Organizing  a two day Bwindi gorilla habituation experience from Kigali

The two day gorilla habituation experience to Bwindi from Kigali is an amazing time that is spent with the mountain gorillas that are not fully habituated. Bwindi is in south western Uganda along the edge of the Albertine Rift and currently is only location in the world where you can go for gorilla habituation. To be able to organize a two day gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi fro Kigali, you will need to secure a gorilla habituation permit in advance, arrange transportation, accommodation and make sure that you have all the necessary paperwork to be able to cross the land borders between Rwanda and Rwanda.

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Habituation experience in Bwindi is done in Rushaga sector where two families have been set aside for this purpose. We are here to help you organize the habituation safari on your behalf and the most important thing to note is that everything has to be done in advance. Below is a breakdown process on the process of organizing a two day Bwindi gorilla habituation experience from Kigali.

Book and purchase a gorilla habituation permit

The gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi is only possible if you have the habituation permit which is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The habituation experience is a fun and unique activity that gives tourists four hours with the chosen gorilla family that is undergoing habituation, a process that is carried out to get the gorillas accustomed to human presence.

Bwindi gets only 8 habituation permits per day divided between two gorilla families. Due to the limited permits that are printed per day, you should all book in advance most especially during the peak season (June to September and December to February). These permits can be booked through a tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris and make sure that you first confirm the availability of the permits on your desired trek dates.

Contact the tour operator with your dates of trekking and they will check for the availability of the permits on the stated dates. After confirming availability, make the necessary payments for the permits because purchases will not be made if you don’t make payments. Once the permit payments have been confirmed, the operator will proceed to purchase the permit on your behalf and send you a copy of the purchased permit.

The cost of the gorilla habituation permit in Bwindi is UGX750, 000 for East African citizens, $1000 for foreign residents, $1000 for African citizens and $1500 for foreign non-residents.

Arrange for transport

Arranging for transport to be used from Kigali to Bwindi for gorilla habituation can easily be arranged by a tour operator. Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda is a convenient and easily accessible starting point for your safari and you can either drive or fly to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Driving from Kigali is done using 4x4 safari vehicles and it will take you approximately 5 to 6 hours including clearing customs at either the Cyanika border or Katuna border. The driver guides are familiar with driving in both countries and will ensure that you get to your destination safe.

Charter flights can also be arranged from Kigali to Kihihi Airstrip or Kisoro Airstrip after which you will continue with the journey by road to the Rushaga sector where gorilla habituation takes place. Note that this is offers a more exclusive and expensive option of getting to Bwindi from Kigali.

Think about accommodation

Planning a two day safari comes with searching for accommodation that you can use when it comes to gorilla habituation safaris. The accommodation should be booked in the sector where you are going to go for the habituation exercise for easy access to the briefing point within the sector. When choosing the type of accommodation, put into consideration your preference and budget selecting between luxury, mid-range and budget accommodation facilities.

The rooms  tend to sell out fast and tourists are advised to book for them in advance to avoid disappointments especially in the peak season.

Some of the accommodation facilities you can use during your habituation exercise in Bwindi include Bweza Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Jungle lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Nshongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Resort and Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge among others.

Planning other safari activities

While gorilla habituation experience is the highlight of the safari, you can as well incorporate other safari activities both within Uganda and Rwanda as add ons to the gorilla trek. There are so many activities that you can include after consulting with your tour operator and these include primate walks, bird watching, Batwa trail walk in Mgahinga, game drives, taking on the canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest NP, boat rides, chimpanzee trekking, visiting the Genocide memorial centers and many more others.

Fully prepare for the trek

The habituation exercise starts early morning and every trek group has 4 hours with  the primates. You however need to be patient, be physically fit, follow all the rules and regulations and pack right for the best experience.

The rules and regulations that are to be followed during the gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi include the following:

• The age limit for habituation is 12 years in Bwindi.
• Keep a distance of 7 meters from the gorillas for better observation
• Follow the guidelines that the lead guides and researchers give
• The group has only four hours with the gorillas observing their different behaviour, recording and taking photos of the primates.
• Only 4 people are allowed to visit a chosen gorilla family per day.
• Bury all your waste in a deep hole of 30cm and make sure that it is covered properly so that the mountain gorillas do not dig it up.
• You will not be allowed to eat when with the gorillas
• Smoking is prohibited as smoke negatively affect the mountain gorillas.
• When taking photos of the gorillas, note that flash photography has been prohibited.
• During the habituation process, minimize the noise that is made by communicating in low tones. This allows to fully observe not only the gorillas but the surrounding areas.
• Throwing or leaving all the rubbish within the national park is prohibited.
• No one will be allowed to participate in the exercise without am experienced guide.

What to pack for the gorilla habituation is part of preparing properly for the gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi from Kigali and below is a list of the essential items that we recommend you pack.

• Neutral colored clothes (long-sleeved shirts and trousers)
• Warm sweater, scarf, socks and ponchos if possible
• Waterproof and comfortable hike boots
• Gardening gloves
• A waterproof backpack
• Snacks, a packed lunch and refillable water bottle (or you can bring bottled drinking water)
• A first aid kit
• Adjustable gaiters
• Walking stick
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and a sunhat.

Exercising before the trek is part of fully preparing for the habituation process. You need to exercise to stay fit because you will be trekking through a rugged environment that is made up of different topography including steep slopes, valleys and rocky terrain. As a tourist, you will be trekking through an unfamiliar territory and will need some fitness before travelling. If you are unfit, you might slow down the entire group.

Choose the right time to go for habituation

Gorilla habituation is an activity that is carried out the entire year, however the most preferred season is the dry season: December to February and June to September. The drier season comes with dry trek routes, less rain and thinning of the vegetation which makes it easy for tourists to trek through the thick jungles and have access to the mountain gorillas. The dry season is also known as the peak season and comes with stiff competition for the habituation permits and accommodation. They are always in high demand and tourists need to book all these services in advance to be safe.

The rainy season provides a chance to tourists to enjoy the gorilla habituation exercise however tourists should be ready for the rains, thick vegetation and a slower trek due to muddy and slippery routes. This season is from March to May and October to November for the shorter rainy season. It is a good time for tourists travelling on a budget, and there are sometimes chances for one to get last-minute gorilla permits but you still need to book for them in advance.

The trip overview

The 2 days Bwindi gorilla habituation experience from Kigali is for tourists who are interested in spending more time with the mountain gorillas from Kigali. The driving time from Kigali to Bwindi is 4 to 5 hours significantly reducing the driving time. On the 2 days habituation exercise, you will travel from Kigali to Bwindi and get to enjoy the view along the way.

On day 1, you will be picked from Kigali and transferred to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through either Cyanika border or Katuna border. Note that this trip starts and ends in Kigali in Rwanda and 4x4 safari vehicles are used to transport tourists.

On day 2, tourists get to meet and spend more time with the mountain gorillas on a habituation exercise. And after spending four hours with the primates, you will be driven back to Kigali which marks the end of the 2 days habituation safari to Bwindi from Kigali.

The detailed Itinerary

Arrival and Day 1: You will be picked up from the hotel or airport depending on your preference. Note that accommodation that is got before departure will be for an extra cost.

• You will be picked by a professional driver guide. The journey is filled with beautiful scenery taking you through the rolling hills of Rwanda into the Pearl of Africa.
• You will be then driven to your accommodation facility after crossing the border for lunch, dinner and an overnight.

Day 2: Day 2 starts with breakfast and a packed lunch for those that need it and you will be required to attend a briefing with the guides before starting with the trek. After spending four hours with the mountain gorillas during habituation, you will trek back to the park headquarters and awarded a certificate for participation.

You will be then driven back to Kigali which marks the end of the habituation safari.

Accommodation to be used during the safari is chosen and booked in advance for proper planning of the habituation experience.

What is gorilla habituation?

Gorilla habituation is the process where mountain gorillas are studied and trained to get used to the presence of humans in their natural habitat. The process takes 2 to 3 years depending on the gorilla family being habituated and during this time, the researchers and rangers spend time observing the mountain gorillas and carefully observing the behaviour of the individual members.

Bwindi has four sectors and the gorilla habituation experience is done in the Rushaga sector where two families were set aside for tourists to participate in the exercise.

During habituation, the researchers not only study the mountain gorillas, but they also give names to the different gorillas in the group based on their behaviour.

Before gorilla families are introduced to the public for gorilla trekking, visitors are allowed to participate in the mock exercise of habituation with the gorillas also known as a test visit. If the mountain gorillas respond positively to the tourists, the gorilla family is opened for trekking to the public. Contact us for more information.

The habituation experience

The habituation activity starts early in the morning with a briefing with the lead guides and researchers. Once the family that has been isolated has been located, you get to spend four hours with the mountain gorillas unlike the standard gorilla trekking where tourists get an hour with the gorillas. These four hours are spent studying the gorillas, and you can ask any questions that you might have about them, you also get to identify the characteristics of the different individual gorillas and after the four hours are up, you will head back to start point where you will be awarded a certificate of participation.

Contact us for more information at Encounter Africa Safari.