Gorilla Trekking Experience takes place in Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park), Congo (Virunga National Park) and in Uganda both Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in all four regions of Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Ruhija and have habituated mountain gorilla families. Gorilla trekking allows a maximum of one hour with the gorillas.

Gorilla habituation experience is a new product offered by Uganda Wildlife Authority to enhance the experience and allow tourists to spend more time with mountain gorillas in Bwindi. It is a teaching process where Wild Mountain gorillas are trained to get used to people Gorilla Habituation may take between two to three years to be completed and during this time, researchers keep on visiting an identified Wild gorilla group on a daily basis.  They get to learn more about individual gorillas and the way they behave. With time, these gorillas get used to these researchers and in the long run, each individual gorilla is given a name. Once researchers are sure that these mountain gorillas can be trekked, they then introduce a mock exercise where some few people who may include scientists, journalists start visiting it. Once such a gorilla family has passed mock exercise, then it is opened for trekking.

Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable forest is a unique activity that allows you spending more time with a family of Mountain Gorillas. This popular activity is done only in Uganda and in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and it allows up to 4 hours with gorillas. While gorilla trekking you get to spend only hour with these gentle apes.

In case you want to go for Gorilla Habituation Experience, there are only two families for the habituation experience Bikingi and Bushaho, both of which are undergoing the habituation process for future gorilla treks, and both are situated in the Rushaga region of Bwindi Forest National Park. The Rushaga region is in the southern part of Bwindi and is accessed via Kisoro town. It is also the region with the most number of habituated gorilla families hence a favorite destination for gorilla trekking in Uganda. Other gorilla tourism regions of Bwindi National Park include Buhoma, Nkuringo, and Ruhija for gorilla trekking.

There so many differences between gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation including trekking costs USD600 per person and you get to spend only one hour with habituated mountain gorillas while Gorilla habituation costs USD1500 per person allowing you to spend four hours with mountain gorillas still under habituation. It only takes place in regions that have mountain gorillas under habituation and as of now, only in Rushaga where new gorilla groups of Bikingi and Bushaho are under habituation.

A maximum of four travelers are allowed to visit a gorilla family for the habituation experience this includes rangers and researchers  while with gorilla trekking a maximum eight people allowed for the gorilla trek.

Just like in the gorilla trekking experience, a mountain gorilla habituation experience permit is a must have for every traveler taking part in the activity. The permit can be accessed from the Uganda Wildlife Authority costing $1500 USD, which is quite expensive, compared to the trekking permit at $600 USD, but the experience, is worthy it. Visitors on a Rwanda gorilla safari can cross to Uganda to take part in the gorilla habituation process.

Tourists going for mountain gorilla habituation are expected to report to the national park headquarters by 7:30 am while gorilla trekking starts at 8:30 am and briefing is done much earlier.

The minimum age for gorilla habituation is 15 years and above and all the book guidelines are same as those for gorilla trekking. In terms of numbers, gorilla habituation experience is to only six people.