Also known as gorilla training, gorilla habituation experience is 2 -3 years of training wild gorillas before they are opened up to travelers for trekking. The purpose of gorilla habituation is to make gorillas familiar with human beings to prevent any wild behaviors of these endangered gorillas towards people. The experience is conducted by a group of park rangers, researchers and gorilla doctors. Mountain gorilla habituation experience is the best way to spend ample time with a gorilla family in the natural habitat. African Apes Tours & Travel is your ultimate guide to gorilla habituation experience in Africa. For the 2-3 years of gorilla habituation experience, the trainers visitor the gorillas each day with or without visitors. In the first days of habituation, the trainers keep a long distance from the endangered gorillas, which are more dangerous and wild. As time gores, the trainers keep coming closer having know that gorillas are now familiar. Gorilla habituation is the first step in which all mountain gorillas are taken through. It’s the pre trekking experience! Check the guide to gorilla habituation Experience with African Apes Holidays.
How is the gorilla habituation experience like?
In this experience, the participants behave like the gorillas. The experience involves walking on arms just like the apes do and trying to eat vegetation showing the gorillas that you are not different from them. it’s a very practical experimental experience beyond the mere trekking.
Where to do gorilla habituation experience
The experience is only done in Rushaga sector south of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. All travelers who want to do this gorilla habituation experience MUST therefore visit Rushaga sector. Apparently, Rushaga has two gorilla families undergoing habituation experience. These gorilla groups undergoing training are Habinyanja and Bikyingi. These will soon be opened for travelers. In addition, Rushaga sector is home to other 5 gorilla families available for trekking. These include Busingye, Nshongi, Mishaya, Bweza and Kahungye. This guarantee availability of 40 gorilla permits in Rushaga giving a high number of travelers chance to visit these endangered species.
The cost of gorilla habituation experience
Each permit for gorilla habituation experience costs $1500 for foreign non-residents, 100 for foreign residents and UGX 750,000 for Ugandans and East African Citizens. The cost is inclusive of permit fee, park entrance fee, and ranger’s fee, conservation and government taxes. However, the permit costs is exclusive of accommodation, driver guide, transport and other extra activities. Each gorilla family is visited by 4 people hence 8-gorilla habituation permits available every day.
How and when to book a gorilla habituation experience
You can book a gorilla habitation experience with African Apes Holidays, your number one gorilla safari company in Uganda. Alternatively, you can book directly with Uganda Wildlife Authority a government body responsible for gorilla conservation and tourism activities in Uganda. Booking through a travel agency gives is the best way of booking a gorilla habituation experience saving you time and energy of moving to UWA.
How long is a gorilla habituation experience
The actual time for gorilla habituation experience is 4 hours counted from the time travelers meet the endangered gorillas. However, you can spend more than 4 hours trekking through the jungle before meeting the endangered gorillas. Therefore, the actual time to spend in the forest is not certain but can go to over 8 hours. However, travelers are 995 sure of meeting the gorillas at the end of the trek.
3 Days Gorilla Habituation experience
A 3 Days gorilla habituation experience tout is a perfect package to enjoy this lifetime experience. On the 1st day, travelers are picked from the airport or Hotel and transported to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park; the 2nd day is for gorilla habituation experience while the 3rd day is for departure. While you can also do a 1 Day gorilla habituation experience starting and ending in Kigali Rwanda. However during covid19 pandemic time, Rwanda to Uganda safaris are suspended to avoid the transfer to corona virus across these countries.
Where to sleep on my gorilla habituation tour?
There are lots of budget, midrange and luxury lodges and camps for you to stay on your gorilla habituation experience. The top lodges in Rushaga include Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Hills Eco Lodge, Ichumbi, Agandi Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Nshongi Forest Camp, Wagtail lodge and Rushaga Gorilla Lodge. These serve you with first class food and sleeping services at affordable times. African Apes Tours helps you book and reserve your preferred lodge in Rushaga sector for your gorilla habituation experience.
What to pack for gorilla habituation experience?
Among the things to carry for your gorilla habituation experience include hiking boots/shoes, gardening gloves, long sleeved shirts, long pants, hat, sun glasses, insect repellants, extra batteries, rain jacket, and warm sweaters among others. More so, bottled drinking water and energy giving snacks are highly recommended.
What are the rules and regulations of gorilla habituation experience?
At the start of the gorilla habituation day, travelers are gathered together at Rushaga park headquarters for the briefing on the dos and don’ts of gorilla habituation experience. These include:
1. Keep a distance of 10 meters away from the gorillas
2. Mask up your mouth and nose
3. Do not use flashlight cameras
4. Do not look direct into the eyes of the gorillas
5. Do not eat or drink in t fro not the gorillas
6. Do not smoke while with gorillas
7. Keep within your group
8. Turn back your faces when sneezing or coughing
9. Do not visit gorillas when sick
10. Do not litter in the park
Getting to and around Rushaga sector
You can get to Rushaga sector by either flying or driving. Fly from Kajjansi to Kisoro or Kihihi airstrip from where you connect to Rushaga sector. Or else enjoy a full day drive straight from Entebbe International airport to Rushaga. Flying is the best option for short time travelers while driving offers you the best pre trekking experience.
Best time for gorilla habituation experience
Dry season between June to September and December to February is the best time for mountain gorilla habituation experience. However, the low w season in March, April May, October and November come with discounted offers in hotels and lodges hence the best time for budget travelers.
What are the other activities to do in Rushaga sector?
In addition to gorilla habituation experience, travelers to Rushaga sector can do other activities, which include gorilla trekking, bird watching, community visits and nature/forest walks. A combination of these make a complete safari package to meet, satisfy and even exceed your travel expectations to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
In general, book a gorilla habituation experience in Rushaga sector and spend ample time with your close relatives with African Apes Tours & Travel.