Mountain gorilla habituation experience is a newly tourism activity in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and also the only gorilla destination offering this unique activity, gorilla habituation allows visitors to take part in the gorilla habituation or training experience. Mountain gorilla habituation experience takes place in the Rushaga area of Bwindi impenetrable forest with four participants being allowed per group the cost for permit is 1,500 USD per person.
There are two gorilla groups being habituated in the Rushaga area by researchers at the present time namely;
Bushaho gorilla family
Bushaho is one of the two gorilla families undergoing the habituation experience in Rushaga area. The family is led by a dominant silver back Bahati and is situated in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Bushaho family separated from Nkuringo family and is now composed of 8 members. These include I silver back Bahati, 3 adult females, 1 black back, I infant and I sub adult. The family is named after the site (Bushaho) at which the family was first sited and is still under the habituation experience.
Bikingi gorilla family
This is another gorilla family under habituation experience in Rushaga area. It is located in Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park comprising of 22 with a newborn baby on 10th/9/2016 members led by a dominant silver back. The members include 9 infants, 9 adult females, 1 silver back, and two sub adults. The family was named after Bikingi area where it was first sited before its habituation process was started. Bikingi is the dominant silver back that leads the family.
The two families are not yet open to formal gorilla safaris but still undergoing habituation, travelers interested in interacting with these families must pay 1500 USD for four hours to gain this memorable experience. Please book your permit in time to avid disappointments because the number of gorilla habituation permits are limited to 4 permits per day for a family of gorillas being habituated in the Rushaga area Bwindi Forest, it is the only Country where one can find the Gorilla Habituation Experience in the whole world which is Uganda.
You will have to wake up very early at about 6:00am to start your trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. You will be guided by researchers who have been trained to habituate mountain gorillas. Once you find the gorillas under habituation, researchers will start conducting their day today activity as they explain to you all the details. This may involve learning about gorilla behaviors, naming of gorillas as well as photography.
It’s now very easy Fly into Rwanda and track Gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Forest. Because if you fly to Entebbe International Airport it will take you 8-9hours drive to get to Rushaga area in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park but there is a lot to along the way as you drive to Bwindi, for those who don’t want that long drive you can also fly from Entebbe airport to Kisoro town which is one hour drive to Rushaga, the flight to Kisoro town takes 1hour from Entebbe Airport this gives you chance to choose area to do your gorilla tracking and habituation experience.
You can include gorilla habituation into any safari that includes Bwindi impenetrable forest for your safari with us.