3 Day Bwindi Gorilla Habituation

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the only park in Uganda for gorilla habituation families and the largest number of mountain gorillas. This activity is mostly carried out by researchers and local guides designed for study purposes who spend much time with the mountain gorillas making research about how they live, feed, and spend their lives in the dense forests. The whole habituation process can take about 2-3 years for mountain gorillas to get familiar with human beings. This is a tough assignment since they are wild animals that are very hostile and dangerous that can attack you.

Gorilla habituation goes through processes to prepare the mountain gorillas to be able to adopt human behaviors. That includes naming the gorilla families and approaching them in a polite way by dominating the male gorillas since the males are superior to the females and young ones. The whole process and experience are totally different from mount gorilla trekking, the habituation experience involves trekking the habituated group than in trekking where you just follow the gorilla trails according to where they were last seen feeding.

Gorilla habituation involves approximately  4 people who are allowed and always escorted by rangers and researchers. During their habituation, they tend to spend more hours with the gorillas interacting and studying their behaviors, and how they hang out in the dense forests. The habituation process in Bwindi Impenetrable National park is carried out in the Rushaga sector, and the habituation permits cost 1500$.

Gorilla habituation in Bwindi impenetrable national park is challenging and strenuous, it requires a lot of preparation to go through dense forests with rugged terrain. Physical fitness is necessary for you to enjoy the experience. It takes long hours and usually commences early in the morning and ends late afternoon.

Remember to pack the essential gear for the gorilla habituation experience such as a backpack, rain jacket, hiking gear like a walking stick, hiking boots, a hat, binoculars, and a camera to capture the memorable experience. and if you feel malnourished easily it’s better to pack your lunch since it takes long hours.

Rules and Guidelines to observe while with the gorillas

• The maximum number allowed for gorilla trekking is 8  people whereas for gorilla habituation is between 4 people Per trek.
• Make sure you keep a distance of 7 meters away from the gorillas. They are uncertain though they live a semi-wild life. They can cause harm to human beings.
• Children below the age of 15 are not allowed to participate in both gorilla habituation and gorilla trekking activities.
• You are not supposed to drink or eat when you approach the gorillas because they may grab it from you aggressively or the food may be contaminated and cause gorillas to fall sick.
• Gorillas share almost 98% of human DNA, which means they can easily catch communicable/air-bone diseases such as flu, therefore you should not take part in any gorilla activities if you are suffering from any disease.

The 3 days of gorilla habituation safari in Uganda can also be combined with chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National park or visiting Queen Elizabeth national park for spectacular game drives to refresh your mind and body after having a brisking day with mountain gorillas in the jungle.

Day 1 Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National park

You will be picked up from Kampala and start the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable forest after the briefing. Prepare for halfway stops to check out the beautiful countryside and take great photos at the equator crossing. You may decide to have lunch en route to the park in Mbarara town and have a  glimpse of the beautiful city where Ankole’s long-horned cattle originate.  The Gorilla habituation process occurs in the Rushaga sector, located in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park. The journey towards this sector involves passing through rugged and steep-sided terrain, the meandering hills and valleys of the Kigezi area in Kisoro, and arriving at the park in the late afternoon. Here dinner and overnight will be at  Mulehe lodge or  Nkuriingo gorilla lodge.

Day 2  Gorilla Habituation Experience

Wake up early for morning breakfast, after which you proceed to the park offices for a briefing with other visitors about the rules and guidelines of gorilla habituation experience and what to expect. The activity is always escorted and guided by trackers, park rangers, and researchers since it involves spending much time in the forest with the habituated gorilla family, unlike gorilla trekking where tourists are given one hour to interact with the gorillas. While in the deep forest, you will encounter other primate species and attractions such as black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, birds, and insects.

The process involves much attention and focuses on what researchers are teaching or doing because you may be asked to engage in some areas like sample gathering,  or making gorilla sounds. After the habituation, you return to the lodge to loosen up while waiting for dinner to be served and take an overnight.

Day 3 Departure and End of the Trip

The third day of your trip to Bwindi impenetrable national park will be mainly for return to Kampala, you wake up early and have your ready breakfast,  prepare yourself while holding back to the driver to commence the journey back to Kampala, have stopovers at the Uganda equator and en-route lunch at the desired place reaching in the evening hours, the driver will drop you at the lodge for an overnight, or at the airport to catch the flight.

End of Safari