Gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience safaris from South Africa

To do a gorilla and chimpanzee habituation in Experience from South Africa, you need permits for each of these activities. In Africa, so far Uganda is one of the few destinations where both gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experiences happen. From South Africa, the only way to get into Uganda is by air via Entebbe Airport.

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Gorilla habituation experience is an adventure where tourists follow a team of researchers to have four hours with semi-habituated mountain gorillas. For chimpanzee habituation experience, maximum four tourists accompany a team of researchers to have four hours with semi-habituated chimpanzee community.

In Uganda, gorilla habituation experience is so far happening in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEX) in Uganda is happening so far in Kibale National Park and Budongo forest. For one to be part of both gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience in Uganda, you must have bot a gorilla permit and chimpanzee permit. Contact us for more information.

Where To Go For Gorilla And Chimpanzee Habituation Experience In Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the so far recognized as the home for gorilla habituation experience. This thick forested park is situated in the southwestern part of Uganda and one of the few leftover naturally thriving forests in the country. Bwindi hosts the largest population of mountain gorillas but so far four gorilla families in the southern part of the park are used for gorilla habituation

Other than the gorilla families that are open for the habituation adventure in Bwindi, this lush pristine forest is home to over 19 gorilla trekking families some include Rushegura, Nkuringo, Bitukura, Mubare, Nshongi, Bweza to mention but few. The gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi are booked according to four areas under which this park was divided that is Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo.

Bwindi forest being a biosphere reserve is home to a range of fauna and flora including more than 9 other primates species, 88 butterfly species, more than 200 tree species and others. There is a rich birdlife in Bwindi forest as more than 350 bird species including Albertine rift endemics have been registered as residents in this park.

How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The distance from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is about 530 kilometers . A number of routes can be taken to get to Bwindi some of them including Kampala or Entebbe to Kabale to Kanungu to Buhoma, Kampala/ Entebbe to Ntungamo to Rukungiri to Kihihi to Buhoma

Domestic daily flights from Entebbe or Kajjansi are available to Kisoro airstrips can be booked

Charter flight services are available too in case you wish to have more private travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National.

Kibale National Park

In Uganda, Kibale National Park is the prime chimpanzee sanctuary with over 1500 chimpanzees from the approximate 5000 chimpanzee estimated to believing in Uganda. The chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale National Park is mostly done in the wet season which is usually March to May or November and this is the low tourism season of the country too.

During chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale National Park, a maximum of 4 tourists accompany a team of researchers to find and observe a semi-habituated community of chimpanzees for four hours. for the best result, tourists have to start the chimpanzee habituation adventure early morning as these primates de-nest. Every participants is required to strictly abide by the rules of chimpanzee habituation experience because these primates are still very sensitive with intruders in their vicinity.

Other than the chimpanzees, Kibale National Park is home to other 12 primate species including blue monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, bush babies and several others. More than 325 bird species are registered as residents of Kibale forest including Albertine rift endemics. At times wild animals cross from Queen Elizabeth National Park into Kibale National Park via the migration corridor so you may encounter forest elephants, giant forest hogs and others.

When Is The Best Time To Do Gorilla And Chimpanzee Habituation Experience In Uganda From South Africa

Even though both gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience are open all year tourists prefer the dry season. This primate habituation safari happens in a forested area where the environment is moist most of the day and rivers may flood the area too leaving it soggy. In the dry season, there is generally less moisture in the forest since more sunrays heat the ground through the dense canopy so leaving the environment in the forest less moist.

The chimpanzees and mountain gorillas traverse the forest from the ground in the dry season so spotting them may be easier unlike in the dry season when these primates love spending time in more elevated points of the parks.

Note that since the gorilla and chimpanzee habituation permits are restricted to maximum four tourists, it is more comfortable to book there permits upfront especially is you are destined to travel for this adventure in the high tourism season.

Ensure to reserve the necessary logistics in advance for this gorilla and chimpanzee habituation tour in Uganda advance too before the best options suitable for your budget sell out.

The low tourism season that is normally the wet season which is March to May and November should not be ignored when booking both gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience safaris in Uganda. There is normally less disturbance from other tourists so you have the forest to yourself or even a few people accompany you.

What are The Requirements For Doing Gorilla And Chimpanzee Habituation Experience In Uganda From South Africa

The gorilla or chimpanzee habituation experience permits

The gorilla or chimpanzee habituation adventure permit is a document which is used to gain access to be part of the tour party in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Kibale National Park respectively. The Uganda demand for gorilla and chimpanzee permits is high in the peak season yet they are restricted to a maximum of 4 permits.

What is the cost of Gorilla habituation experience permits and chimpanzee habituation experience permits in Uganda

At the moment, the cost of the gorilla habituation experience permit is $1500 for international nonresidents, $1000 for Foreign residents and other Africans and 750000shs for East Africans.

The gorilla or chimpanzee habituation experience permit in Uganda includes park entrance fees, four hours with the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees, conservation fund supports, security and others

Currently, the cost of chimpanzee habituation safari is $300 for international nonresidents, $250 for international residents, 300000shs for East Africans.

Reserve Safari logistics for this Uganda Primate Habituation Safari

Book some of the supporting logistics necessary for this Uganda primates safari that is accommodations of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Kibale National Park, transport and others

It is best to spend the night before the gorilla or chimpanzee habituation experience tour within or closer to the destination where this activity is to happen to enable you to get quicker access to the briefing point.

• Bwindi accommodations Clouds lodge, Gorilla Safari lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Safari lodge, Nshogi Camp, Backpackers Campsite
• Kibale National Park accommodations Primates lodge, Ndali lodge, Chimpanzee Guesthouse, Kibale Safari lodge, and others.

Book necessary transport to use during the gorilla and chimpanzee habituation tour. Having a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle is very helpful because in the countryside roads may get messy especially in the wet season so you need a terrain resistant vehicle.

The cost of transport may include driver guide fee, gas or fuel cost, vehicle hire, vehicle entrance fees in case your staying within the park and other costs to incur on transport during the gorilla and chimpanzee habituation tour.

Book apply for a Visa To Uganda

In case you are in South Africa and people in your country have to have a visa before entering Uganda, you may apply for it in advance so that you can make all the necessary clearances. There are chances of applying for the Uganda visa at the immigration on arrival but it gets quite challenging because of the long queue. In case your gorilla and chimpanzee habituation safari is commencing immediately, ensure that you clear all this in time.

Carry a valid passport for the gorilla and chimpanzee habituation adventure

When at the ranger station on the gorilla habituation or chimpanzee habituation day, tourists must present a valid passport with names coordinating with the ones on the gorilla or chimpanzee permit card. The passport is one of the important documents used for verification when you present any of these permits at the ranger station

Be Of Age To Do Gorilla And Chimpanzee Habituation Experience In Uganda

The age limit for gorilla and chimpanzee safaris in Uganda is 12 years and over. This is to enable more children to participate in this adventure. The children of this age and above may be able to move in the forest to search for these primates and not complain about getting tired so quickly. The first look of at the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees may be quite scary for children below this age which may send the entire forest into a stampede in case of noise.

Be in good health conditions before the gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience

In case you have a communicable infection such as flu, cough, covid-19, volunteer to stay behind because the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are highly susceptible to human infections. In case such infections get into the troops of these primates, there may be massive deaths.

Pack the right gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience gear

There are similarities in the packing list for the gorilla and chimpanzee safari adventure. You need to pack items like safari boots, insect repellant, long sleeved shirt and convertible trousers, garden gloves and so much more. Having the right gears for your Uganda primates safari saves you from getting worried about being hurt by the rough surfaces in the wilderness.

How much is the cost of gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience in Uganda

The cost of gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience in Uganda varies with category that is luxury, mid-range or basic. The cost of the gorilla and chimpanzee safari habituation permits cuts all categories of safari package.

In addition to the cost of the gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience, there are other costs that support safaris in Uganda including accommodations costs, transport costs and others. You need to carry some hard cash to cover your personal expenses.

What Are The Rules Of Gorilla And Chimpanzee Habituation Experience In Uganda

• Wear a clean facemask when you find the mountain gorillas and sanitize your safari boots before entering the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This was adopted after the Covid-19 pandemic so as to prevent any chances of spreading these germs to the mountain gorillas.
• Never surround the mountain gorillas when you locate them. Remain in a tight group so that they do not feel ambushed by your presence.
• Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas when you locate them. This is another preventive measure for you not to spread any infection to these primates.
• Using flash photography is forbidden as it may scare the mountain gorillas.
• Never smoke or eat 200 meters from the mountain gorillas because they may grab it and yet they are wild animal that must search for their own food and not depend on human provision.
• Burry all human fecal materials after in a hole of about 30 centimeters. Burry beyond recognition because the forest dwellers may exhume it.
• Spitting on vegetation contaminates it so keep the food for the mountain gorillas safe by not spitting on it.
• Only people aged 12 and above are allowed to do gorilla habituation because of the huddles surrounding it at times like the time of locating the mountain gorillas is not known.
• Try not to make loud noise when with the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees so that they do not feel unsafe by your presence.
• Littering the forest is not a great idea because it alters nature where the mountain gorillas live. The mountain gorillas feed entirely on foliage like soft stems, bamboo, fruits and others.
• Only four hours is allowed with the mountain gorillas when you locate them. They are semi-habituated at this moment. Ensure that you exhaust everything like watching the gorillas, taking photographs and others.

For more information, please get in touch with our team.