It is true that most travelers have been confusing mountain gorilla habituation with chimpanzee habituation, but the two are not the same at all. Uganda is blessed to be one of the three countries in the whole world with the mountain gorillas, great apes that stretch across the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and the democratic republic of Congo.
The two experiences both in Uganda are different in the following ways:
Mountain gorilla habituation is done in the southern part of the country in the national parks of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. On the other hand, chimpanzee in Uganda is in the western part of the country in the Kibale forest national park. Travelers should know that the tow primates a re in totally and far away places.
Concerning the costs, it costs a traveler 1500usd to access the gorilla habituation permit at the Uganda wild life authority. Concerning the chimpanzee habituation permit, it costs 220usd, which is quite cheaper as compared to the mountain gorilla habituation permit.
However, both habituation experiences permits can be accessed at the Uganda wild life authority responsible for wild life in the whole of Uganda.
The number of people allowed to participate in mountain gorilla habituation done in Rushaga is limited to 4 people where as the population of 12 people are allowed to participate in the chimpanzee habituation experience which makes the two experiences different.
The limitation of individual to only four people in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has limited the number of permits despite of the many gorilla families. This is contrary to chimpanzee habituation in kibale forest national park where 12 people are allowed to interact wit the gorillas, the difference in the number of people make the two experiences different.
While in mountain gorilla habituation process, travelers follow a family of gorillas that they may be allocated to, where as a community of chimpanzees is followed by travelers in the process. Mountain gorillas behave differently from the chimpanzees and the difference in behaviors makes the two experiences totally different.
Travelers taking a mountain gorilla habituation experience are allowed to spend a maximum of 4 hours with the gorillas, whereas travelers spend the whole day with the chimpanzee in the habituation process. This difference in the time spent with the two apes make the two experiences different.
However, both mountain gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experiences require one to book in advance for the permits. This is to ensure easy allocation of the gorilla family and chimpanzee community early enough and to avoid inconveniences in the last days.
Though the time spent is not the same, it is quite higher in both experiences as compared to trekking experiences, which is related to habituation.
Mountain gorilla habituation as of 2016 is only done in Uganda in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park part of the virunga conservation area shared across the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and the democratic republic of Congo.
Chimpanzee habituation is done in the Kibale forest national park in the western part of Uganda. Travelers are reminded to keep a distance, carry nothing but only the camera with no flashes, raincoats, jackets and long sleeved shirts and trousers. Sick travelers are not allowed to participate in the two experiences and porters are highly needed especially in gorilla habituation experience.
In conclusion therefore, chimpanzee and gorilla habituation is believed to be the great wildlife encounter in the whole world.
The two experiences are totally different from one another and it would be better for a traveler to participate in both for the greater and memorable experience.
