Is it possible to see mountain gorillas for more than one hour in Uganda?

Is it possible to see mountain gorillas for more than one hour in Uganda? Most primate lovers prefer to spend more time with gorillas in their natural habitat but they are wondering how gorillas can allow them in their presence. This article will help you to choose what is best for you. Uganda has unique experiences which cannot be found in any other habitat for mountain gorillas like providing several ways of spending more time with these primates. In Uganda, there are two destinations where one can go for tracking mountain gorillas, and these include; Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. Therefore, on your holiday, vacation, or at any time visit Uganda for a gorilla safari in any natural habitat or two and fulfill your dream of spending more time with mountain gorillas which are so interesting on the pearl of Africa.

Uganda holds almost half of the few remaining mountain gorillas on earth. This is among the reasons why one should choose Uganda for spending more time with these primates once visit the pearl of Africa. In all gorilla destinations, a gorilla permit allows trekkers to spend only one with habituated gorilla families but in only Uganda where one can get an opportunity of having many hours with the mountain gorillas.

Best options to see mountain gorillas for more than one hour in Uganda?

Gorilla Habituation Experience

Gorilla Habituation Experience is among the best ways of having many hours with the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda. This is an amazing experience in Uganda. One to do gorilla habituation experience in Uganda must obtain a gorilla habituation permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) or through Africa Adventure Vacations, which goes at 1500USD per person per trek. You will be travel directly to the Rushaga sector where to find the two gorilla families that are open for tourists. The Gorilla habituation experience starts with a briefing very early in the morning and it involves an introduction to the research team, to know the gorilla groups in the forest, gorilla trekking rules, what to pack, and what to expect. After there, you will be assigned one gorilla group and a team of researchers who will take you into the forest. This team includes rangers, trackers, and armed park who are forest experts and will take you where to find the gorilla family. Finding a gorilla group takes 1-2 hours. Gorilla habituation experience involves following the gorillas to know more about their lifestyle like how mothers feed their youngers ones, how they make nests, what they feed on, what they do after wake up, their behavior, you will also know the role of a dominant silverback to other members.

What is the maximum number of people allowed to do mountain gorilla habituation experience?

0nly 4 tourist accompanied by a team of researchers and park rangers is allowed to visit a gorilla group which is still undergoing the process of habituation.

How does gorilla habituation experience take?

This experience involves trekkers, researchers, rangers, and conservationists spending 4 hours interacting with one assigned gorilla family each day. Gorilla habituation takes about 3 years and is done by primate researchers. This process is done by identifying a good group, following days, and observing to know more about their behavior. This process helps to win the gorilla’s trust so that they can allow humans in their presence whenever they choose to. When this process is complete, the habituated group can be open for gorilla trekking

Multiple Gorilla treks.

Uganda has 152 gorilla permits each day in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park, tourists have an opportunity to book as many gorilla permits for several regions and days as long as you can manage to afford. A gorilla permit for Uganda costs $700 allows spending only one hour of interaction with the mountain gorillas. So, you can book more permits and have first, second and more treks you wish.

This is expensive but gives an opportunity as each hour spent with fully habituated gorillas family whose behaviors are understandable and the possibility of seeing mountain gorillas is high up to 98 %. Another importance of booking many gorilla permits is that one has a great chance of visiting various habituated gorilla families and getting to know the similarities and differences between them and also visiting the tracking spots of Bwindi forest.

These sectors are Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south, Buhoma in the north, and Ruhija in the east whereby every sector has its habituated gorilla families, other tourist activities and is surrounded by various accommodation facilities. Therefore, for more information about how to spend more time with mountain gorillas do not hesitate to contact Africa Adventure Vacations.

Where to stay while spending more time with the mountain gorillas of the Bwindi forest.

There are many safari lodges in and outside the four sectors of Bwindi where one can spend a night and complete his /her trip, which ranges from luxury to budget. It is good to do your bookings with a tour operator because will help you to choose the right accommodation which is comfortable and fits your plans. Some of the safari hotels /lodges are: Rushaga gorilla camp, Nkuringo Bwindi gorilla lodge, Buhoma community campsite, Gorilla forest camp, and Volcanoes safari Bwindi lodge.

Transport means to lead you to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.

Bwindi impenetrable forest covers a distance of about 478 kilometers from the capital Kampala, which takes 7-8 hours of driving. This route goes through a smooth surface and a dirt murram road into the forest. You can fly from Entebbe airport to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips, which is just a few minutes to the park.