Encounter Africa safaris assist in arranging end of year gorilla habituation experience safaris on your behalf when contacted. It should be noted that the end of year celebrations come once a year and should be celebrated. Every 31st Dec, many people come out to celebrate the ending of one a year and welcoming another year. It is time to jubilate and have fun. One of the best ways to celebrate this occasion is by organizing and booking an end of year gorilla habituation experience safari with Encounter Africa safaris.

About gorilla habituation experience safaris

Gorilla habituation refers to an act of training wild mountain gorillas to get used to the presence of human beings. Once this process is completed, human beings or people are free to visit these mountain gorillas in the wild. The act of visiting mountain gorillas is referred to as gorilla trekking and only takes place in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. For wild mountain gorillas to get used to human beings, it takes 2-3 years where experts in gorilla habituation keep visiting a particular gorilla family until it is fully habituated. Gorilla habituation experience safaris only take place in Uganda where tourists are allowed to move with experts in gorilla habituation as they participate in all activities that help in getting wild mountain gorillas to get used to human beings. Tourists are allowed to spend four hours with mountain gorillas before heading back to park headquarters.

Gorilla habituation experience safaris take place in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and only four people are allowed to visit a given group of mountain gorillas under habituation. All those interested in booking end of year gorilla habituation experience safaris should endeavour to do so in advance so that they don’t miss out on gorilla permits.

When to book end of year gorilla habituation experience safaris

The best time to book your end of year gorilla habituation experience safari is now. The fact that all end of year gorilla habituation experience safaris rotates around the availability of gorilla habituation experience permits, it is better to block, reserve and book these permits in advance. All end of year gorilla treks should be planned at least a year in advance to avoid missing out on permits. December being the high season in Uganda, you need to act swiftly. Once permits are secured, then the rest of the services can be worked on later.

How to book your end of year gorilla habituation holiday

Booking your end of year gorilla habituation experience safari starts with you sending us an email or call expressing your interest. Once your inquiry is received, we will check availability of permits trekking on 31st Dec and then get back to you. If we find that permits are available, the first thing to do is to block or reserve them on the system. Uganda Wildlife Authority allows registered tour operators to access gorilla permits database, reserve and block gorilla permits for up to 7 days. Within these seven days, we will send you an invoice for you to make payment and as soon as proof of payment is sent to us, we will go ahead to pay and secure your gorilla habituation permits as we wait for your funds to appear on our bank account. We will send you scanned copies of receipts for your records and then embark on securing other services which include your accommodation as well as transport.

Details of Encounter Africa safaris end of year gorilla habituation treks.

Usually, your end of year gorilla habituation experience safari will start from either Kampala or Kigali depending on your preferences and flights. If you start from Entebbe, you will be driven to Bwindi impenetrable National Park via Mbarara, Kabale onwards to the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will have stops at the equator for photography, lunch in Mbarara town and then dinner and overnight in Bwindi impenetrable National Park. You may choose to stay in Rushaga or Nkuringo as these are the two areas where gorilla habituation experience safaris can start and end.

On the second day, you will be transferred to Bwindi UWA park headquarters for briefing and then head to the forest to look for specific mountain gorilla family still under habituation. This activity starts typically at 6am where you will be joined by a group of researchers, guides, rangers, tourism police to head to the forest in search for these wild gorillas. You will participate in all activities that result in making these wild gorillas friendly to human beings. You will get involved in naming, making calls, testing specimens among others. Once the four hours are done, you will drive back to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate in recognition of your efforts to save the rare mountain gorillas in Uganda.

While at the lodge and after dinner, the lodge may arrange special celebrations to end the year. These may include special dinner, cultural dances campfire and simple fireworks as you wait to end the year and welcome a new year as well. A drink at the campfire as you end your year in an experience of a lifetime that you should not miss.

On the third day, you will drive back to Entebbe International Airport or Kigali International Airport for your flight out of Uganda. The other option is to visit other national parks for game drives, boat cruises, chimpanzee trekking, among others. While gorilla habituation experience safaris can be done in 2 to 3 days, Encounter Africa safaris recommend that you add national parks like Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park where several different activities can be done.

Included in our end of year holidays

All our end of year gorilla habituation experience safaris is all-inclusive of gorilla permits, accommodation, transport to and from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, park entry fees, services of an English speaking driver-guide as well as drinking water in the vehicle. Meals are booked on full board and no hidden costs at all.

Why book your end of year safari with Encounter Africa safaris

Encounter Africa safaris is one of the leading tour operators specializing in gorilla and wildlife trips in Uganda and Rwanda. Our staff have vast experience in organizing memorable safaris to see gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park as well as Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Park. Our team will provide you with relevant information that will assist you in organizing your end of year habituation experience safari. Encounter Africa safaris is highly recommended on Trip advisor as well as safari bookings where you too can go and leave a review about your experience.