Discounted gorilla habituation permits at $1000 for foreign residents in Uganda.

Discounted gorilla habituation permits for foreign residents in Uganda at $1000 per person for four hours with mountain gorillas in Uganda effective 1st July 2024. The Uganda Wildlife Authority used to offer gorilla habituation permit discounts, especially during the wet/low season but this has not been the case since June 2021. By the time the discounts stopped, UWA had already discounted the permits to almost 57% of the original cost. The cost of the gorilla habituation permit in Uganda is $1500 but it was discounted for foreign residents and this cost works throughout the year. The current cost of the gorilla habituation permit for foreign residents in Uganda is $1000 per person. 

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The gorilla permit cost has always been determined by the Uganda Wildlife Authority with other stakeholders and in case there are any changes made to the permit cost, an official announcement is always made so that tour companies and tourists prepare beforehand. In January 2024, the Uganda Wildlife Authority made changes in the permit tariffs, and the changes made are effective from 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2026. The cost of the habituation permits for foreign non-residents in the new tariffs is $1000 per person.

All foreign non-residents who had purchased gorilla permits before 1st July 2024 will not be affected by the change in the permit cost, but those purchased after and reschedules made after 1st July 2024 will purchase the permits using the new tariffs. Contact our team of experts for assistance with permit purchase and more information.

Rescheduling of the gorilla habituation permit

After booking/reserving your gorilla habituation permit and you find out that you cannot make it due to unavoidable circumstances like falling sick, losing a loved one, and not being able to fly due to bad weather, you are liable for a reschedule but you will need to provide proof of why you need to reschedule. Reschedules are possible only if you follow the Uganda Wildlife Authority policies.

First, you need to write a letter addressing it to the Uganda Wildlife Authority stating why you need to reschedule and attach all the necessary evidence to support your request. This is supposed to be done at least 7 days before the trek date and not less.

When the Uganda Wildlife Authority approves your rescheduling, new dates will be printed on the new habituation permit based on its availability. UWA offers two free reschedules for your permit and if you make a third reschedule, a surcharge of 25% is levied on the original permit cost.

The gorilla habituation process experience

Gorilla habituation is a process where researchers train Mountain gorillas to make sure that they are used to the humans tracking through the forest. Gorilla habituation has greatly improved the conservation of Mountain gorillas as they are protected by numerous rules and regulations, and this has increased the number of Mountain gorillas in the world. 

The habituation process starts early morning at the Rushaga headquarters with a briefing from the guides about the expectations and rules to be followed during the process. After the briefing, the trek to the semi-habituated gorillas and it is safe to note that the exercise involves observing a gorilla family, following them and researchers identify the gorilla family that needs to be habituated and open for trekking to the public. The process can take 2 to 3 years depending on the gorilla family and it can only be introduced to the public once habituation is through.

Four trekkers and researchers observe the semi-habituated gorillas and tourists spend 4 hours with the primates during the habituation process. Since these Mountain gorillas are semi-habituated, expect some wild behavior as the Mountain gorillas hoot, retreat deeper into the forest, and thump chests to show dominance among others.

Is gorilla habituation safe?

Although gorilla habituation exposes you to the different semi-habituated gorillas that are not yet ready for human presence, the exercise is completely safe. All trekkers participating in the activity are always in the company of experienced guides, trackers, and researchers who will be able to guide you through the forest. You will also be escorted by armed rangers because there are also other wildlife species in Bwindi that you might need to avoid.

Tourists also have to protect themselves by making sure that they follow all the rules and regulations that were set up by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to protect both the gorillas and the tourists. Keeping together with the group is the first step to keeping safe. 

The rules and regulations for gorilla habituation experience in Uganda

• You are not allowed to feed and eat when with the gorillas. Eating can only be done if you are over 300 meters away from the gorillas. The reason why you shouldn’t feed the gorillas is to avoid infections and because these are wild animals and should be able to hunt for their own food.
• Avoid littering the national park with any type of garbage because it affects the natural habitat where the Mountain gorillas live, ultimately affecting the gorillas, especially polythene bags that might affect the plant growth.
• You are allowed a maximum of four hours with the Mountain gorillas after locating them during the habituation process. The time is limited because the gorillas are conditioned to be around humans for that specific period, and 4 hours is ample time to observe the primates and ask as many questions as you can from the researchers.
• Always keep your voice low when communicating because this is the only time you will be able to observe more about the gorillas during the habituation process.
• You will not be allowed to participate in gorilla habituation if you have any communicable diseases like cough and flu.
• Avoid touching the gorillas and do not spit in the national park especially on the vegetation as this may increase the chances of human to gorilla infections.
• Do not smoke during the gorilla habituation process. Smoke is bad for the gorilla's health and all cigarettes will be confiscated before you gain access to the national park.
• Always cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief and turn away from the Mountain gorillas when you want to cough and sneeze. This reduces on the spread of diseases.
• Do not take photos of the Mountain gorillas with the flash on. Mountain gorillas are sensitive creatures, and anything small can cause them to retreat further into the forest.
• You have to follow all the guidelines provided by the guides during and after the habituation process.
• Keep a distance of 7 meters between you and the gorillas during the habituation exercise to reduce the spread of diseases.
• All tourists need to have a valid gorilla habituation permit to be able to spot the Mountain gorillas because no one will be allowed to go for gorilla habituation if they do not have a permit.

Age limit for gorilla habituation in Uganda

The age limit for gorilla habituation in Uganda is 12 years and above. The reason why the age limit was set is because of the nature of the wilderness which cannot easily be handled by children, especially with the ever changing topography of the national park. Mountain gorillas can also be naughty and provocative and all children below the age of 12 years might not be able to handle the wild animals approaching. Gorilla habituation also takes 4 hours of patience and observing the Mountain gorillas and children might not be able to handle the hours without acting out.

Where to go for gorilla habituation in Uganda

Gorilla habituation in Uganda is done in the Rushaga sector in the southern part of Bwindi National Park. There are currently two families that are open in Rushaga for the habituation process and you also need to note that the gorillas that are open for the habituation process are still semi-habituated and not yet used to the presence of humans and that is why all tourists are advised to follow all the rules and regulations that are given to you by the guides. Reach out to our team for more information.

The cost of the gorilla habituation safari in Uganda

The cost of the gorilla habituation process in Uganda can be different for each tourist depending on a number of factors and the decisions made by the tourist. A gorilla habituation safari can be budget/basic, mid-range, and luxury and the cost of each does not include the cost of the gorilla habituation permit.

Some of the factors that you should consider when calculating the cost of the safari include the number of days you are to spend on the safari (fewer days equal low costs of the safari and more days equal higher costs), the number of people you are traveling with for example traveling in large groups reduces the costs since they are shared among the group members and if you are doing solo travels, the costs are high since they all fall on one person, the season of travel (traveling during the peak season is more expensive as compared to traveling during the low season), the number of additional activities that are in your itinerary, personal purchases, the type of accommodation (basic, mid-range and luxury accommodation facilities) and tips among others.

Accommodation in the Rushaga sector

There are several accommodation facilities that you can use in the Rushaga sector, depending on your budget. These accommodation facilities come in three categories that are budget/basic, mid-range, and luxury accommodation facilities and the booking has to be done as soon as possible to get the best options. Accommodation is scarce during the peak season because of the many tourists visiting the park, and this is why accommodation should be next on your list after booking the gorilla permit. Some of the accommodation facilities that are in the Rushaga sector include the Rushaga Valley Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Rushaga Valley Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Cultural Centre and Gorilla Hills eco-lodge among others.

Gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector

Besides gorilla habituation in the Rushaga sector, tourists also have a chance to participate in gorilla tracking with the different gorilla families in the sector. Some of the gorilla families that are found in the Rushaga sector include the Nshongi gorilla family, the Kahungye gorilla family, the Busingye gorilla family, the Bweza gorilla family, and the Mishaya gorilla family. The gorilla permits for tracking these gorilla families has to be carried out in advance because of the few permits that are printed per day.

There are 40 gorilla tracking permits printed in the Rushaga sector at the moment and the best way to purchase them is through a trusted tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris. These need to be booked in advance and you can request to be given a tracking permit for the Rushaga sector because permits are sold on a first come first serve basis.

How to access Bwindi for gorilla habituation

Flying to Bwindi for a gorilla habituation process takes about 1 to 2 hours from Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro airstrip from Entebbe using domestic flights. It is a faster way to get to the national park, but you miss out on seeing the beautiful scenery that Uganda has to offer when using road transport. You also have to drive the rest of the way from the airstrip to Rushaga for the exercise.

Road transport on the other hand is much more interesting with stopovers at the Equator in kayabwe and lunch. The drive from Kampala to Rushaga takes 8 to 9 hours. You can still drive from Kigali in Rwanda through the Cyanika or Gatuna border and access Bwindi. It is a 4 hours’ drive from the border making it a shorter distance than driving from Kampala.

Encounter Africa Safaris is a reliable and professional tour company that has a lot of experience in organizing gorilla safaris in Uganda and Rwanda. Contact us to help you organize a customized gorilla habituation safari for you. Our company has professional and experienced guides, consultants, and drivers to make sure that your habituation safari is worth all the money you are paying. For assistance and more information, get in touch with us because our staff is always available to help.