Gorilla habituation experience in Uganda 2023/2024
Gorilla habituation experience in Uganda 2023/2024; Gorilla habituation is an interesting activity in Uganda where the wild mountain gorillas are trained to get used to human presence for trekking. Gorilla habituation experience in Uganda is only carried out in Rushaga sector which is located in southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Gorilla habituation experience only allows a maximum number of 4 people per day and it involves a team of researchers, park rangers, park guides and gorilla doctors. Gorilla habituation experience starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the jungle in search of the mountain gorillas which takes a whole day and during trekking you will be able to view other primates, bird species, plant and tree species among others. Once the mountain gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend four hours with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn and monitor their behaviors, watch them carry out their daily activities, engage in the naming process, take photos among others.
Best time to go for gorilla habituation experience in Uganda 2023/2024
Gorilla habituation experience in Uganda can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February because during this period there is less rainfall in the park therefore access roads and gorilla trekking trails will be passable which makes trekking easy compared to the rainy season when the trails are muddy and slippery which make trekking difficult.
Cost of gorilla habituation permit in Uganda 2023/2024
A gorilla habituation permit in Bwindi impenetrable national park costs 1,500 USD per person for foreign non residents, 750 USD per person for foreign residents and 250,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
How to book gorilla habituation permits in Uganda 2023/2024
A gorilla habituation permit in Uganda can be booked through a tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris where you will contact us with the date, month and year when you will be visiting the gorillas. After contacting us, we will check for permit availability and if there are permits available on your preferred dates, you will be asked to make a deposit. Once the payment is done, we will acquire the gorilla habituation permit on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation.
Gorilla habituation permits in Uganda should however be booked 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date because they are few and usually get sold out quickly especially during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February therefore in order to avoid last minute disappointment, you are advised to book in advance.
Where to stay during your gorilla habituation safari in Uganda 2023/2024
There are a number of accommodation facilities in and around Rushaga sector where you can stay during your gorilla habituation experience. The accommodations range from budget, midrange and luxury including Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Ichumbi Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Wagtail Eco Safari Camp, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Hills Eco Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge among others.
How to get to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla habituation experience is done in Rushaga sector which is located in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park and can be accessed by road transport means where you will drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and then to the park headquarters which takes about 9 to 10 hours’ drive.
You can also access Bwindi impenetrable national park from Kigali Rwanda where you will fly to Kigali international airport and then connect to Rushaga sector via Cyanika border in Kisoro or Katuna border which takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive.
Bwindi impenetrable national park can also be accessed by air transport means whereby you will book a scheduled or charter domestic flight from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro airstrip and then connect to Rushaga sector.
For unforgettable memories during your safari, gorilla habituation experience can be combined with other activities like gorilla trekking, guided nature walk, bird watching, Batwa cultural experience among others. You can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris for more information or to book a gorilla habituation safari.