Gorilla Habituation Experience is a gorilla activity that involves trekking/walking and hiking through the forest to search for semi-habituated mountain gorillas which leave together in a given gorilla family group but are not used to human presence, once you find them you will participate in activities geared to making these mountain gorillas get used to human presence. Gorilla Habituation gives you an opportunity to spend much time with the mountain gorillas that is four hours encounter different from the one-hour encounter during the normal gorilla tracking. This experience is unique given the fact it gives you an opportunity to learn more about mountain gorillas. It is done is a group of 4 visitors tracking a given semi-habituated gorilla group.
Where is Gorilla Habituation done?
Gorilla Habituation is only done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda. It is done in the southern sectors of Bwindi that is Rushaga and Nkuringo. Bwindi has 4 major sectors for gorilla tracking which include Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga and Nkuringo, gorilla habituation experience is only done in two sectors that is Rushaga and Nkuringo. With 12 gorilla families habituated for normal tracking in Bwindi it is only 2 gorilla families that are open for Gorilla Habituation experience in Bwindi.
Difference between Gorilla Habituation and Gorilla tracking
Gorilla Habituation and Gorilla tracking/trekking are both done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the difference is during Gorilla Habituation you spend much more time with the mountain gorillas that is 4 hours while for gorilla tracking you spend 1-hour encounter with the mountain gorillas. On Gorilla Habituation you visit the mountain gorillas in a group of 4 people and for gorilla tracking in a group of 8 people. A gorilla habituation permit costs USD1500 for foreign nonresidents, USD1000 for residents and 750,000 Uganda Shillings for East African Citizens while a gorilla tracking permit costs USD700 for foreign nonresidents, USD600 for foreign residents and 250,000 Uganda shillings per person per trek.
Gorilla Habituation in Uganda
What is the best time to go for Gorilla Habituation in Uganda?
Gorilla Habituation in Uganda is best done in the months of June to October and December to March during this time it is a dry season in Uganda with mild rainfall making it easy for the treks in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, as well during this time the vegetation is not fully grown and it is easy for viewing the mountain gorillas offering great sights for photographs. During the other months of April, May and November which is normally a wet season this makes the vegetation grow high making the sightings unclear however during this time the treks tend to be shorter given the fact mountain gorillas don’t move further distances looking for food, food is readily available. Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda can be done throughout the year given the fact it is a very well-organized activity and you have 99% chance of seeing the mountain gorillas.
Steps to book Gorilla Habituation Experience Safari in Uganda
You will need to have your gorilla habituation permit secured in advance to confirm that you are booked for the Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Forest National Park. Once you have your planned dates of travel confirmed we will need you to send us an email here so that we check for availability of gorilla habituation permits online with the Uganda Wildlife Authority once we confirm permits are available for your planned dates we will let you know so that we can send you an invoice for you to make payment for the permits. Once the payment is done and we have received it on our account we will go ahead and purchase your permits immediately and send you a scanned copy of the permits for your records and perusal, this will confirm you are booked for Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Forest National Park. It is advised to book your Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda in advance at least 2-3 months prior to your visit given the fact it is only 4 people who go for gorilla habituation per group, they are two groups available making the gorilla habituation permits limited to 8 permits per day and sell out very quickly on first come first serve basis.
How much is a Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda
A gorilla habituation permit costs USD1500 for the Foreign nonresident, USD1000 for the Foreign resident and USD70 (750,000 Uganda Shilling) for the East African Citizen per person per trek, this gorilla habituation permit gives you an opportunity to spend 4 hours encounter with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest National Park. The Gorilla habituation permit price shares a much more cost for any Gorilla Habituation Experience Safari in Uganda on top of other services like transport, accommodation, and guiding. On top of the gorilla habituation permit you will also pay other services for a successful gorilla trekking safari which include transport, accommodation and guiding. Our 3 Days Gorilla Habituation Trip costs USD2400 for a solo traveler and USD2000 per person for 2 people sharing. Contact us here and we will book for you accordingly.
Where to stay during your Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi
Gorilla Habituation Experience is done in the southern part of Bwindi Forest National Park, with this it is recommended to stay at this part of the park. Accommodation in the southern part of Bwindi Forest National park ranges from Budget options include Rusgaha Gorilla Havens Lodge, Karungi Camp, Nshogi Camp among others these cost USD90-100 per person per night, mid-range include Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge among others these cost USD150-200 per person per night, Luxury options include Gorilla Heights Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Clouds Gorilla Lodge, and Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge these cost USD250-700 per person per night.
How to get to Bwindi Forest National Park for Gorilla Habituation Experience
By Road; The southern sector of Bwindi Forest National Park can be accessed through the main safari circuit from Entebbe/Kampala which is approximately 8-9 hours drive. You will need to turn off at Muko along the Kabale-Kisoro road you will see the signpost of Uganda Wildlife Authority which you will follow up to to your booked lodge for accommodation in either Rushaga or Nkuringo sector.
Gorilla Habituation in Uganda
By Air; You can fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala’s Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro airstrip to access the southern sectors of Rushaga and Nkuringo. Scheduled and chartered flights are available and operated by domestic airline operators of Aero link and Fly Uganda. You will need to plan with your tour operator for a transfer from the airstrip to the Park
Why book with Beyond Travel your Gorilla Habituation Experience
Beyond Travel provides personalized service and eco-friendly safaris with the utmost dedication to the safety and enjoyment of our clients. We are committed to the well-being of our staff and guests as well as to having a positive impact on the communities and wild places that our operations reach. On all our operations and safaris, we embrace the environmental ethic “Take Nothing but Photographs, Leave Only Footprints “ to ensure all our safaris the environment is protected. Contact us here and we will book for you your Gorilla Habituation safari in Uganda.