The Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda
There are few experiences as powerful and moving as witnessing wild mountain gorillas in the forests of east Africa. Spread across Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the gorillas are the world’s most endangered ape and only around 1,000 gorillas remain.
Uganda is home to around half of the world’s total population of mountain gorillas, and a gorilla trek here offers the chance to spend up to one precious hour with a family of wild mountain gorillas.
However, for those who wish to enjoy more time with these fascinating creatures, Uganda also offers the rare opportunity to participate in a full day Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You’ll have up to four spellbinding hours with the gorillas, accompanied by expert guides and trackers - it truly is one of the most remarkable wildlife encounters on the planet.
Where to find mountain gorillas 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 is the larger and more popular of the two habitats, and it’s also the home of the Gorilla Habituation Experience.
Bwindi is divided into four sectors for gorilla trekking, spread across 331 square kilometres of dense forest. The sectors are Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga, with each sector housing multiple gorilla families.
Buhoma, located in the north, is the most popular sector as the treks are less strenuous and the gorilla families are easier to find here. The Gorilla Habituation Experience takes place in the Rushaga sector, located in the south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
What is the Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda?
Gorilla habituation is the slow and gentle introduction of a family of wild gorillas 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.
Two gorilla families (Bukingyi & Bushaho) are currently being habituated in the 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 the gorillas each day, maintaining a specific distance at the limit of the gorillas’ 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.
Whilst the gorillas are not yet completely habituated (the gorillas are used to trackers and rangers, but not to strangers or tourists) the Gorilla Habituation Experience will help to 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. It is truly humbling to think that you will be one of the first humans to meet these gorillas.
The experience offers a more relaxed and enriching encounter with the gorillas. You’ll feel less rushed and you’ll 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 - 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 opportunities 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 anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours, depending on the location of the specific gorilla family you’re tracking. When you finally meet your allocated gorilla family you’ll 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 metres from the gorillas. It will undoubtedly be a magical experience that you’ll never ever forget.
For those who wish to spend more than one hour with the gorillas there is a rare opportunity to participate in a full day Gorilla Habituation Experience, run by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. This allows you to spend up to four hours with these magnificent creatures and is only available in Rushaga, in the southern part of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
On this experience you’ll get a deeper understanding of gorilla tracking and gorilla behavior than on a normal trek, and you’ll have a greater amount of time to observe and photograph the gorillas.
Gorilla Habituation Review
The Gorilla Habituation process started as early as the 1960’s in central Africa led by Dr Dian Fossey. Fossey pioneered the gorilla habituation process. She became an expert in tracking, identification and range mapping among other research methods which are still being used by Gorilla conservation authorities. Gorilla habituation is a useful tool for gorilla conservation programs and research in a sense that it allows for easy monitoring of the security, health, population trends, social behavior and feeding habits of gorilla groups. Through gorilla habituation, it is possible to estimate the revenue generated to local communities, government and businesses – especially tourism related businesses. Gorilla habituation comes with risks and is time consuming. It exposes gorillas to risks including new diseases as a result of constant contact with humans.
The third phase of habituating gorilla groups in Bwindi started in 2006. By 2008, two more groups had completed the habituation process and were open to tourism. The two groups were Nshongi and Bitukura. The Nshongi group in the southern sector of the park is the largest gorilla group ever recorded and consisted of over 30 members. This remarkable group became big as a result of a merger with another group. In 2008 two further groups were habituated – the Kahungye Group (30 members) in the southern part of the Park and the Oruzogo group (20 members) in the western section of the forest. The Oruzogo group split further forming the Busingye Group of 9 members.
What happens during gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi?
Visitors booked for gorilla habituation experience gather at the Rushaga sector of Bwindi for briefing by park officials and the research team at 7:30 am before commencing the activity at 8:00am. The minimum age for the gorilla habituation experience in Uganda is 15 years of age. One needs to be fit enough to take part in the gorilla habituation process. This is because the activity may include hiking through steep and dense parts of the forest. Those with an infectious disease are not allowed to take part in the gorilla habituation process. Human diseases like flu can threaten an entire gorilla family. Tourists are not allowed to use flash camera lights while observing gorillas. Keep a distance of at least 7 meters away to avoid provoking them.
The best time for gorilla Habituation in Bwindi
The best time for the gorilla habituation experience is usually during the dry seasons that run from December through to March and June to October. However you can also register for the activity during the low season of April, May, October, or November. These are characterized by heavy rains which can make hiking more difficult.
What to Pack for the Gorilla Habituation Experience
The Packing list should include long sleeved shirts made of synthetic material, gardening gloves, a hut, long trousers, a rain jacket, bottles of drinking water, hiking shoes, a camera, a walking stick and of course insect repellents to protect you against mosquito bites. Tourists should ensure that they pack some lunch/snacks because the habituation experience takes a long time. It is important to consider hiring porters to help carry any heavy equipment or assist when climbing steep slopes.
How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Located in the southwest of Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be easily accessed by air or road.
Most travellers arrive in Uganda via the Entebbe International Airport, the largest airport in the country, located in Entebbe in central Uganda.
If you're short on time, you can take a flying safari around the country. There are two airstrips servicing the Bwindi region - Kisoro and Kihihi - 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’ll arrive at the Kihihi airstrip, and you’ll then take a vehicle transfer for around 1.5 hours to your lodge in Bwindi.
Another option is to take a private vehicle from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
In conclusion
Due to the high demand for the gorilla habituation experience and given the low number of permits per day, you need to make your booking early – at least 6 months in advance. Permits can be got through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or directly from your tour operator. Your passport information will be required to book the permits.