What to expect on a 3 day gorilla habituation experience safari

This 3 Day gorilla habituation experience safari in Uganda is confirmed by booking the gorilla permit first. Gorilla habituation experience is an adventure where tourists in the company of researchers and habituators are allowed maximum of four hours with a family of semi-habituated mountain gorillas.

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In Uganda gorilla habituation experience is so far happening in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with so far four gorilla families open for this adventure. It is also best to book accommodations within the southern part of this vast Bwindi rain forest in order to report to the briefing point in time.

Expect to share the gorilla habituation experience with other tourists booked to be part of this adventure although sometimes especially in the low season you may have the adventure to yourself and those travelled with.

Attending briefing before the gorilla habituation experience is key and compulsory for every tourist heading for this adventure no matter how many times you have been there. There are rules of gorilla habituation experience that have to be explained in detail to those who attend.

Expect to find other forest dwellers on the way or when returning from the gorilla habituation tour but do not panic or shout because you may though the entire forest into a stampede. Wait for the ranger guide to recommend a solution of how to go about the situation because they have experience in handling most of the incidents you come across while in the forest.

The mountain gorillas may run into hiding during the gorilla habituation experience because they are semi-habituated habituated and still very skeptical with human presence.

Where to do the 3 day Gorilla Habituation experience

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

At the moment, gorilla habituation experience is happening in Southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Four gorilla families so far are open to do this adventure with a maximum of four tourists allowed to visit the gorilla family per day.

Given the big size of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the park was sectioned into four areas that is Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo but the southern sector is made up of Nkuringo and Rushaga. When reserving accommodation for the gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi, it is best to choose those in the southern sector.

Even when you are not sure of when to find the mountain gorillas during the gorilla habituation experience, there other interesting forest inhabitants to watch out for including other primates,  array of birds, variety of natural trees as over 200 species have so far been identified and much more. Don’t lose the morale because of the long time you may take to find the mountain gorillas. Do not be discouraged by the long time you may take to find the mountain gorillas but allow to be engaged by other forest occupants check them out.

When finally you find the mountain gorillas, maximum respect for the rules of gorilla habituation experience is all that is required of you to complete the four hours with the mountain gorillas. You may be requested to assist with noting down some of the unique characters observed among family members, collect some samples and much more.   When finally you find the mountain gorillas, maximum respect for the rules of gorilla habituation experience is all that is required of you to complete the four hours with the mountain gorillas. You may be requested to assist with noting down some of the unique characters observed among family members, collect some samples and much more.

Itinerary of 3 Day Gorilla habituation experience

Day one

Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, the driver guide picks you from your overnight accommodation to embark on the voyage to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive time from Kampala to Bwindi is about 8 to 9 hours excluding stops at a distance of about 530 kilometers. The roads in the countryside are normally bumpy and rough sometimes so prepare yourself for the African massage. In case you experience road sickness take a pill prior.

On the way, there are chances of making stops to stretch and attend to nature calls. There are optional enroute stops too you may make that is at the Equator, Mpabire drum village, a detour into Lake Mburo National Park and others.

Arrive Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the late evening to check into your room.

Bwindi accommodations Clouds lodge, Gorilla safari lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla lodge, Nshongi Camp, Trekker’s Tarven, Bwindi Backpacker’s Camp

Day Two

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Carry the gorilla habituation gears to the briefing point to clear the necessary documents, attend briefing, be allocated a gorilla group and move into the forest. The time of finding the mountain gorillas may vary, as some have got the chance to get to them in two hours while other may take more time.

Have some patience and stay focused to getting where the gorilla family may be a lounging or feeding from. Instead of getting discourages looks out for other forest dwellers such black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, may find the wild chimpanzees,  other mammals, a number of birds and others.

Even though the terrain may be quite challenging to when navigation Bwindi forest because of the dense network of rivers that you may have to cross, or the steep slopes or the gorilla may be deep in the valleys the final encounter is the trophy. Finally, when with the mountain gorillas, there presence may erase all the hardships you may have encountered along the way. There no formula anyone can use to easily trace the mountain gorillas not even the rangers that is the way of nature

When with the mountain gorillas, enjoy the moment while it lasts taking each event as it unfolds. Trust me the mountain gorillas never disappointed because they always put up a show that leaves everyone mesmerized and appreciating the choice of doing the gorilla habituation experience.

Four hours are allowed with the mountain gorillas during gorilla habituation experience so that they can be left to go about the rest of the day.  Get back to the lodge to relax and reflect on the moments experienced in the wilderness they are worth dreaming about.

Day 3 Departure day

Having enjoyed the time with the mountain gorillas, drive back to catch up with your flight back home.

What to expect before the Gorilla Habituation experience

Expect to book the gorilla permit as this is the only confirmation to a gorilla habituation experience safari. Present some personal details to be added to the gorilla habituation card to be used for identification.

Book accommodation to use during gorilla safari within or closer to the appropriate sector of Bwindi forest to avoid panic at the last minute when you have to drive in the dark to the briefing point.

Do not expect a smooth ride. Expect a long drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Kampala or Entebbe that is about 8 to 9 hours. The roads in the countryside are bumpy and dusty too so prepare for this experience in advance.

During the peak season expect to share the some common areas at the lodge with strangers depending on the category of accommodation you choose. In the low season, you may get chance to have the lodge to yourself and attention on you and your party in case you have company.

What To Expect On Gorilla Habituation Experience Day

An early rise is recommended to avoid panic when time for briefing is approaching. Request for a wake up call from the lodge reception in case you need help with this.

Expect to carry pack lunch because you are not sure of the time of returning from the gorillas habitants adventure.

The at briefing point expect to find other tourists especially during the peak season with whom you may share some travel stories before briefing or starting the gorilla search.

Expect to be allocated any gorilla family as the criteria used to allocate the gorilla families is not easy to determine. Sometimes the age brackets may be considered, physical capability and others. Open your mind to whatever gorilla family you are allocated to because just like humans, mountain gorillas differ in character.

The nature of the topography of Bwindi forest is rugged resulting from volcanic actions that led to the formation of different highlands including ridges and plateaus that are draped by tangled creepers. Sometimes they obstruct the way so they need to be trimmed by the ranger guide with a machete to create a path to get to the mountain gorillas

Along the way, expect to encounter other forest dwellers includes other primates, a variety of birds, several mamma including forest elephants and others. You may pause to take a moment to see them but donot delay the rest of the group.

Finally as you draw closer to the mountain gorillas, the ranger guide may request you to wear the clean mask as a preventive measure adopted to protect these primates from acquiring human communicable infections like flu, covid-19, cough and others. In case you wish to smoke, you may do this before getting face to face with the mountain gorillas.  

When finally you are face to face with the mountain gorillas, donot be deceived by the fact that they pretend not to mind your presence. Ensure to abide by the rules of gorilla habituation safari or else you may agitate them and so end up retrieving into the deeper ends of the forest.

After four hours, get back to the briefing point where you receive certificates as a token for having accomplished the gorilla habituation adventure.

When Is The Best Time To Do A 3 Day Gorilla Habituation Experience In Uganda

Any time in Uganda is gorilla habituation experience time however the most preferred time is the dry season which is normally June to October and December to January. Even though the climate of Bwindi Impenetrable forest is known to be wet most of the year, the dry season may be slightly different with higher temperatures expected of approximately 20 degree centigrade.

The mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers spend most of the day closer to the ground rather than the high area including being up in the tree or on the slopes of the highlands or deep in the sun starved valleys. 

As more sunlight penetrates through the dense canopy to the ground, the trails get drier and are quicker to navigate. Expect rain to fall any time without warning so be prepared with your rain coat so that you donot get wet.

Competition for the gorilla permits for Bwindi is high in this season because it is the peak tourism season in the country too. It is safer to reserve yours as early as you can because they have limited supply.

Do not ignore the wet season when booking this gorilla safari as seeing the mountain gorillas is guaranteed any time. The wet season is normally March to May and November and is the low tourism season in Uganda too. This may be a chance to have the gorillas to yourself without worrying about being distracted by other tourists.

What Are The Rules Of Gorilla Habituation Experience

• In case you are sick with a communicable infection, volunteer to stay behind so as not to pass it to the endangered mountain gorillas.
• If you want to eat or drink while before the mountain gorillas, do it at least 200 meters away from them. They are wild animals that must search for their own food.
• The age limit for gorilla safari is 12 years and beyond this age was reduced from 15 years and over to give more children more chances to see the mountain gorillas. This is because the way to locate the mountain gorillas has rugged topography which requires you to hike sometimes in order to find the mountain gorillas.
• Never go into the forest without an escorting ranger guide. Although the mountain gorillas are fully habituated to human presence, some forest dwellers are not and may be dangerous to you alone.
• When you need to defecate, ask the ranger guide to dig a hole for you atleast 30 centimeters deep and cover well beyond recognition.
• Try to stay in a tight group when with the mountain gorillas because surrounding them may cause them to feel ambushed.
• Don’t attempt to provoke the mountain gorillas because they are wild animals that even though habituated to human presence. They still possess wild behaviors

For more information, please contact our team of experts.