Where to do primate habituation experience in Uganda

Primate habituation in Uganda is the process of studying and making sure that the primates get used to the presence of humans in their natural habitat. Habituation gives tourists more time to spend with the endangered Mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and golden monkeys. Primate habituation is an adventure where tourists escorted by a team of researchers and trackers spend time with the primates without disturbing their nature as they learn about their behavioral patterns and get the primates used to their presence. The primates that are currently habituated in Uganda include the Mountain gorillas which are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, Golden monkeys in Mgahinga National Park and chimpanzees in Kibale National Park.

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To be able to participate in primate habituation, tourists need to purchase habituation permits in advance, and these can be purchased from the Uganda Wildlife Authority through a trusted tour operator. The demand for primate habituation permits is on the rise, and since they are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, you need to purchase them at least 6 months in advance. Note that habituation is a tightly controlled activity and only 4 persons are allowed to participate in each session.

Uganda carries out primate habituation on three primate species at the moment and these are Mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and Golden monkeys. Below is a detailed summary of the primates that are habituated in Uganda.

Mountain gorilla habituation

Mountain gorillas are endangered species that have been tracked throughout the years and they have been hunted down by poachers looking for meat. As a measure of conserving and creating awareness for the gorillas, Dian Fossey introduced habituation where the gorillas were researched and made to get used to human presence in the forest. The habituation exercise in Uganda is only carried out in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the Rushaga sector and for one to be able to able to go for gorilla habituation, they need a habituation permit which costs $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for citizens from other African countries, UGX750, 000 for East African citizens and $1000 for foreign residents.

Habituation in Bwindi starts early morning with a briefing where trekkers are reminded about the rules to follow during the exercise after this, you will be divided into groups of 4 with the guides and researchers set out to search for the Mountain gorillas and spend a maximum of 4 hours with the primates. After the 4 hours, you will return to the park headquarters where you are awarded a certificate of participation.

Golden monkey habituation

Golden monkeys are an endangered species found in Mgahinga National Park. Golden monkey habituation is an experience that all tourists should engage in when visiting Uganda and like any other habituation experience, you will need a habituation permit before you are allowed to participate in the activity. Mgahinga is the smallest national park found in southwestern Uganda and the only place where golden habituation is done.

Golden monkey habituation starts early morning with a briefing from the guides about the rules and what to expect during the exercise. After the briefing, which every trekker has to attend, you get to join a team of park guides, rangers and researchers and start tracking in the forest, following the golden monkeys using the leftovers like bamboo shoots and leaves. The trek can take about 2 to 5 hours depending on the location of the golden monkeys because they are playful and always on the move. After finding the golden monkeys, the group gets to spend 4 hours with the primates where you get to monitor their behaviors, watch them jump from tree to tree, watch them go about their daily activities like feeding their young ones, grooming themselves and this is your chance to take photos and videos of the golden monkeys before the 4 hours is up.

The cost of the golden monkey habituation: A Golden monkey habituation permit is a legal document that allows you to have access to the Golden monkeys in their natural habitat. Visitors who are 12 years and above are allowed to purchase the habituation permit and track golden monkeys and before you purchase the permit, age verification is carried out using a copy of your passport. The Golden Monkey habituation permit is $140 for foreign non-residents, UGX120,000 for EAC citizens and $110 for foreign residents.

Chimpanzee habituation

Chimpanzee habituation is an adventurous activity where tourists get time to spend the entire day with the chimpanzees as they go on about their day-to-day activities. Chimpanzee habituation is done in Kibale Forest National Park, home to 1500 chimpanzees and other primates, including vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, olive baboons, L’Hoest monkeys and blue monkeys, among others and Budongo Forest, which is found in Murchison Falls National Park.

Chimpanzee habituation takes 2 to 3 years before the chimpanzee communities are open. The exercise starts as early as 5:30 am with a briefing about the rules and regulations of the habituation process and what to expect during the exercise. After the briefing, the trek starts before the chimpanzees come from their nests, and you get to follow them around the whole day, studying their various and different characteristics. Since the exercise takes the whole day, a packed lunch will be provided and it ends with the chimpanzees getting back into their nests.

The cost of the chimpanzee habituation permit in Budongo forest is $230 for foreign non-residents, $160 for foreign residents and $90 for East African citizens. Note that the cost of the habituation permit is independent of the entrance fees to Murchison Falls National Park, which is $45 for foreign non-residents, $35 for foreign residents and UGX25 000 for East African citizens.

The cost of the chimpanzee habituation permit in Kibale Forest National Park is $300 for international visitors, UGX180,000 for East African citizens and $200 for foreign residents. Contact us for more information.

Where to go for primate habituation in Uganda

There are three main places where primate habituation is done in Uganda and these include:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Tourists can go for gorilla habituation in the Rushaga sector, south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Two gorilla families were set aside for habituation and tourists get to spend 4 hours with the gorillas during the habituation process. Tourists 12 years and above can participate in the habituation process but in case you feel sick, make sure that you avoid participating in the exercise to protect the Mountain gorillas. Bwindi is home to over 335 bird species, some of which are endemic to the Albertine region, and 7 are on the IUCN red flag list. It is also home to other primate species, some of which include L’Hoest monkeys, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and other wildlife species, among others.

The accommodations you can use when visiting Bwindi for gorilla habituation include Gorilla Hills eco-lodge, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Gahiza Island Retreat, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Safari Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Resort, Wild Olives Lodge, and Wagtail Eco Safari Lodge among others. When booking accommodation, make sure that it is located in the sector you have been allocated.

Getting to Bwindi can be done by either using road or air transport. Tourists can drive from Kampala to Kabale and then to Buhoma, Kampala to kabala and then to Nkuringo or Kampala to Ntungamo to Rukungiri to Kihihi and then to Buhoma. There are daily scheduled domestic flights from either Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi Airstrip, where you are to be picked up by a safari guide in a 4x4 safari vehicle and taken to Rushaga sector, where habituation is done.

Kibale National Park: Kibale is home to over 1500 chimpanzees and one of the two places where chimpanzee habituation is carried out. Chimp habituation in Kibale is a whole day affair and this is why tourists are advised to be physically fit and patient until when the chimps go back to the nests. You should expect some wild behaviour from the chimpanzees because they are not fully habituated. Chimpanzees sometimes retreat into the forest when they feel they are being watched and when this happens, the researchers will be able to tell you about the next step.

Accommodations that you can use when you visit Kibale National Park for habituation include Chimps Nest, Kibale Safari Lodge, chimpanzee Guesthouse, Kyaninga Lodge, Ndali Lidge and Primates Lodge, among others.

You can get to Kibale National Park by road using two routes, and these are Kampala-Mubende-Fortportal-Kanyanchu, which is known as the northern route. The other route is Kampala-Mbarara-Kamwenge-Kanyanchu and this makes the southern route. Charter flights are available, and these are from Kajjansi or Entebbe to Kasese Airstrip, where you will continue with the rest of the journey driving.

Budongo Forest: Found in Murchison Falls National Park, Budongo Forest is the safari destination where chimpanzee habituation is carried out. With the help of researchers and guides, you will be able to participate in the habituation exercise and during the exercise, you will also be able to see other primates, including grey-cheeked Mangabeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and bird species, among others. The exercise starts early morning and you get to follow the semi-habituated chimpanzees in their natural habitat. You can also be able to combine a chimpanzee habituation exercise in Budongo Forest with a game drive in Murchison Falls National Park.

Getting to Murchison is easy and you can drive from Kampala-Luwero-Budongo Forest.

Accommodations that can be used when going for a habituation exercise in Budongo Forest include Baker’s Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, Sambiya Lodge, Murchison River Lodge and Nile Safari Lodge.

Mgahinga National Park: The Golden Monkey habituation exercise is carried out in Mgahinga National Park, found in southwestern Uganda. The Golden monkeys are easily identified by the golden fur around their eyes, nose and other parts of the body on their fur. Unlike the Mountain gorillas, Golden monkeys are way more stubborn, live in the lower altitudes of the national park and jump from one tree to the next.

Getting to Mgahinga is easy, and you can decide to either drive from Kampala to the national park or fly from Entebbe or Kajjansi to Kihihi Airstrip, where a safari vehicle with an assigned guide will pick you up and take you to your accommodation. Note that due to Mgahinga’s small nature, the accommodation is found in the nearby towns.

When to go for primate habituation in Uganda

Primate habituation in Uganda can be done throughout the year; however, the best time is during the dry season (June to September and December to February). This is a peak season, but the trek routes used to follow the primates around during the habituation exercise are easier to use as compared to the rainy season, which is characterized by muddy trails. The rainy season (March to May) is better since the primates are found in one place due to the presence of food but the rains can be destructive.

Rules and regulations for primate habituation in Uganda

• Make sure that you volunteer to participate in the habituation exercise if you are sick with diseases like flu and cough,
• Keep your voice on the low when communicating so that you do not destroy the primates.
• Follow all the guidelines given by the researchers and guides during habituation.
• If you want to use the toilet, ask a ranger to help you dig a hole of about 30cm deep and after this, cover it up well so that it is not found and dug up by the primates.
• Tourists 12 years and above are allowed to participate in the habituation exercise
• Avoid putting and leaving garbage in the national park.
• Avoid spitting on the vegetation during the habituation exercise
• You have four hours with the gorillas and golden monkeys after locating them, and a full day with the chimpanzees.
• Do not use flash photography when taking photos of the primates during habituation.
• Sanitize your hands before going into the forest for the exercise.

Contact us at Encounter Africa Safaris for more information about primate habituation in Uganda.