10 things to consider before booking gorilla habituation safaris.
We have answered many of the questions that tourists have about gorilla habituation, including: why, where, and how to acquire permits. Gorilla habituation in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was introduced in 2014 by the Uganda Wildlife Authority as a means of expanding tourist offerings.
Since then, some gorilla groups have acclimated to human presence and are now comfortable going on gorilla treks. To acclimate the gorillas to human visitors, two groups are now conducting daily training sessions in the Rushaga region. Here are some things to think about before you schedule a gorilla habituation safari—an experience that will stay with you forever.
How does habituation work for gorillas?
Another amazing thing to do in Africa is to book a gorilla habituation safari. Through the technique of gorilla habituation, wild mountain gorillas may be taught to relax around humans and control their behavior around them. Researchers visit a certain group of wild gorillas every day for as long as two or three years to finish gorilla habitatuation. They get to know the habits and personalities of certain gorillas better.
As the gorillas get used to the researchers, they are eventually given names. After researchers have confirmed that these mountain gorillas can hike, they will introduce a simulated exercise with a small group of visitors, including scientists and guides.
As a first step in habituated gorilla group training, gorillas undergo a habituation experience. Gorilla trekking is introduced everyday after the gorillas are used to tourists. In the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, between the Rushaga and Nkuringo Sectors, gorillas habituate.
The Bikingi and Bushaho gorilla families are the only ones now participating in the habituation program in the Rushaga area, which is limited to only four visitors. Tourists should plan ahead of time to get a permit to see mountain gorilla habituation since the experience is in great demand and there are limited slots available. You will get a certificate upon completion of the gorilla habituation experience. Before you book your gorilla habituation safari, it’s important to know that you’ll be getting some hands-on experience with the primates.
About the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Located in the districts of Kisoro and Kanungu in southern Uganda, close to the country’s border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, lies Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. With an estimated age of over 25,000 years, the park is thought by experts to be among the oldest woods in Africa. Bwindi was designated as a National Park in 1991 and later in 1994 it was named a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. More than 400 plant species call Bwindi Impenetrable National area home.
The area is also home to 150 animals, including many primates, such as the world-famous gorillas, chimpanzees, baboons, forest elephants, and antelopes. Mountain gorilla trekking, an activity that can only be done in three countries—Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—began in Bwindi Forest, the original home of the gorillas in Uganda. The park is believed to be home to over 500 gorillas, or more than half of the world’s total gorilla population. In the Nkuringo and Rushaga Sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, in the park’s southern region, gorillas habituate.
On what days are habituation permits for gorillas made available?
There are a maximum of four gorilla viewing permits issued daily in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Due of the gorillas’ lack of socialization and their untamed nature, this activity strictly enforces a four-person maximum. On a daily basis, the four guests join researchers, park guides, and Rangers in seeing the gorillas. Starting at six in the morning, this activity is all about tracking the gorillas’ every move, from feeding them to when they sleep and how they spend their lives.
After a briefing on the restrictions and policies that visitors must adhere to throughout the journey, the actual walk into the forest may begin. You have four hours to observe the gorillas and snap pictures once you locate them. The fascinating way the guides use melodic sounds to communicate with the gorillas will be shown to you.
Can you tell me how much gorilla habituation permits cost?
Before you schedule your gorilla habituation safari, make sure you know how much the permit will cost. The cost of the gorilla habituation licenses is $1,500 for non-residents, $1,000 for foreigners, and 750,000 Ugandan Shillings for citizens of East Africa. With this habituation permit, you may observe the gorillas for four hours once you’ve located them, learning about their habits such as feeding, sleeping, and social interaction.
The Rwandan permit only permits one hour of viewing, but the gorilla habituation permit enables four hours of stay with the gorillas. However, both permits cost the same. You can rely on Katland Safaris to assist you in reserving your permit for the date of your choice and arranging for all the necessary services for an unforgettable adventure.
Get in touch with us regarding the dates and details of your trek, and we’ll check the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s online system for permit availability. If permits are available, we’ll send you an invoice to pay for them. If they aren’t, you can choose another date that does have availability. We will confirm your journey and email you a copy of the receipt with booking ID after we receive payment.
After that, we will arrange and get your permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Booking months in advance for your selected date is highly recommended due to the high demand for the gorilla habituation permits, which are restricted to four per day. One of the ten things to think about when planning a gorilla habituation safari is how much the permits would cost.
How does one go about habituating gorillas in a safe and effective manner?
There are a lot of restrictions that tourists must observe before and after a gorilla trek in Uganda, just like any other tourist activity. We must preserve monkeys for future generations since they are delicate and in risk of extinction. Here are several methods that may evolve:
It is mandatory for all visitors to possess a valid gorilla habituation permit according to the norms and regulations. Permits to habituated gorillas must be reserved in advance and are only valid on a certain day. A valid gorilla habituation permit is required for participation in this adventure. The Uganda Wildlife Authority offers four-hour gorilla habituation licenses for $1500.00 USD.
Anyone must be at least fifteen years old to take part in the gorilla habituation process. The minimal age for gorilla habituation, similar to that of gorilla trekking, is fifteen years old or older in order to prevent inexperienced participants from acting like children. You can never tell how kids would act when they get to see gorillas, according to experts.
Additionally, mountain gorillas are susceptible to contagious infections that disproportionately affect children under the age of fifteen. The Uganda Wildlife Authority takes this matter very seriously and may want to see your birth certificate if they are still uncertain.
If you want to keep the delicate balance of the natural ecology intact when you explore Bwindi Impenetrable National Park’s forest, you should talk quietly and not make any noise. You can better see the forest’s various wildlife, including as the birds, primates, and mammals that call Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home, if you keep your voice quiet.
Keep the forest and trails free of rubbish and plastic bottles to help preserve the ecosystem. Leave rubbish in the bins provided or put it in your bag.
While traveling to the gorillas’ habitat, make sure to constantly listen to and obey the directions of your guide and experts. This aids in maintaining order throughout the whole process.
According to the legislation regarding gorilla habituation, visitors are expected to maintain a distance of 7 to 5 meters from mountain gorillas. This will prevent mountain gorillas from attacking you and will also lessen the likelihood that you may infect them.
During gorilla habituation, it is best to refrain from eating or drinking, not use flash photography, and avoid touching the gorillas too much since they may fume if they get too near.
Please request that the researchers or your guide provide for a toilet or dig a hole for you if you feel the need to relieve yourself. Thank you for your cooperation in staying behind and seeking medical assistance if you feel unwell before going gorilla habituation. The Uganda Wildlife Authority may arrange for an alternative experience if needed.
Steps to reach Bwindi for a habituated gorilla tracking expedition.
You can reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southern Uganda by car or plane if you want to embark on a gorilla habituation adventure. Aerolink Uganda, a highly regarded aviation company, offers daily flights to Bwindi and Kisoro Airstrip; the journey takes around one hour.
From Entebbe International Airport/Kajjansi Airstrip, you may drive to your reserved accommodation. You may also choose to drive from Kampala/Entebbe to Bwindi; the journey takes about 8 or 9 hours, but it’s well worth it since you get to see the countryside, the Equator, and the Igongo Cultural Museum in Mbarara.
From Rwanda’s capital of Kigali, you may go on a road gorilla habituation tour that begins at an airport or hotel and ends in Uganda, passing the genocide monument on the way.
You can enter Uganda by either the Katuna or Cyanika borders. Getting from Kigali to Bwindi takes about four or five hours, which is less time than driving from Entebbe. If you want to undertake gorilla habituation in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you have all the possibilities you need.
Where may one stay on a habituation safari with gorillas?
When planning a gorilla habituation safari to Uganda, one of the most important factors is the accommodation. On your gorilla safari, you may choose from a variety of accommodations in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Katland Safaris can assist you in reserving a room at any of these establishments, from inexpensive motels to five-star resorts. We advise staying at one of the several lodges in the Nkuringo or Rushaga sectors in the southern part of Bwindi for your gorilla habitat adventure.
Guests visiting the Rushaga area have the choice between three different types of accommodations: the midrange Rushaga Gorilla Camp, the luxury Four Gorilla Lodge, and the budget Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge. There are two types of gorilla lodges in Nkuringo: one for those on a tighter budget and one for those want to splurge, the Clouds Mountain gorilla resort. Lodges are best reserved in advance, particularly during peak season, when they may reach capacity. If you want our expert recommendation for the finest resort in terms of standard service that won’t break the bank on your gorilla safari, then give us a call.
Katland Safaris: The Best Choice for Gorilla Habituation Safaris
The Ugandan travel company Katland Safaris has its headquarters in the town of Entebbe. A Ugandan family owns and operates Katland Safaris. Our company has been providing eco-friendly vacations and once-in-a-lifetime adventures to every country in East Africa for over 15 years. The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has officially recognized us as a member of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO).
Booking your gorilla permits and safari from Kigali is made easier because to our solid and long-standing working connection with UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority). Safari reservations and TripAdvisor both give Katland Safaris great reviews. If you are planning a future trip to any of the five East African countries—Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, or Tanzania—please get in touch with Katland Safaris. Whatever you’re hoping to accomplish during your gorilla habituation, we can make it happen.
