How to spend more time with mountain gorillas
How to spend more time with mountain gorillas: Travelers can spend more time with mountain gorillas in Bwindi gorilla park if they want to. In this piece of work, we shall show you how you can spend some quality time with mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. There are only two ways how you can spend more time with the mountain gorillas of Bwindi and these include doing gorilla habituation and carrying out double gorillas trekking.
Bwindi gorilla park a home to the highest population of mountain gorillas in the whole world is a place you can spend a good time with mountain gorillas. The national park is home to 2 mountain gorilla families that are open for habituation purposes meaning you can spend 4 hours with each of the gorilla groups. The two semi habituated families are Bushaho and Bikingi and they can be habituated in the southern sectors of the park.
Bwindi gorilla park is also home to over 19 mountain gorilla families and these are open for gorilla trekking purposes. A traveler can now be allowed to trek these gorilla families twice as long as they have valid gorilla permits. The mountain gorilla families are found in Bwindi sectors such as Nkuringo, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Buhoma. A traveler has a choice to trek the same gorilla family or different gorilla families in any of the sector or sectors they want. The following are ways someone can spend more time with mountain gorillas.
Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Forest
How to spend more time with mountain gorillas
Gorilla habituation experience
The best way to spend more time with the mountain gorillas is by carrying the gorilla habituation experience. The activity is a unique one done in only Bwindi gorilla park and in only two sectors Rushanga and Nkuringo where mountain gorilla habituation is still taking place. Travelers can carry out mountain gorilla habituation to spend 4 hours with mountain gorillas in their natural habitats.
With gorilla habituation, the trekkers will be joined by a group of researchers and conservationists that are led by the armed ranger guides into the jungle. They will search for the gorilla group and when they find it, 4 hours will be given to be around the gorillas and this will give you an opportunity to learn about the behaviors of these apes, watch them do daily activities, and take photos.
To be part of the gorilla habituation in Bwindi where you spend 4 hours with the mountain gorillas, you will be required to purchase a gorilla habituation permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a trusted local tour operator. The gorilla habituation permit is $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 foreign residents, and UGX750,000 citizens of East Africa. There are only 8 gorilla habituation permits in Bwindi so you need to book your permit in advance to avoid being left out especially in the high season of December to February and June to October.
Multiple gorilla trekking
One of the ways to spend more time with mountain gorillas is carrying out multiple gorilla trekking. Multiple gorilla trekking is when you trek mountain gorillas on different days on a safari. A traveler can choose to trek the same gorilla family to know more about the gorilla members or they can decide to trek different gorilla families to see if the mountain gorillas do behave the same. Bwindi gorilla park allows multiple gorilla trekking which we can also call double gorilla trekking.
Double gorilla trekking in Bwindi can be done in the same sector or in different sectors (Nkuringo, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Buhoma) depending on your choice. A traveler is always allowed to do multiple gorilla trekking in Bwindi as long as they have gorilla permits. when booking the gorilla permits for double gorilla trekking, you need to book on different days of the safari.
Each mountain gorilla trekking permit costs $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 for citizens of East Africa. A traveler going for double gorilla trekking so that they spend more time with mountain gorillas must purchase two of these permits. The gorilla trekking permits are got from a trusted local tour operator or Uganda Wildlife Authority at the same fee.
Best time to encounter mountain gorillas in Bwindi
Travelers can spend time with mountain gorillas in Bwindi at any time of the year but there are months that are better than the rest. The dry season of June to September and December to February are the best to encounter gorillas in Bwindi because they are characterized by little or no rainfall that leaves the trekking trails dry, the vegetation is thin, short, and scattered with good views of the gorillas and the roads leading to the park are in good conditions.
Travelers can still spend a good time with the Bwindi gorillas in the rainy season of March to May and October to November. This season favors the budget travelers because they do enjoy huge discounts on accommodation facilities the fact that lodge owners reduce the process to attract the few tourists to the park. The rainy season however is characterized by too much rainfall that makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery, the vegetation is tall and thick with unclear views of the gorillas and the roads leading to the park are in poor condition.
Dine at Silverback Lodge in Buhoma
Accommodation in Bwindi
There are 4 sectors in Bwindi gorilla park where mountain gorilla trekking is done. Travelers must say in the accommodations located in the sectors where they are to trek gorillas from. Each of the Bwindi sectors has its own accommodation facilities that range from budget to mid-range to luxury options and so where to stay does depend on your budget.
Accommodation in Buhoma sector: Buhoma Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi Forest Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Ride 4 women Guest House, Silverback Lodge, Buhoma Rest Camp, Haven Lodge, and Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge.
Accommodation in Rushaga sector: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Nsongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Resort, and Wagtail Eco Safari Lodge.
Accommodation in Nkuringo sector: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge, Mutanda Eco Community Centre, Nshongi Camp, Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, and Virunga Campsite
Accommodation in Ruhija sector: Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Broadbill Forest Camp, Agandi Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Cuckoo Land Tented Lodge, Ecomarvels Gorilla Lodge, and Trekkers Tavern.
