Gorilla Habituation Experience Permits

Gorilla habituation can only be done in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in South western Uganda, the activity was introduced to Uganda on the 1st of January 2014 and this gives clients an opportunity of being with the great apes for 4 hours unlike gorilla trekking that takes only 1 hour.

Gorilla habituation is the process of training mountain gorillas to get used to human presence, the process always takes about 2-3 years and involves researchers, scientists, rangers and conservations visiting a gorilla family daily before tourists can start trekking.

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park consists of 4 regions that is Ruhija sector, Buhoma sector, Nkuringo sector and Rushagga sector. Gorilla habituation can be done from Rushaga sector of the park where two gorilla families are on habituation process.

The challenge of gorilla habituation sometimes is that the gorillas can easily behave in unlikely manner because they are not used to human presence, researchers and rangers keep observing each individual in the group daily and later a name is given according to behaviors and personality of each of them.

After habituation the gorillas undergo a mocking exercise and if they pass then they are opened for trekking, the mocking exercise involves researchers and rangers being joined by some other people to trek mountain gorillas. The gorilla families being habituated in Rushaga sector of Bwindi national park are Bikingi and Bishaho gorilla family. Gorilla permits for habituation cost $1500 per person.

Mountain gorillas live on high elevations therefore tourists will need physical fitness to trek or do gorilla habituation. Tourists should come prepared with water proof hiking boots, garden gloves, plenty of drinking water, energy snacks, sun screen, energy snacks, insect repellents and long sleeved clothes.

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has got four sectors which are Nkuringo sector, Ruhija sector, Buhoma sector and Rushaga sector for gorilla habituation therefore you should book accommodation in Rushaga or Nkuringo sectors of Bwindi when going for gorilla habituation.