Gorilla Habituation Experience
Find details of Gorilla Habituation experience safaris and tours offered by Encounter Africa safaris. Gorilla habituation safaris and tours are the latest additions to activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Encounter Africa safaris can organize both road or driving safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable National park for gorilla habituation experience or fly in safaris to the same National Park. We have trips to Bwindi National park for gorilla habituation experience that range from 3 days to 7 days of gorilla habituation experience. For more details about our gorilla habituation safaris, do contact one of our safari consultants.
As part of our services, we do book gorilla habituation permits just as we do for gorilla trekking permits. As soon as you pick interest in Gorilla Habituation experience safaris, kindly do contact Encounter Africa safaris for availability of space in Rushaga which is located on the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Once there is space, we will request you to provide all your passport details which are required before gorilla habituation permits are issued out. We also book accommodation in Rushaga depending on your budget and interest.
Gorilla habituation experience safaris
whether you what to spend 3 days or more than that, we are able to organize either road trips or fly in safaris to gorilla habituation experience. For more details, please contact Encounter Africa safaris. Kindly note that at the moment, gorilla habituation permits cost USD1500.00 per permit and it allows one to spend four hours with a group of mountain gorillas under habituation. Maximum numbers allowed per family is 4 people and each must be 15 years and above. For more details kindly read our frequently asked questions about gorilla habituation experience. Encounter Africa safaris was the first company to take tourists for gorilla habituation experience and please do take advantage of our vast experience in organizing gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation safaris
How much does a gorilla permit cost?
A gorilla permit in Uganda costs USD $700 per person and USD1500.00 for gorilla habituation experience permits. A single gorilla permit can only be used once (single day), by a single person and to trek Uganda gorillas in only two destinations, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National.
Buy your gorilla permits or secure your gorilla permit in Kampala (the capital of Uganda) at the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) headquarters by paying USD $700.00 per person for foreign non residents, USD500.00 for foreign residents with working permits and sh300,000 for East African Citizens. Please note that effective 1st July 2020, Uganda gorilla permits will be selling at $800 for non residents and $700 for foreign residents with working permits in any of the East African community countries. Book Your gorilla tour before 1st July 2020 to benefit from the current price of $700. Encounter Africa Safaris organizes all inclusive safaris to see gorillas including our popular 3 day budget gorilla safari to Bwindi.
In Rwanda you can get permits through the Rwanda Development Board offices (ORTPN) in Kigali or Ruhengeri (near the PNV) after paying $1500.00.
Allocation of Gorilla Permits
We are glad to provide information on how gorilla permits are allocated in Uganda and Rwanda. You need a valid gorilla permit to trek gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Initially, Uganda Wildlife Authority used to allocate gorilla permits on a first come first serve and one had a choice to buy permit belonging to a gorilla family of his/her preference. In other words, one if one wanted to trek Rushegura Family located in Buhoma Region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, he would go to Uganda Wildlife Authority and purchase a gorilla permit for that particular gorilla family
How gorilla permits are allocated
From January 2014, Uganda Wildlife Authority started issuing out gorilla permits not on a basis of gorilla families but regions. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four regions and each region has different gorilla families. These regions include, Buhoma in the North of Bwindi, Ruhija in the East of Bwindi, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. To buy a permit now, you have to choose a region and then they will give you a permit for that region.
What happens then?
When you arrive at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park on the day of gorilla trekking, you will then be allocated to a gorilla family depending on your physical fitness and interest. Interests may include, trekking a given gorilla family of you choice and if there is space, they will have you in that group. You may wish to trek with your friends or families whom you came with, this is as well possible if there is space. You may wish to have a simple, medium or hard trek and depending on availability they will allocate you accordingly.
The gorilla families per region
Buhoma Region in the North of Bwindi NP the most preferred region has three gorilla families which include, Mubare Gorilla group which was the first gorilla family to be habituated, Rushegura Family and Habinyanja. Ruhija Region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has three families which include Bitukura, Oruzongo and Kyaguriro. Rushaga region in the south of Bwindi has Kahungye gorilla family, Nshongi gorilla group, Mishaya gorilla familiy, Busingye gorilla group and Bweza gorilla family. Nkuringo Region in the south still has one gorilla family called Nkuringo
At Encounter Africa Safaris, we book gorilla permits for our clients, advise on availability of permits and which region you should choose depending on your interests and physical fitness.
