Primate Habituation Experience In Uganda

Primate Habituation Experience In Uganda

Do you want to spend extended time with primates in their natural habitats? Uganda offers you exceptional primate habituation experience that lasts for a lifetime. The pearl of Africa is naturally blessed with the highest number of primates hence the premier destination to meet and interact with these primates. Whereas most people have done primate trekking, doing a habituation experience is the best way to learn extensively about these endangered species. Primate habituation allows travelers to spend almost half a day in the presence of primates. Habituation is a 2-3 year training process aimed at making them familiar with wild animals to human presence before they are officially opened for trekking. Primate habituation experience entails:

Mountain gorilla habituation
Done in Rushaga sector south of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, gorilla habituation is a once in a lifetime experience that gives travelers a closer encounter with endangered gorillas. Two gorilla families (Bushaho and Bikyingi) are currently undergoing a habituation process and will be opened for trekking soon. Gorilla habituation is an all day gorilla habituation through the impenetrable jungles of Bwindi forest, which require a moderate level of physical fitness. Like in trekking, travelers are required to have habituation permits costing $1500 per permit.

Chimpanzee habituation
Also known as CHEX, chimpanzee habituation is done in the jungles of Kibale forest national park.

Adult chimpanzee in Kibale Forest

Chimpanzee habituation is a better way to see, interact, and learn more about chimpanzees, the closest relatives of human beings. Kibale forest is a premier chimpanzee destination sheltering over 1500 chimpanzees together with other 12 primates. The habituation experience starts at kanyanchu information center preceded with a short briefing about safety. Each traveler is required to have a chimpanzee habituation permit costing $220 but the experience is worth the penny. Two communities of chimpanzees are being habituated at the moment. Like in gorillas, only four people are allowed in chimpanzee habituation for four hours.

Golden monkey habituation experience
Go golden monkey habituation in

Golden Monkey in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda’s share of the Virunga Massif. Golden monkey habituation is a new activity, which most people have missed on several occasions. The experience has for long been overshadowed with a gorilla and chimpanzee habituation but its surely worth doing. Mgahinga forest is one of the two destinations to see golden monkeys the other population living in Volcanoes national park Rwanda.

Who does the habituation experience?
Just like all other tourism activities in Uganda, Uganda Wildlife Authority manages Primate habituation experience. A team of professional conservationists and primate doctors has been selected by UWA to do the training. Researchers, gorilla lovers, and tourists usually join this team. With or with no visitors, the primate habituation team must visit the being habituated primates every day for 3 consecutive years.

How is it done?
Unlike in trekking where travelers just observe and take photographs, habituation is a different experience. A traveler is an active trainer him/herself imitating what gorillas go to avoid resistance. Travelers walk on their arms, pretend to eat bushes, climb in the trees and communicate with signs just like gorillas do. Travelers spend four hours roaming through the jungles following the primate group being habituated.

Habituation tips/ rules
Travelers are reminded to be extra careful since they are dealing with wild animals that go wild if disrupted. Keep a seven-meter distance away from the primate to avoid the spread of human-wildlife diseases, which are deadly to the endangered species. The experience is best done in the dry season with no or fewer rains. Also, keep the voices low and keep within your groups, moving alone in the jungle can expose you to dangerous animals.

Packing list
You must have a well-equipped packing list if your primate habituation experience is to be enjoyable. Among the things to pack include hiking boots to ease movements in the slippery muddy forest grounds, gardening gloves to protect your hands from thorny bushes, rain jackets to deal with unpredictable forest rains, sunglasses, hat, energy-giving snacks, drinking water and packed lunch.

Hiring a porter
Travelers are advised to hire porters if possible.

Porters support travelers in Bwindi Forest

Porters are local people who help to carry traveler’s bags to and from the jungle at a cost of $10-15. Besides carrying bags, porters can help to support travelers by holding their hands in the slippery forest grounds. Hiring a porter is an indirect way of supporting local livelihoods and improves the standards of living for local people.

How long does it take?
Whether habituating gorillas, chimpanzees or golden monkeys, the experience lasts for four hours. The fours hours are counted from the time travelers meet the primates. However, the actual time to spend in the jungle depends on the location of these primates and their speed of movements. Travelers can, therefore, spend several hours before meeting the primates.

Primate habituation experience is an exceptional primate encounter. Book a habituation trip, spend more time with mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and golden monkeys in their natural habitats and enjoy this memorable encounter.

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