their behavior unpredictable or more natural compared to fully habituated groups, with the full habituation process at 2-3 years, depending on the individual gorillas’ response to human presence. These groups are closely monitored by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and conservation researchers.
Visitors must be in good health, as Uganda Wildlife Authority strictly forbids anyone with a contagious illness, even something as simple as a common cold, from trekking, as this can and will affect the gorillas too. This is done to protect the gorilla’s health. Additionally, the minimum age for trekking is 15 years, as the hikes can be strenuous and one must maintain a distance of 7 meters from the gorillas, unless the guide directs otherwise. The habituation trek can be very long and rugged, so participants should be physically fit and prepared for steep, muddy terrain
Trekking permits are documents issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority to all visitors 15 years and above, allowing them to visit the gorilla habituated families. Gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which two parks harbor more than half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. The prices of trekking are determined by a tourist’s nationality, as residents and foreigners are charged differently. Gorilla habituation costs 750,000 UGX for East African citizens, 1,000$ for foreign residents, and 1,500$ for foreign non-residents per person. Once the availability of the dates desired by the tourists are confirmed, a deposit is made to secure the slot desired, and this has to be done at least 3 months before the desired dates. The permit covers entrance to the park, trekking, experienced guides, and rangers to ensure safety for both you and the primates.