Bwindi Forest Gorilla Tours

Guide to Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda

Guide to Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda: Mountain gorilla trekking is among the few incredible wildlife experience in the world and there is no experience that can rival with witnessing wild mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

In the whole world, mountain gorillas are found in the forests of East Africa spread across Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo, the gorillas are the world’s most endangered ape and there are only around 1,000 gorillas remaining the whole world.

Uganda is home to half of the world’s remaining population of mountain gorillas and a gorilla trek offers travelers a chance to spend up to one precious hour with a habituation gorilla family in the wilderness.

However, for visitors who wish to spend more time with these fascinating creatures, Uganda offers a rare opportunity to spend a full day Gorilla Habituation Experience in the forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. On this experience, you will have up to four hours of being with the gorillas accompanied by expert guides and trackers which is truly one of the most remarkable wildlife encounters in the world.

We have put together a complete guide on everything you need to know about gorilla trekking and the Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda – Guide to Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda.

  • Where to find mountain gorillas in Uganda
  • How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
  • What is the Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda?
  • What is the difference between gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation?
  • Photography of the mountain gorillas
  • Gorilla permits in Uganda
  • Best time to visit Uganda
  • Where to stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
  • What to pack for a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda
Guide to Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda
Silverback in the forests of Bwindi

Where to find mountain gorillas in Uganda

Guide to Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda – In Uganda, you can find mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (in the Southwest of Uganda) and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (near the northern border of Rwanda).

Bwindi Forest is larger and more popular of the two gorilla habitats and is also the home of the Gorilla Habituation Experience.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is divided into four sectors for gorilla trekking that is Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga sectors with each sector housing multiple gorilla families spread across 331 square kilometers of dense forest.

Buhoma Sector is located in the north and is the most popular sector as the treks are less strenuous and the gorilla families are easier to find here. Gorilla Habituation Experience takes place in the Rushaga Sector located in the South of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwest of Uganda and can be easily accessed by air or road, most travelers arrive in Uganda via the Entebbe International Airport – the largest airport in the country located in Entebbe in central Uganda.

If you are short on time, you can take a flying safari around the country, there are two airstrips servicing the Bwindi region that is Kisoro and Kihihi airstrip located just outside Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Both airstrips offer daily flights from Entebbe and the flight takes around 1.5 hours.

If you are visiting the Buhoma Sector of the national park, you will arrive at the Kihihi Airstrip and you will then take a vehicle transfer for around 1.5 hours to your lodge in Bwindi Forest.

Another option to get to Bwindi Forest is to take a private vehicle from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the drive takes approximately nine hours. But we recommend breaking up the trip with stops to other fantastic destinations in Uganda such as Kibale Forest National Park (where you can track chimpanzees, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo National Park (where you can go for a safari) and Murchison Falls National Park (for a game viewing safari and a boat safari on the Nile).

Guide to Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda
Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi

What is the Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda?

Gorilla habituation is a slow and gentle process through which a family of wild gorillas is introduced to the presence of humans. Wild gorillas are habituated so researchers can study the species, treat them for sickness and injuries, protect them from hunters and boost their conservation efforts with sustainable tourism.

There are two gorilla families (Bukingyi and Bushaho) that are currently being habituated in Rushaga Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

In order to become accustomed to the presence of humans, each gorilla group has undergone a lengthy habituation process between 3-5 years managed by a team of expert researchers, conservationists, trackers and rangers.

Park rangers start the habituation process by spending a short period of time with gorillas each day maintaining a specific distance at the time of the gorilla’s comfort zone. Every few months they gradually increase the time and reduce the distance until they are certain that the gorillas are ready for tourists to visit them.

Though gorillas are not yet completely habituated, the gorillas are used to trackers and rangers but not strangers or tourists. The Gorilla Habituation Experience will help ensure that they will eventually become fully comfortable in the company of humans.

By participating in the Gorilla Habituation Experience you are supporting the crucial work in habituating gorillas and ensuring their survival. This experience is truly humbling to think you will be one of the first humans to meet these gorillas.

Gorilla Habituation Experience offers a more relaxed and enriching encounter with the gorillas, you will feel less rushed and you will have plenty of time to fully absorb this incredible wildlife experience.

During your time with your gorilla family, you can immerse yourself in their world as they continue to go about their daily lives including feeding and interacting with each other, under the watchful gaze of the mighty silverback.

What is the difference between gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation?

Both gorilla trekking and the Gorilla Habituation Experience are incredible wildlife experience to trek deep into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with an experienced tracker in search of a wild mountain gorilla family.

On a gorilla trek, you can hike through the forest for approximately 30 minutes to four hours depending on the location of the specific gorilla family you are tracking. When you finally meet your allocated gorilla family you will have the chance to spend up to one special hour quietly observing them in their natural habitat.

No wildlife encounter on earth can compare to standing a few meters from the gorillas, undoubtedly it will be a magical experience that you will never forget. For travelers who wish to spend more than one hour with gorillas in the jungle, there is a rare opportunity to participate in a full day Gorilla Habituation Experience run by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Gorilla Habituation Experience allows you to spend up to four hours with these magnificent creatures and is only available in Rushaga Sector, in the Southern part of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. On this experience, you will get a deeper understanding of gorilla tracking and gorilla behavior than on a normal trek and you will have a greater amount of time to observe and take photos of the gorillas.

Photography of the mountain gorillas

Gorilla Habituation Experience is one of the best wildlife photography encounters in the world, it offers more time to capture the perfect shot, however taking photographs of gorillas can still be challenging due to the light conditions and unpredictable distance between you and the gorillas.

Ensure that you are as prepared as possible to get the best photos, make sure that your batteries are fully charged and you have plenty of space on your memory cards. Bring waterproof bags or covers for your camera as the rainforest climate means it can rain any time of the year.

Your choice of camera is completely up to you.

As it is required to be at least seven meters from the gorillas, a 70-200 mm lens is ideal. A 2.8 lens is even better as the light in the forest can be very poor at times.

Flash photography is not allowed so make sure that you disable the flash on your camera or mobile phone before you get to your group of gorillas.

Your time with the gorillas is precious so you should plan your shots rather than shooting wildly. Find a balance between absorbing this incredible experience and taking photographs of these fascinating creatures.

Don’t spend the whole time looking through your camera lens, you should focus on the experience as well as taking your photographs.

Gorilla permits in Uganda

In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, there are 22 habituated gorilla families with 2 gorilla families set aside for gorilla habituation experience. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) issues 168 permits for gorilla trekking and 8 permits (4 permits per group) for Gorilla Habituation Experience. So, make sure you will need to book your permits a few months in advance to secure your gorilla permit.

We recommend booking at least six months in advance for the Gorilla Habituation Experience especially if you plan to visit during the peak season which runs from July to October and December to March.

Cost of Gorilla Permits in Uganda

A single -day gorilla permit in Uganda costs $ 700 for gorilla trekking and $ 1500 for gorilla habituation experience.

The price of the permits covers your park entrance, expert guides and trackers, 24-hour armed security in the park and one hour with the gorillas (for gorilla trekking) or four hours with the incredible gorillas on Gorilla Habituation Experience.

It also contributes to gorilla conservation including research, veterinary care, national park operations and community development.

Age Restrictions

For safety reasons, you must be at least 15 years of age to track gorillas or participate in the Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda.

Best time to visit Uganda

 You can track mountain gorillas in Uganda all year round thanks to the consistent temperatures ranging from 20-25°C, the best time for gorilla trekking is during the dry seasons from June to August and December to February.

During these months, the primates retreat into the dense forest during the rains and the jungle is less muddy and slippery for trekking.

The heavy wet season runs from March to May with a second light rainy season falling in October to November. Still, you can go trekking to see mountain gorillas, but be aware that the trails can be quite muddy and harder to navigate. The wet season also offers the best conditions for gorilla photography as after a rain shower, the air is clear of dust providing a stunning atmosphere to capture the gorillas.

Where to stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

On a Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda, we recommend staying close to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where you will be close to the park headquarters where you must arrive at 7.30 am for your pre-trek briefing and you will have the chance to soak up the spectacular scenery of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Here is our best pick to stay near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Buhoma Lodge

This luxury lodge is set on the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and is one of the only two lodges located within the national park, Buhoma Lodge is also the closest entry point for mountain gorilla treks with only a five-minute walk to the meeting point.

Buhoma Lodge is an intimate and luxurious lodge with 10 charming eco-chalets and uninterrupted views over the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, with all the chalets constructed from sustainable materials featuring private decks that are perfect for bird watching, during your stay you will sink into your stunning natural surroundings.

Also, you will be treated to panoramic views from the elevated central lounge area with a bar, restaurant and a cozy fireplace to gather around on cool evenings. Also, there is an onsite spa where you can soothe aching muscles after along day of adventure in the Ugandan wilderness.

In addition to mountain gorilla trekking, the lodge offers a ranger of activities including butterfly and bird watching safaris, a waterfall forest walk and a batwa cultural experience.

What to pack for a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda

Guide to Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda – As you are packing for a gorilla habituation experience in Uganda, here is our advice on what you should pack for a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda.

Note: domestic flights usually have language limited to 20 kilograms per person and it is best to use a soft case or holdall to maximize the space.

  • Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots with good ankle support. Make sure your shores are well worn-in before departing to avoid any nasty blisters.
  • Light, breathable, waterproof jackets and trousers and long-sleeved shirts. It is important to wear light, long layers due to the variable weather and to avoid any insect bites. Along the trails, you are likely to encounter safari ants so tuck your long trousers into your socks to avoid getting bitten.
  • Warm layers for the chilling mornings and cold nights
  • Long, lightweight woollen socks.
  • Wide – brimmed hat and sunglasses for sun protection
  • Toiletries such as sun cream, insect repellent, after-sun, bite relief cream and lip balm
  • Garden gloves to protect your hands as you grip the vegetation during your trek
  • A small backpack to carry your water, lunch, extra clothes, binoculars and camera. Your camera should have a clear view of everything and to spot other wildlife such as birds and monkeys
  • Snacks as the trek can be quite strenuous, so bring some snacks for extra energy.
  • Binoculars to help you have a clear view of everything and to spot other wildlife such as birds and monkeys
  • A reusable water bottle to limit waste, you will need to bring plenty of drinking water on your trek
  • Multi-way travel adaptor, Uganda and Rwanda uses plug types G (three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern), and operates on a 240V supply voltage and 50Hz standard frequency.
  • Supplies for local community projects, take a look at the Pack for a purpose page for Uganda which recommends supplies you can bring to donate and drop off at partnering hotels, lodges and schools.

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