Gorilla Habituation in Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest | Gorilla Trekking in Uganda | Uganda Gorilla tracking safaris
This adventurous gorilla activity gives you up to 4 hours in close contact with the mountain gorillas in their natural environment. The gorilla habituation experiences involve hiking through the forest of Bwindi in search of the gentle giants.
The adventure is unique in the sense that it gives you up to 4 hours with the same habituated mountain gorillas that live in gorilla family groups
The mountain gorillas were initially not used to human presence; therefore, with a group of ranges and researchers, you will enter the forest and participate in activities that are intended to make the mountain gorillas ready for human presence.
For tourists who are looking for more than just a gorilla encounter, gorilla habituation is the best safari choice. It allows you to learn more about the mountain gorillas.
Where is gorilla habituation done?
The gorilla habituation adventure is done only in Uganda`s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Bwindi forest is home to more than 50% of the remaining population of mountain gorilla, and the first national park where gorilla habituation was initiated.
In Bwindi, gorilla trekking is done in two sectors, that’s the southern sector of Rushaga gorilla sector and Nkungo gorilla sector. Only two gorilla families are made ready for the gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi
The difference between gorilla trekking and Gorilla habituation
Both activities are done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, and both allow you to see Mountain gorillas. However, with gorilla habituation, you are allowed to spend up to 4 hours observing and learning about the Mountain gorillas. However, with normal gorilla trekking, you only get to spend one hour with mountain gorillas.
Only 4 guests are allowed to go gorilla habituation for a particular family in a day, compared to the 08 people allowed to for gorilla trekking for a gorilla family in a day.
What’s the cost difference between Gorilla Habituation and gorilla trekking?
The Cost of normal gorilla trekking is 800 dollars per person for foreign non-residents,600 for foreign residents, and 300,000Shs for East African Residents
Gorilla habituation permits, on the other hand, are relatively more expensive than the normal gorilla permits.
Gorilla habituation permit costs 1500 dollars for foreign non-residents, 1000 dollars for foreign Residents, and 750,000 shillings for East African citizens .
The best time for Gorilla Habituation in Uganda:
Gorilla habituation can be done any time of the year, but June to October and December to March are the best months for gorilla habituation in Uganda. During this season, the weather is dry with mild rainfall, and this makes it easier to trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, making it easier for sightseeing and offering great photography of the mountain gorillas.
Regardless of the weather and month, every organized gorilla trekking or habituation experience gives you a 99% chance of seeing and spending time with the mountain gorillas.
Booking a gorilla habituation safari in Uganda.
For every gorilla expedition, whether gorilla trekking or habituation, every traveller needs to have a gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation permit. This permit is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and it gives you access to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for the gorilla experience. Your gorilla safari experience starts with you confirming the dates of travel.
When our safari planners and consultants receive your email with these details, we will straight away check for the availability of the gorilla habituation permits with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. After confirming the availability of the permits for the intended dates, we will then send you an invoice for you to make payments.
Once payments are made, we will purchase your permits immediately and send you a copy of your permits for record purposes. This will also confirm you are booked in for the gorilla habituation experiences in Bwindi.
Because of the strictness of the activity due to conservation reasons, gorilla habituation permits tend to get booked out very quickly. We therefore advise our clients to book gorilla habituation permits in advance of at least 2-3 months prior to their visit to avoid any disappointments.
The cost of a gorilla habituation safari in Uganda.
Our all-inclusive gorilla habituation safari costs 2600 dollars for a solo traveller and 2100 dollars per person in a group of more than two people sharing. This is a 3-day and two-night trip.
This cost is inclusive of the gorilla habituation permit that goes for 1500 dollars for foreign non-residents, transport by road from Kampala to Bwindi and back, services of an English-speaking guide, and accommodation.
Safari lodges for gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi.
Gorilla habituation is done in the southern parts of Bwindi, that`s in the Rushaga gorilla sector and in the Nkungo gorilla sector. Safari lodging and accommodation options range from budget, mid ranges and luxury.
The budget lodges include Rushaga gorilla. Havens lodges, Nsongi camp, among others. Prices for budget accommodation range between 90 – 100 USD per person per night.
Mid-range lodge options include Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, among others, and the charge is between 150 to 200 dollars per person per night. The luxury lodging options include: Chameleon Hill Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Lodge. The price is between 250 – 700 dollars per person per night.
How to get to Bwindi for gorilla habituation
By Air,
This is the best and most recommended way for tourists with limited time in Uganda, but who want to experience gorilla trekking in Uganda.
You can choose to fly from either Entebbe International Airport or from Kajansi airstrip to Kihihi airstrip, depending on which part of the Bwindi sector you are tracking mountain gorilla from; a Drop off to Kihihi airstrip gives you access to the northern gorilla trekking sectors of Buhoma and Ruhija, and a drop off at Kisoro airstrip gives you quick access to Nkuringo and Rushaga in the northern parts of Bwindi Forest.
There are various domestic airlines with scheduled and chartered flights from Kampala or Entebbe, and they include Aero Link and Bar Aviation.
To make the best of your flight from Kampala or Entebbe to Bwindi, it’s recommended that you plan early enough with us for transfers from your hotel to the Airstrips.
By road.
Accessing Bwindi Forest National Park will give you the best opportunity to have the same views of rural western Uganda. It allows you to have some views of rural western Uganda, and it gives you the opportunity to make multiple stops, notably at the Uganda equator. It’s the most recommended way to transfer to Bwindi Forest for people with time to spend on a Uganda safari.
All the gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi are accessed by the road from Kampala – Entebbe to western Uganda. The Ruhigi sector and the Buhoma sector can be accessed along the Kabaale – Kisooro road. You can also access Buhoma from Queen Elizabeth National Park through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth, and other trekking sectors, that’s Rushaga and Nkuringo, can be accessed by a turn off along the Kabaale Kisoro highway
Why book a gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi with Kattand Safaris?
Katland Safaris organizes the best gorilla and wildlife safaris in East Africa. When it comes to gorilla trekking, we will book your gorilla trekking permits for Uganda`s Bwindi and Mgahinga gorilla national park and gorilla permits for Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Besides booking your gorilla permit, we will also put all other gorilla safari accessories like transportation and accommodation in one package to make your gorilla trekking safari a memorable adventure:
Your gorilla trekking safaris can be customised to meet your safari expectations, needs, and budget. The safari package can range from budget, mid-range, and luxury safaris.
Contact us anytime with any inquiries about organizing a 3-day gorilla habituation safari in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
