Gorilla Habituation vs. Trekking in Uganda – Which to Choose

Gorilla Habituation vs Normal Trek – Uganda is the only country that offers both gorilla habituation and normal trekking because it is home to more than half of the mountain gorillas remaining in the wild.

Gorilla habituation is the process of helping mountain gorillas get used to human presence. It is mainly done for research and conservation purposes. This activity is only available in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi.

Gorilla trekking involves walking through the forest to find mountain gorillas. This activity is available in all four sectors of Bwindi: Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Nkuringo.

Gorilla habituation is different from a normal trek in terms of purpose, duration, experience, and cost.

In terms of time, gorilla habituation allows tourists to actively take part in the process and spend about four hours with the gorillas, giving a deeper experience.

A normal trek allows tourists to observe and take photos of the gorillas from a distance of 7 meters for only one hour.

In terms of group size, gorilla habituation allows a maximum of four people per gorilla group, offering a more personal experience. A normal trek allows up to eight people per gorilla group, which is a slightly larger group.

In terms of cost, gorilla habituation permits are more expensive, costing around USD 1500 to USD 1000 per person in Bwindi. Normal gorilla trekking permits cost USD 800 per person per trek.

In terms of purpose, gorilla habituation helps researchers learn about gorilla behavior and social structures, while a normal trek allows tourists to observe and photograph gorillas in their natural environment.

Choose a normal trek if you want a lower-cost option and are content with spending a short time with the gorillas. Choose gorilla habituation if you want to learn more about gorilla behavior and spend more time with them.

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