Spend extended time with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat on your gorilla habituation experience to Bwindi Forest national park. Also known as gorilla training, mountain gorilla habituation experience guarantee travelers an opportunity to spend four hours, (roughly half day) in the presence of the critically endangered mountain gorillas. It’s the best way to meet, see, interact face to face and enjoy the human like characters of mountain gorillas, which make them exceptional creatures. Much as most people mistake habituation with gorilla trekking, the experience is a different story. It’s an experience of its own kind, which is surely worth doing by every gorilla lover.
What is habituation experience all about?
You may be wondering what the gorilla habituation experience is all about. The practice is all about training wild gorillas to make them familiar with human presence before they are declared free for trekking. Gorilla training is an everyday venture, which last for 2-3 years before a gorilla family is opened for trekking. Whether there are clients or not, rangers, conservationists and gorilla doctors must visit a gorilla family under going training for all the 3 years. Travelers are reminded to be extra careful to ensure safety in the presence of wild gorillas. Also, travelers must follow all trekking rules and guidelines like keeping a seven-meter distance, keeping calm, staying within your groups are all highly emphasized.
Where to do gorilla habituation experience
Who ever wants to be part of this experiential venture must travel to Rushaga sector south of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. It’s only in this sector that gorilla training takes place and so you must travel there. Presently, two gorilla families i.e Bikyingi and Bushaho are undergoing training and will be opened for tourism soon.
How much is a gorilla habituation experience permit
Just like in gorilla trekking, every traveler intending to do gorilla habituation experience MUST have an individual valid permit. This permit costs 1500usd, which make it quite expensive, compared to 700usd for gorilla trekking permits but the experience is worth the penny. Ever day, each gorilla family is visited by four people hence 8 permits available for sale. To ensure timely gorilla permit booking, travelers are reminded to book as early as possible to reserve these permits that are highly demanded. Just like a gorilla permit, gorilla habituation permit involve park entrance fees, payment for the park rangers and trackers among others. Permits can be booked directly from the Uganda wildlife authority or through any trusted tour operator like gorilla trek Africa who offer memorable experiences.
Where to sleep during habituation experience
Since it’s only done in Rushaga, all accommodation facilities should be in this sector as well to avoid backtracking. Fortunately several luxury, midrange and budget lodes and camps have been established in Rushaga to provide travelers with first class food and sleeping services. These lodes include gorilla safari lodge, gorilla valley lodge, Rushaga gorilla camp, Nshongi camp and Ichumbi lodge among others. Professional waiters, waitresses, chefs and housekeepers have been hired to ensure excellent and timely service delivery. All accommodation facilities serve travelers with quality services at affordable prices.
The shortest route to do habituation experience
Rushaga sector is easily accessible from kigali Rwanda connecting through Cyanika border in kisoro. It takes travelers roughly 3 hours to drive from Rwanda to Uganda. Border crossing is well done through Cyanika border is the east way to access Rushaga sector.
Other activities in Bwindi
For those who have long safaris, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park offers a variety of tourism attractions. Gorilla trekking is the most done activity with 12-gorilla families available everyday. Interestingly, gorilla tours in Uganda are relatively cheaper at a cost of 600usd for a permit compared to 1500usd in Rwanda. Also, enjoy cultural visits to local communities adjacent to the park to learn more about Uganda traditions and culture. Also, enjoy forest walk, and bird watching to make your Uganda safari to Bwindi a complete package.
In general, gorilla habituation experience is the best way to meet and spend ample time with critically endangered mountain gorillas. Book a Uganda gorilla safari to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, take part in training wild gorillas and enjoy this lifetime experience.
