Uganda Gorilla Habituation Experience

Gorilla habituation experience is an exceptional activity and can only be encountered in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park and it was introduced in Bwindi on 1^st January 2014 through ‘’UWA’’ Uganda Wildlife Authority .To those interested to be part of mountain gorilla pay USD 1500 per person per experience .According to Uganda Wildlife Authority , two gorilla families have been separated and dedicated in Rushaga region one of the four sectors found in Uganda Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park.

In gorilla habituation experience, travelers spend more time with these great apes much more compared to gorilla trekking which is restricted to one hour. Honestly gorilla trekking can take few hours of the day like 2 to 6 hours but this involves in trekking to and from the gorillas but the actual time allowed with the gorillas for observation and photography is only one hour .

On the day of an experience visitors will be accompanied with researchers ,park rangers who will be explaining to you how gorillas survive in their nature inhabits ,enjoy long hours with them as you see how they are habituated .Likely or not gorilla habituation experience is an attractive activity since you spend more time with gorillas ‘’four hours’’ compared to those interested in participating two treks .The only difference is that those interested in this experience should expect to visit semi habituated mountain gorillas which sometime decide to hide and behave in a manner which is not usual ,the experience can be stopped upon advise from researchers .Contact us Achieve Global Safari for more information.

Gorilla habituation is an exceptional process where wild mountain gorillas are trained to get used to people and may take between two to three years to be completed. During this process researchers keep on visiting an identified wild gorilla group on a daily basis. The researchers get to learn more about individual gorillas and the way they behave. With time, these habituated gorillas get used to the researcher, in the long run and each individual gorillas are given a name. Once its noted by the researchers that these mountain gorillas can be trekked, they introduce a mock exercise where some few people may include the Journalists, scientists start visiting it. And if this gorilla family has passed the mock exercise then it is opened for trekking.

Morever,Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park the main safari destination for gorilla habituation experience on the continent of Africa is habituated with more than 21 gorilla families stipulated in four protected gorilla sectors .Gorilla families of Buhoma in the Northern part of Bwindi are Mubare ,Rushegura ,Habinyanja ,Ruhija group include Bitukura ,Oruzogo and Kyaguliro this sector found Eastern part of Bwindi ,Rushaga gorilla group are Nshongi ,Mishaya ,Busingye ,Bweza ,Kahungye and Nkuringo Gorilla Family in the south .The two gorilla families have been put aside for gorilla habituation experience which are located in Nkuringo and Rushanga part of Bwindi Impenetrable national park and only eight gorilla permits are available and can be purchased from Uganda Wildlife Authority .

Cost of Gorilla Habituation Experience

Ugandan gorilla habituation experience costs USD1500 for trek per day for Foreign nonresident, USD1000 for Foreign residents and UGX 750,000 for East African members dissimilar from the USD700 paid for gorilla trekking. We recommend you to book your gorilla permits after 6 months prior to the actual time of the experience most especially during peak season in the months of December to Mid-March and June to October. Gorilla habituation is a full day experience grouped with four people.

Items to Carry on Uganda Gorilla Habituation Experience

They include; Insect repellent, rain jackets, Water proof backpack, enough drinking water, Long comfortable shirts and trousers, hiking rubber boosts,

Where to stay during Gorilla Habituation Experience

Gorilla habituation experience can be conducted in Rushaga sector therefore travelers are recommended to stay in accommodation facilities close to the trekking sector for easy access to the park headquarters for your gorilla habituation briefing. Accommodation facilities in Rushanga sector ranges from Luxury to Budget offering quality services to the clients such as Ichumbi Lodge, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Nshongi Gorilla Camp, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Chameleon Hill among others.

Getting to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park lies in south-western part of Uganda in Kanungu district.

From Kampala to Rushaga sector of Bwindi is approximately 9 to 10 hours’ drive driving via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and then main visited destination, recommended with 4×4 wheel vehicles.

Another option, travelers who do not prefer travelling for long hours, can book a domestic flight in Uganda such as Aero link that operates scheduled and chartered flights daily from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kihihi Airstrip.

Lastly ,Gorilla habituation experience is more than you could expect as a life time memories on your safaris as you will be able to enjoy their amazing lifestyle ,taking photos thus an ideal encounter. .