Gorilla habituation is one of the most fulfilling experiences that travelers shouldn’t miss while on a Uganda tour any time of the year. The experience is done in only Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable national park and involves travelers hiking through the dense jungled forests of the park in search of the semi-habituated gorilla family to spend up to 4 hours with learning and observing its ways and behaviours.
Gorilla habituation as a process takes between 2 to 3 years for a gorilla family to be fully habituated and availed for the experience. Of all the 3 East African countries where mountain gorillas are located, gorilla habituation is conducted in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable national park located in the southwestern region. The park is known for protecting 4 gorilla sectors but of all these, only – Rushaga sector is open for gorilla habituation experience and only 4 visitors per group allowed to embark on a single gorilla habituation experience.
Gorilla habituation is an activity that the Uganda Wildlife Authority, UWA, made possible to travelers after longer times with the giant but endangered mountain gorillas and for one to take part, he or she must possess a habituation permit 1,500$ per person through a licensed and registered tour operator.
Why Go on a Gorilla Habituation Experience
The greatest reason why gorilla habituation has become so popular since its beginning is that gorilla trekkers have more time with the great Apes in Bwindi impenetrable forest. That more time as the primary reason that over 60% of our clients chose the habituation adventure. This activity is where you are able to spend 4 hours with the gorillas and the time it takes to and from the location where the gorilla group is making it an all day trek in the Rushaga- Nkuringo area of Bwindi impenetrable Forest.
The Gorilla Habituation trail head is in a different spot than the real normal park entrances of Rushaga or the Nkuringo, the drive time from Nkuringo is 45 minutes and less from Rushaga. The cost of Gorilla Habituation permit is $ 1500 and this allows you only 4 hours of staying with the gorillas. With the habituation, only 4 visitors are allowed per day as compared to 8 for a normal gorilla trek and there are only 2 groups that can be visited for the activity.
This is an activity that is exclusive and only a selected few can participate in. This is also a learning experience where you receive first hand insights from the researchers, trackers, rangers, conservationists who are all part of the Habituation process team. The experience can be booked in advance since there are only 4 visitors per group allowed.
In case you would like to be with the gorillas for 4 hours, you book the gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi and enjoy this lifetime adventure that you will never find it else where in the world. Please note that it is advisable to book the experience 6 months ahead, most especially if you plan to come during the peak seasons which are from July through October and December through March of the year because of the limited number of permits that are available unlike the normal gorilla trekking.
Gorilla Habituation Experience in Rushaga was featured in the national newspaper with in Dubai and this is why it has been chosen by many tourists who come to visit Uganda. The habituation experience can be booked in Uganda through a tour operator. We also suggest that you book the activity at least 6 months in advance to assure your spot on this one kind of the exclusive adventure since with only 4 permits with the two groups space is so limited. This experience can only be done in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable forest in the Rushaga Area and is not available in Rwanda, or the democratic Republic of Congo.
The Gorilla habituation Experience
Typically, gorilla habituation starts just as early as 7am with a briefing session at the park headquarters. After briefing, travelers are placed in groups of 4 people and allocated a gorilla family to trek and habituate. The trek to find the gorillas can take anything from 2 to 4 hours, depending on the location of the gorillas and the terrain leading there.
Once contact is made with the gorillas, travelers get to spend 4 hours with the gorillas, giving you an insight into the lives of these giant mountain gorillas. Since gorilla habituation can even take a full day, travelers move with their packed lunches in the forested area, and get to return to the lodge much later in the afternoon for a much-deserved rest.
Typical Itinerary
We drive you to Rushaga- Nkuringo from Kampala or you can fly from Entebbe to Bwindi with Aero Link, you can as well fly into Kigali, Rwanda and take the 4 hours plus an hour drive to Rushaga for the habituation experience trek. If you have a plan of a longer safari in Uganda, we can change any gorilla trekking safari into a habituation experience safari where you are allowed 4 hours with a gorilla family.
You spend 4 hours with the gorillas instead of one hour; you start at 7:30 at the gorilla habituation trail head and then return in the late afternoon. Your day begins with briefing from Uganda Wildlife Authority staff and the Research. There are two groups being habituated in 2018 and they are the Bikingi and Bushabo groups. The group you will be with is selected with your input on the day of the habituation. The experience is limited to 4 participants as compared with the 8 for the normal gorilla trekking. You get to spend 4 hours with a gorilla family habituated instead of 1 hour. The same requirements, rules and regulations for gorilla trekking visits apply to the habituation experience. The clothing’s are the same for both the habituation and the normal trek.
How to Book
How to book for a gorilla habituation permit; the minimum age of 15 applies as it is for the normal gorilla trekking in Uganda. We shall book your gorilla Habituation experience in Rushaga area in Bwindi forest at 1,500 USD as part of the safari you have chosen with us. We will let you know within one working day as to the availability of the Gorilla Habituation Permit. Bookings for the habituation experience permits must be done well in advance due to the limited number of participants allowed each day and the interest in the activity by Visitors to Uganda. Habituation Experience Permits are automatically included in your safari with us. The passport information is also required for the permits and it costs $1500 including the park entrances fee for the whole day.
Is Gorilla Habituation in Bwindi Safe?
Gorilla habituation in Uganda, particularly in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, is generally considered safe due to the presence of experienced guides and rangers who ensure the safety of both visitors and gorillas, strict safety protocols, and the gorillas’ relatively peaceful nature when habituated. In Uganda, gorilla habituation is a controlled process where gorillas are slowly introduced to human presence, allowing tourists to spend time with them without causing stress to the animals. Rangers play an important role in this process. They are highly trained and accompany tourists throughout the experience and they make sure that everyone follows safety rules.
Before the trek, visitors are briefed on how to behave around gorillas, including how to avoid sudden movements or loud noises. These steps help reduce the risk of disturbing the gorillas or making them feel threatened. Uganda has strict health measures in place to prevent diseases from spreading between humans and gorillas. Visitors with symptoms of illness, especially are not allowed to join the trek. While the experience is generally very safe, it’s important to follow all the safety guidelines provided. With the right precautions, gorilla habituation in Uganda is a safe and incredible wildlife experience.