Gorilla habituation in Uganda is one of the best ways to discover Uganda’s jungles and giant apes, because more time is spent with these outstanding creatures. Walk through different areas, some of the off-beaten track regions to see mountain gorillas that are still undergoing their training process to make them accustomed to human presence.
On this tour you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, to see the only gorilla family that is open for habituation in a once in a lifetime experience.
This signature experience is not for the faint-hearted or physically unfit visitors. This is so because the thrilling search for Giant Apes getting habituated takes you through places that are rarely used by Park Rangers. You will go through rugged terrains and deep valleys for 3-5 hours before coming across the mountain gorillas.
This adventure is currently only done in the Rushaga sector, and there is only one gorilla family (at the time of writing) for which the experience is provided. For this reason, only four gorilla permits are issued each day, owing to the fact that groups are kept smaller to avoid disrupting the lives of semi-habituated gorillas.
Instead of the usual one hour provided during standard gorilla treks, visitors have up to four hours with the mountain gorilla during the gorilla habituation experience in Uganda. Starting at the park headquarters, visitors are first briefed on how to conduct themselves when trekking or watching mountain gorillas, as a way of protecting both tourists and the giant apes.
More about gorilla habituation in Uganda
The gorilla habituation treks are led by experienced ranger guides who have a deep understanding and appreciation of mountain gorilla natural habitats. This is because they have done these tours several times and for many years.
We make it possible for travellers to enjoy these adventures by providing only the best services in style, as well as comfort with mouth-watering meals and drinks. So, don’t miss out on cozy accommodation facilities and transport by air-conditioned safari vehicles.
While enjoying the gorilla habituation experience, visitors are provided with different accommodation options to choose from. These include, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, and Nshongi Camp, to mention but a few.
On the packing list, don’t leave out a non-flash camera, long-sleeved shirts, sturdy hiking boots, pair of binoculars, safari pants, and waterproof rain jacket. You may also carry an insect repellant, safari hat, gardening gloves, a re-usable water bottle, and energy-giving snacks among others.
The ideal time to enjoy this signature experience in Uganda is between June and September or December to February, when the rains have reduced, and the temperatures are warmer. As a result, these periods make it less challenging to walk through the forest since it is during the wet months of March to May and October to November when the rains are heavier. Wet seasons makes it challenging to walk through the forest while searching for the Giant Apes.