What is the Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda?
Gorilla habituation is the slow and gentle introduction of a family of wild gorillas to the presence of humans by being free around the people. Wild Gorillas are habituated so researchers can study the species, treat them for sickness and injuries, protect them from hunters, and boost their conservation efforts with sustainable tourism.
Two Gorilla families (Bukingyi & Bushaho) are currently being habituated in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
In order to bring these to human presence, each gorilla group under goes through a habituation process of at least – 3-5years managed by a team of expert researchers and rangers.
Park rangers start the habituation process by spending a short period of time with the gorillas each day, maintaining a specific distance at the limit of the gorillas’ comfort zone. Every few months they gradually increase the time and reduce the distance until they are certain that the gorillas are ready for tourists to visit them.
Whilst the gorillas are not yet completely habituated (the gorillas are used to trackers and rangers, but not to strangers or tourists) the Gorilla Habituation Experience will help to ensure that they will eventually become fully comfortable in the company of humans.
Wild mountain gorilla mother and baby in Bwindi impenetrable national park, Uganda
By participating in the Gorilla Habituation Experience you are supporting the crucial work in habituating gorillas and ensuring their survival. It is truly humbling to think that you will be one of the first humans to meet these gorillas.
The experience offers a more relaxed and enriching encounter with the gorillas. You’ll feel less rushed and you’ll have plenty of time to fully absorb this incredible wildlife experience.
Meet the mountain gorillas of Uganda. Gorilla Habituation Experience
What is the difference between gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation?
Both gorilla trekking and the Gorilla Habituation Experience are incredible opportunities to trek deep into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with an experienced tracker, in search of a wild mountain gorilla family.
On a gorilla trek, you can hike through the forest for anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours, depending on the location of the specific gorilla family you’re tracking. When you finally meet your allocated gorilla family you’ll have the chance to spend up to one special hour quietly observing them in their natural habitat.
Gorilla Habituation Experience
No wildlife encounter on earth can compare to standing a few metres from the gorillas. It will undoubtedly be a magical experience that you’ll never ever forget.
For those who wish to spend more than one hour with the gorillas there is a rare opportunity to participate in a full day Gorilla Habituation Experience, run by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
This allows you to spend up to four hours with these magnificent creatures and is only available in Rushaga, in the southern part of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
On this experience you’ll get a deeper understanding of gorilla tracking and gorilla behavior than on a normal trek, and you’ll have a greater amount of time to observe and photograph the gorillas.
Gorilla Habituation permit equals to 1,500 USD per person.
Now let’s do it.
3 Days Gorilla Habituation in Uganda. Gorilla Habituation Experience
Safari highlights
Uganda Gorilla Habituation
Photo session at the Equator
Itinerary
Day 1: Travel to Bwindi forest for Uganda gorilla trekking safari
Your day will start after an early breakfast and you will embark on your gorilla safari southwards to Bwindi impenetrable forest. The journey will offer you highway sights of rural and semi-urban Uganda with several fruit & vegetable markets along the roads, craft and drum makers and a stop at Uganda’s Equator monument where you will cross to the southern hemispheres. After the experience at the Equator, the drive will continue with a stop over in Mbarara for lunch before proceeding to Bwindi with short bathroom stopovers and picture sessions of landscape and other attractions.
Alternatively, you will take a morning flight to Bwindi forest or Mgahinga gorilla national park. You will then be picked up from the airstrip and transferred to your hotel for relaxation in preparation for gorilla trekking. You have an option for an afternoon community experience.
Drive time – 8 hours Or Scheduled Flight – 1 hour and 50 minutes
L & D
Day 2: Gorilla Habituation in Uganda
Uganda Gorilla Habituation Uganda safari – Today early morning your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge and transfer you to the briefing point at 7am before you start your gorilla experience at 8 am. At the briefing point, the Uganda wildlife authority rangers will welcome you and given seats until time of briefing as your driver guide registers you with the ranger on duty to be allocated a gorilla family.
Eventually the ranger guide will share a short briefing about the experience in the park and how you should interact with nature and the people. You will then be allocated a gorilla family to trek after which you will start the walk into the forest. Depending on location of your gorilla family, you might need to drive to the trail head of the allocated gorilla family.
We advise you to hire a porter to carry your day pack because sometimes the gorillas could be located a distance from the start of your trek, they can also help push or pull you along the steep slippery paths in the forest.
Day 3: Transfer to Entebbe
Today you drive back to Kampala. Have lunch at the Equator and enjoy picture sessions in both the northern and southern hemispheres. This will mark the end of your lovely Uganda holiday.
Drive time – 8 hours Or Scheduled Flight – 1 hour and 50 minutes