Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi national park 2023/2024
Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi national park 2023/2024; Gorilla habituation experience is an adventurous activity in Bwindi impenetrable national park where the wild mountain gorillas are trained to get used to human presence for trekking. The habituation experience was introduced in 2014 by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) a government body in charge of tourism in Uganda and it’s only done in Rushaga sector which is located in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park. Gorilla habituation experience takes a period of two to three years to be complete and it involves a team of researchers, trackers, park guides and rangers. During the habituation process, researchers keep on visiting the gorilla group daily as they get to learn and monitor their behaviors, habits, lifestyle, watch them carry out their daily activities among others and once they are sure that the gorillas are ready to be trekked, a mock exercise will be introduced where a team of scientists and journalists visit the gorilla family and once it passes the mock exercise, the gorilla group will be open to tourists for trekking.
Gorilla habituation experience
Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations at the park headquarters. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the jungle with an experienced park guide in search of the gorilla family under habituation process. Gorilla habituation experience takes a whole day and during trekking, you will be able to view other primates, different bird species, plant and tree species among others and once the gorillas are found, you will be able to spend four hours with them in their habitat which gives you an opportunity to watch them feed, breastfeed, play, groom young ones, learn and monitor their behaviors, engage in the naming process, take photos among others.
Cost of a gorilla habituation permit in Bwindi national park 2023/2024
A gorilla habituation permit is a legal document that is issued to any visitor above the age of 15 years allowing him or her to visit a gorilla family under habituation and spend four hours with them in their habitat. A gorilla habituation permit in Bwindi impenetrable national park costs 1,500 USD per person for foreign non residents, 1,000 USD per person for foreign residents and 750,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
How to book gorilla habituation permits in Bwindi national park 2023/2024
A gorilla habituation permit in Bwindi impenetrable national park can be booked through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris where you will contact us with the date, month and year when you wish to visit the mountain gorillas. After contacting us we will check for availability on your preferred dates and if there is availability, you will be asked to make a deposit for the permit. Once the payment has been made, we will be able to purchase the permit on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation.
Gorilla habituation permits in Bwindi impenetrable national park should however be booked 3 to 6 months in advance because they few and usually get sold out quickly especially during the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February therefore in order to avoid last minute disappointments, you are required to book in advance.
What to pack for your gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi national park.
There are a number of items that travelers should pack when going for gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park including long sleeved shirt and trouser, insect repellent, hiking shoes, waterproof rain jacket, warm sweater, energy snacks and drinking water, long socks, garden gloves, camera and extra batteries, a pair of binoculars, walking stick, backpack among others.
Best time to go for gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi national parks
Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season which is also known as the peak season in the months of June to September and December to February because during this period there is less or little rainfall in the national park therefore access roads to Rushaga sector and gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable which makes trekking easy compared to the rainy season when the trails are muddy and slippery hence making trekking difficult.
Where to stay during your gorilla habituation experience
Bwindi impenetrable national park has a wide range of accommodation facilities ranging from budget, midrange and luxury where you can stay during your gorilla habituation safari including Four Gorillas Lodge, Bweza Gorilla Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Lake Chahafi Resort, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Wagtail Forest Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Hills Eco Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Mutanda Lake Resort, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Gorilla CloseUp Lodge among others.
How to go for Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi national park 2023/2024
Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in southwestern part of Uganda and can be accessed by road transport means where you will drive from Kampala passing via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and then to Rushaga sector which takes about 9 to 10 hours’ drive.
You can as well access Bwindi impenetrable national park from Kigali Rwanda where travelers will fly to Kigali international airport and then connect to Rushaga sector via Cyanika border in Kisoro or Katuna border in Kabale which takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive.
Bwindi impenetrable national park can also be accessed by air transport means where travelers will book scheduled or charter flights with bar aviation or Aero link Uganda from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro airstrip and then connect to Rushaga sector by road.
Gorilla habituation experience is an extra ordinary activity in Bwindi impenetrable national park that can be combined with other activities like game drives, Nile delta boat cruise, sport fishing, bird watching, boat cruise to the bottom of the falls among others for unforgettable memories. You can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris for more information or to book an affordable gorilla habituation safari.
