Gorilla Habituation Permit – An Entry Pass for Gorilla Habituation Experience
A gorilla habituation permit is an entry pass that allows tourists to participate in the gradual process of familiarizing wild mountain gorillas get used to the presence of human beings which is termed as gorilla habituation. Whereas gorilla habituation experience is the participation by tourists into the gorilla habituation process conducted by researcher and wildlife consultants. Therefore, gorilla habituation and gorilla habituation experience are two terms that work hand in hand in strengthening gorilla conservation and building gorilla trekking as a tourism activity.
In order to enjoy any of Bwindi gorilla habituation tours, a habituation permit issued bu the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is required at the park entrance. This entry pass should be booked in advance like four months before the adventure dates for smooth arrangements. A gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 per person per day. During the activity, each gorilla family for the experience is allocated on four visitors as opposed to eight guests that are permitted to see a particular gorilla family in a single day.
In the east African region, gorilla habituation experience is conducted only in Bwindi Impenetrable National in Uganda. This limited adventure activity is unlike gorilla trekking which is also done in Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Best Time to Book a Gorilla Permit
The best time for gorilla habituation experience in Uganda is during the peak season months. These months include June to September/October and December to February every year. However, the experience can as well be done in a nay month of the year as many tourists do. It is advisable that permits for the high season get book like four months in advance and those for low season period get reserved like two to three months before the activity dates. To secure a permit, contact us and one of our tour consultants will get back to you with all the necessary information up to the confirmation stage. And once the gorilla habituation tour is on, professional driver guide will handle your safari to a successful end.
What is the Cost of a Permit for Habituation Experience?
The prices of a gorilla habituation permit are different depending on one’s nationality and immigration status as shown below:-
- Foreign non-residents: $1,500 per person
- Foreign residents: $1,000 per person
- East African citizens: Uganda Shillings 750,000 per person (about $200)
This habituation permit enables one to spend four hours with the gorillas. This permit is more expensive than that for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Congo but same like the one for Rwanda.
How do I book a gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda?
Gorilla trekking permits for Uganda and Rwanda are booked either directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) a government body in charge of tourism in Uganda or Rwanda Development Board (RDB) a government agency in responsible for conservation and tourism activities in Rwanda. In case you do not use those two government entities, contact local tour operators in either countries to make the permit bookings for you. But ensure that such a company is licensed by government or belongs to an umbrella tourism association for proper reference just in case.
What is the gorilla habituation process?
Habituating or adapting a gorilla family to get used to people can last up to two to four years to have them face-able by humans. To attain this, researchers, consultants plus their assistants spend time with the gorilla group every day, mimicking their behavior and slowly achieving their trust.