Gorilla Habituation Experience Uganda Guide on Packages, Permit Cost & Booking
Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi’s Rushaga sector allows you to spend an amazing 4 hour stay with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Uganda Wildlife Authority introduced the gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi to all interested tourists effective 1st January 2014. Gorilla habituation experience in Uganda including park entry fees costs $1800 Per person per day. According to Uganda Wildlife Authority, two gorilla families have been put aside and dedicated for this experience in Rushaga region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Gorilla Habituation Experience Explained
Gorilla habituation experience is a 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 as 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 and journalists start visiting it. Once such a gorilla family has passed mock exercise then it is opened for trekking.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has about eleven habituated gorilla families which include Mubare, Habinyanja and Rushegura in the Northern section of the park called Buhoma, then Bitukura, Oruzogo and Kyaguriro in the Eastern Part of Bwindi in Ruhija, Nshonji, Mishaya, Busingye, Bweza, Kahungye in Rushaga and then Nkuringo Gorilla Family all in the south.
With this experience, clients will spend more time with gorillas compared to gorilla trekking which is restricted to only one hour. Unlike gorilla trekking which takes three quarters of the day (trek to and from the gorillas) with the actual time spent with the gorillas for observation and photography being one hour, mountain gorilla habituation experience clients will be moving with researcher and will spend more time with the gorillas and see how gorillas are habituated. This experience is likely to attract more tourists since your spend more time (Four hours) compared to those interested in doing two treks. Clients for this experience should sometimes expect to visit semi habituated mountain gorillas which can decide to hide or behave in a manner which is not usual and the experience can be stopped upon advice from researchers.
What is the difference between normal gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation?
The major differences between ordinary gorilla Trekking and Gorilla habituation experience are the cost of the Trekking permit and time spent with the Gorillas. An ordinary Gorilla Trekking Permit costs 800USD for Foreigners and 700USD for foreign residents while a gorilla habituation experience permit costs 1800USD for Foreigners and 1700USD for Foreign Residents. In relation to the time spent with the gorillas, an ordinary gorilla trek lasts for 2 to 6 hours and visitors are allowed to spend only 1 Hour face-to-face in the presence of a habituated gorilla group While a Gorilla habituation experience lasts a whole full day with a guarantee of 4 hours stay with the gorillas.
What happens during gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi?
On the trekking day, visitors booked for a gorilla habituation habituation experience gather at park headquarters of Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by 6:30am for briefing by park officials and later the research team at 7:30 am before commencing the activity at 8:00am. The minimum age for the gorilla habituation experience in Uganda is 15 years of age and one needs to be fit enough to take part in the gorilla habituation process. This is because the activity may include hiking through steep and dense parts of the forest. Visitors with infectious diseases are not allowed to take part in the gorilla habituation process because human diseases like flu can threaten an entire gorilla family.
The Risks Associated with the Habituation of Mountain Gorillas
There are many risks associated with the habituation of mountain gorillas to either humans or the mountain Gorillas themselves. So what are these risks?
Mountain gorillas are really very calm animals and very peaceful but can be very dangerous especially when they are threatened. As you may expect, the level of aggression is really high initially, it then peaks and then diminishes to low levels. It’s not rare for habituators to be exposed to intimidating displays and there are cases of habituators receiving canine puncture wounds during the habituation process. Over habituation which may be as a result of mismanaged interactions between the mountain gorillas and the people involved in the process cause negative interactions with the people, usually the communities surviving in the neighboring national. Gorillas feed on people’s food in fields and can even attack them while doing their field work. When gorillas are over habituated, they lose fear of humans and can always act provocatively especially the females.
There’s risk of spreading diseases to mountain gorillas during this habituation process, this is very risky for gorillas and many time, UWA doesn’t afford to take the risk. We all love cash, but you may be refunded your payment for a gorilla permit because of a cold. So, risks are high that if a researcher has a cold, they would spread it to the mountain gorilla especially at close proximity and that would be very dangerous. But that’s not all, the four months process can actually be stressful to the primates and causing stress. Like in humans, stress from the daily interactions can potentially reduce reproductive success or result in immune suppression and increase susceptibility in Gorillas. Hope you found it exciting!!!!!
How Long Should You Stay on a Gorilla Habituation Tour?
We recommend minimum 3 Days/2 Nights stay on tour if you have very little time at hand and this means day 1 is to travel to Bwindi, day 2 is to do the habituation experience and day 3 is departure through either Entebbe ( 10 hours to Bwindi with an option of flying in and out) or Kigali ( 5 hours to Bwindi through Katuna or Chanika border).
If you have enough time at hand and would love to rest after the habituation or to add on a normal gorilla trek, we recommend 4-5 day tour. You may do 7-14 days or above if you choose to combine your gorilla habituation experience tour with more Uganda safari activities like chimpanzee trekking, golden monkey tracking, game park safari in Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls National Park, walking safari in Lake Mburo or a mountain hike.
Where can You Stay During Your Gorilla Habituation Experience Tour?
Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda takes Bwindi’s Southern Sector of Rushaga and there are several lodges of all types near and around the Rushaga gate. These include luxury, mid-range and budget accommodation types.
Luxury lodges include Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge and Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge which are located approximately 35 Minutes away from the Rushaga Gate.
Mid-range Lodges include Four Gorillas Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge and Kaara Lodge among others and these all located not more than 10 Minutes away from the Rushaga Gate.
Quality budget Lodges include Bweza Gorilla Lodge and Rushaga Gorilla Lodge among others all located 7-15 minutes away from briefing point.
How To Book Gorilla Habituation Experience Permits
For you to able to spend four hours with mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable National Park, you must hold a valid gorilla habituation experience permit for Rushaga. Uganda Wildlife Authority issues gorilla habituation permits out with cash payment on first come first serve and only four people are allowed to spend four hours with mountain gorillas per day. This is because these mountain gorillas for gorilla habituation are still undergoing habituation and thus human interference must be controlled. To get your gorilla habituation permit for 2027-2028, kindly send us an email showing date, month and year when you wish to come to Uganda for gorilla habituation experience, the number of people you will travel with and the type of lodges you prefer between ultra-luxury, luxury, mid-range and budget for us to able to book you permits. Once we have your permits, we will tailor your safari by suggesting Lodges in Rushaga, Nkuringo or Rubuguri plus your transport to and from the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to either Entebbe or Kigali. Contact Us Now to book you Gorilla Habituation Experience Trip
What to pack for a gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda:
It’s important to come well prepared for the incredible experience of trekking with the mountain gorillas in Uganda and here’s our advice on what you should pack for a gorilla habituation experience in Uganda:
- Waterproof hiking boots with good ankle support
- Waterproof jackets and trousers
- Long-sleeved shirts
- Lightweight woolen socks
- Wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses for sun protection
- Toiletries such as sun cream, insect repellent, after-sun, bite relief cream and lip balm
- Garden gloves
- A small backpack to carry your water, lunch, extra clothes, binoculars and camera
- Camera with extra lenses and batteries
- Binoculars
- Snacks for extra energy
- A reusable water bottle to limit waste
- Multi-way travel adaptor.
Popular Gorilla Habituation Experience Packages to Inspire You!
3 Days Gorilla Habituation Experience Itinerary:
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today your dedicated driver/guide will pick you up from the Kigali/Entebbe International Airport on arrival or from your hotel in Kigali City/Entebbe/Kampala and transfer you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in South Western Uganda. We highly recommend that you start and end your tour from Kigali City or Kigali International Airport because its closer to Bwindi ( 5 Hours away) than Entebbe/Kampala which are 10 hours from Bwindi.
If you must start and end your tour from Entebbe/Kampala, we highly recommend that you take an internal small flight to Kisoro Airstrip which is very near to Bwindi to avoid the 10 hours road drive.
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation Option: Ultra-Luxury ( Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge), Luxury ( Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge), Mid-range( Four Gorillas Lodge), Budget ( Bweza gorilla Lodge )
Day 2: Gorilla habituation experience
Today after a very early breakfast you will be transferred to the Rushaga sector park headquarters for briefing about the rules and regulations of Gorilla Trekking before you embark on the trekking led by a team of researchers and Park Rangers in the dense jungle of Bwindi. On finding the gorillas, you will interact with them for Four hours and you will be required to keep a longer distance with the gorillas because they are not yet certified as suitable for closer encounters. Later in the evening you will retreat back to the lodge with enormous knowledge about gorilla’s conservation, enjoy your dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation Option: Ultra-Luxury ( Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge), Luxury ( Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge), Mid-range( Four Gorillas Lodge), Budget ( Bweza gorilla Lodge )
Day 3: Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe/Kigali for departure Flight
Today after breakfast you will be transferred back to Kampala with stops along the way for photography and lunch. You will arrive in Entebbe late in the evening in time for check in for your flight back home or to your next destination.
End of Tour
3 Days Gorilla Habituation Experience Tour in Uganda
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4 Days Bwindi Gorilla Habituation Experience Itinerary:
Day 1: Transfer by road from Entebbe/Kampala/Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today your dedicated driver/guide will pick you up from the Kigali/Entebbe International Airport on arrival or from your hotel in Kigali City/Entebbe/Kampala and transfer you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in South Western Uganda. We highly recommend that you start and end your tour from Kigali City or Kigali International Airport because its closer to Bwindi ( 5 Hours away) than Entebbe/Kampala which are 10 hours from Bwindi.
If you must start and end your tour from Entebbe/Kampala, we highly recommend that you take an internal small flight to Kisoro Airstrip which is very near to Bwindi to avoid the 10 hours road drive.
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation Option: Ultra-Luxury ( Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge), Luxury ( Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge), Mid-range( Four Gorillas Lodge), Budget ( Bweza gorilla Lodge )
Day 2: Bwindi Gorilla Habituation Experience
Today you will wake up very early and enjoy your breakfast after which you will be transferred to the park headquarters with packed lunch for briefing on the dos and don’ts of Gorilla habituation in Bwindi. You will then enter the jungle to meet the gorilla family that you will watch for four hours and during this time the rangers will tell you a lot about the group and thereafter you will head back to the park headquarters where you will meet your driver and transfer back to the lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation Option: Ultra-Luxury ( Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge), Luxury ( Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge), Mid-range( Four Gorillas Lodge), Budget ( Bweza gorilla Lodge )
Day 3: Another Night in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today, you can choose from a variety of optional experiences including ordinary Gorilla trekking if you Opt for a second gorilla trekking experience this time visiting a habituated gorilla family for a new perspective on their fascinating behaviour, guided forest walks, community walk or just choose to have a day of leisure relaxing and enjoying the serene surroundings of the lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation Option: Ultra-Luxury ( Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge), Luxury ( Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge), Mid-range( Four Gorillas Lodge), Budget ( Bweza gorilla Lodge )
Day 4: Transfer to Kampala/Kigali
After breakfast you will embark on a return drive to Kampala/Kigali arriving in time for a drop off at the Airport for your onward flight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
End of the 4 Days Gorilla Habituation Experience and Batwa Tour
4 Days Gorilla Habituation Experience Tour
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5 Days Gorillas & Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Today you will be picked up by the representative of Engabi Tours and Travel from Airport or an agreed point of pick up and you be transferred to Kibale forest National Park arriving in time for lunch. After lunch you will proceed for an evening nature walk in the nearby Bigodi Swamp to spot wildlife including monkeys, birds, butterflies and snakes among others. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Kibale National Park
Today after a very early breakfast you will be transferred to the park headquarters together with your parked lunch for briefing and thereafter you will start your Chimpanzee habituation experience which will give you an opportunity to spend all day long with the chimps in their natural setting. You will take enough pictures and the day ends as the chimpanzees climb into their newly built nests for the evening as you also return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast you will check out and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park the home of the Mountain Gorillas through Kasese while enjoying stunning views of the Rwenzori Mountains with lunch en route. You will arrive in time at your lodge in Bwindi for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Gorilla Habituation in Bwindi National Park
Today after a very early breakfast you will transfer to the park headquarters for briefing and from there you will start your Gorilla habituation experience which will give you an opportunity to spend four hours with the Gorillas when you find them. Later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Transfer to Kampala/ Entebbe
After breakfast you will say goodbye to Bwindi and transfer back to Kampala or Entebbe for your onward flight with lunch on the way at Igongo Cultural Centre.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
End of 5 Days Gorillas and Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
5 Days Gorillas and Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
Contact us for a Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking Habituation Experience Tour inclusive of the permits, accommodation, transportation and all Meals. To help us get you the best package offer please mention your preferred accommodation type between budget, mid-Luxury and Luxury, your intended travel dates and the number of people you intend to travel with.