How To Book Gorilla And Chimpanzee Habituation Safari in Uganda

To book gorilla and chimpanzee habituation Experience in Uganda, one needs to select time of travelling and number of permits desired. Note that maximum four gorilla or chimpanzee habituation permits are open to the public per day. For gorilla habituation or chimpanzee habituation Experience in Uganda, four hours are allowed with semi habituated gorillas or chimpanzees but in company of researchers. Enquire Now

In Uganda gorilla habituation experience is currently happening in southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National park with so far four gorilla families open for this adventure. As more tourists are desiring to have extra time with the mountain gorillas, the demand is getting high.

Chimpanzee habituation experience in Uganda is an opportunity to have four hours with semi habituated chimpanzee community for four hours. Maximum 4 tourists accompany trackers for chimpanzee habituation experience.

Note that most of the chimpanzees and gorillas open for habituation experience are still shy and extremely suspicious with human presence.

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Guidelines To booking Gorilla habituation Experience and Chimpanzee habituation Experience safaris in Uganda

Choose dates for gorilla habituation experience and chimpanzee habituation Experience in Uganda plus the number of eligible people travelling with.

Find gorilla or chimpanzee permit availability per your dates of preferred. The peak season permits Uganda permits often have high booking competition from all over the world.  The minimum number of days to be on Uganda safari to do chimpanzee habituation safari or gorilla habituation safari is 3 days.

Book the gorilla or chimpanzee permits as soon as you find availability because they sell out fast and there status changes without warning.

Present your personal details to be added to the gorilla or chimpanzee permit card including your full names as presented on the passport, date of birth, nationality and more.

Note

Be flexible when choosing dates for gorilla or chimpanzee habituation experience as these can be altered with your permission in case the desired dates are sold out.

Book the gorilla or chimpanzee permits earlier in case your reason for selecting these dates is fixed and has a genuine reason for your choice which cannot be changed like marking anniversaries, birth day present and more.

Where to Do Gorilla Habituation Experience and Chimpanzee habituation Experience In Uganda

Gorilla Habituation Experience

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park southern sector is currently the only side open for gorilla habituation experience in Uganda. The southern part of Bwindi is composed of Nkuringo and Rushaga sector.

Bwindi is a rain forest with a rugged topography resulting from volcanic actions that affected its terrain leaving behind several highlands that are shaded by endless green forest cover.  As you get closer to Bwindi forest you notice a shift in altitude and temperatures drop immediately.

Besides gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi, tourists can engage in gorilla trekking safari where one hour is allowed with fully grown mountain gorilla family. Maximum 8 tourists are allowed to visit the gorilla family per day.

Birding in Bwindi is over the top as more than 350 bird species have been recorded as forest residents including Albertine rift endemics. More than 310 butterflies, 88 months, 200 tree species are inhabitants of the entangled Bwindi forest.

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience In Uganda

Chimpanzee habituation experience in Uganda happens in Kibale national Park and Budongo forest. During chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale forest, tourists accompany a team of ranger guides to follow a community of semi-habituated chimpanzee community.

Since the chimpanzees tend to shy away during chimpanzee habituation experience, every tourists is requested to pay a tension and adhere to the rules of chimpanzee habituation. These chimpanzees are very sensitive to unfamiliar happenings in their presence.

Kibale National Park is a tropical rain forest hosting one of the largest populations of chimpanzees in Uganda. Kibale forest is a primate haven too in Uganda with over 13 primate species recorded including chimpanzees.

Over 325 bird species have so far been recorded as residents of Kibale forest including Albertine rift endemics.

Budongo forest is one of the few leftover natural forests in Uganda hosting chimpanzees too. Even tough majority of the chimpanzee communities in Budongo forest are open for research, the public is welcome to do activities like chimpanzee habituation experience. Other primates species, birds, mammals have Budongo forest as home too.

What To Expect During Gorilla Or Chimpanzee Habituation Experience In Uganda

Expect to find semi-habituated chimpanzees or mountain gorillas that are still timid, shy and very suspicious of human presence. Note that the habituation process of these primates is gradual and not all members of the troop are free with human presence as yet. The chimpanzee or gorilla troops normally have new recruits too so tourists are expected to be very cooperative with instructions given by habituators or trackers in their presence.

The trails leading where the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees may be are normally covered with overgrown vegetation that may protrude over sometimes obstructing the way. The ranger guide with a machete normally trims it to create better passage.

Attending briefing before gorilla habituation or chimpanzee habituation experience is compulsory where detailed information about these activities, what is expected of tourists is communicated. Never enter the forest without an escorting guide.

As you explore the forest, look out for other forest dwellers to keep your mind off focusing on finding the mountain gorillas only that may be so far from reach. As you get closer to the mountain gorillas you hear them before facing them and as you get closer, the ranger guide will warn you to prepare to face them. At times one of you may be requested to represent others as the ranger introduces you to the gorilla family first.

On the way to do gorilla trekking, the trails in the forest may be quite slippery, covered by undergrowth but the ranger guide uses a machete to trim the way and much more.

At a glance, the mountain gorillas may seem quite scaring because of there physical appearance which is hairy and covers the entire body. The gorilla move by knuckle locomotion style that may scare you in a second but this is just for the show because mountain gorillas are shy and serene primates by nature.

Do not stare into the eyes of the mountain gorillas because this may cause them to feel insecure. At times the mountain gorillas may show some odd behavior but do not panic. The ranger guides are in place to advise on how to go about the situation and please adhere when new tactics are given.

Are Mountain Gorillas Or Chimpanzees Open For Habituation Experience Dangerous

Even though the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees under habituation experience are semi-habituated, they are not dangerous. By nature, the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are very keen with intruders in their environment but the researchers who often visit them help them get used to human presence. Even though the gorillas or chimpanzees do not lose their natural traits, atleast they can with stand human presence after sometime.

Each gorilla habituation or chimpanzee habituation experience is with the company of a team of researchers with some information about the troop so can advise on how to go about some situations.

On gorilla or chimpanzee habituation experience day, tourists gather at the ranger station where details on how to behave when with these primates is communicated in details and rules to follow while with them. Each tourist is expected to abide by these rules and regulations because these have been approved by researchers and habituators.

When with these gorillas or chimpanzees under habituation experience, not all are used to human presence because it is a gradual process. Some join or are incorporated into the gorilla or chimpanzee troop late and are still too timid to face humans.

The way in the forest may have some challenges while searching for the gorillas and chimpanzees but the experience is worth every step you take because when you finally find them, you may forget the troubles.

Both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees under habituation experience may run into hiding any time because they still fear intruders in their presence. This is one reason why tourists are encouraged to abide by the rules of gorilla or chimpanzee habituation experience.

What Time To Take On Gorilla Habituation Or Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

From the starting time of either the gorilla or chimpanzee habituation experience, it may take about two hour or more searching and finding these primates. The time of finding the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees depends on factors like food proximity, weather condition of the day, mood of these primates and more.

Do not forget to do some exercises before the gorilla or chimpanzee habituation experience so that your muscles do not let you down.

To keep the urge to see the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees still burning, open your mind to enjoying other features in the forest and there is plenty to view. In the forests, there are other primates like black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey checked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and more. A number of birds are residents of the forests in Uganda as the country has a population of over 1000 bird species including endemics.

When you find the chimpanzees or mountain gorillas four hours are allowed with them. In case you notice something odd do not panic but wait for the advise from the ranger on how to go about the situation. Sometimes, you may be required to try eating foliage, show submission, make some sounds and more. Some may seem silly but if is one of the ways to get these primates to calm down then tryout.

How sure can I be to see the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees during habituation experience

There are 99% chances to see the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees during habituation experience. After paying a hefty cost for the permit to see the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees, everyone would like to get value for money.

The price of the gorilla or chimpanzee habituation permits is currently

Gorilla habituation experience permit cost is $1500 per person per day

Chimpanzee habituation experience permits cost is $300 per person per day

Inclusions in the cost of gorilla or chimpanzee habituation experience permits is four hour with the gorillas or chimpanzees, park entrance fees, security, conservation support, community support and more.

We advise our clients to generously tip those who extend a service to them while on safari in order to encourage them to even better their service.

Other than the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees, there is plenty to see in these rain forests including other primates, birds, several fully grown natural trees, other mammals, rivers, streams, waterfalls and more.

What More safaris to Combine gorilla or chimpanzee habituation experience with in Uganda

Uganda is country endowed with nature and rich cultural experiences. While you plan to do a Uganda safari, there is a lot more you can combine with gorilla or chimpanzee habituation experience.

Visit the source of River Nile

River Nile which is the longest river in the world has it source in Uganda specifically on Lake Victoria in Jinja district. To get to the genesis of River Nile one has to get on a boat then sail to the dramatic point where Lake Victoria water calmly emerges from the ground at the same time with River Nile Water that seems to be in a hurry to start its journey.

On the way, you enjoy the amazing riverine forest, a number of birds flock the shore of River Nile, beautiful beach activities and more.

Golden monkey safaris

In Mgahinga National Park, tourists are able to find the golden monkeys. These unique monkeys are endangered and not toe normal monkeys. The golden monkeys have golden brown hairs and a larger body compared to the rest of the monkeys. Even though the golden monkeys are habituated, they still posses their natural charm so get ready to stay at your toes.

One can do golden monkey trekking or golden monkey habituation but you need to purchase a permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Water activities on Uganda safari

By taking a launch trip or boat trip, one can participate in several water activities while on safari in Uganda. The launch trip in Murchison Falls National park or Queen Elizabeth National park presents a number of wild animals that spend time on the shores of River Nile or Kazinga channel respectively.

White water rafting on River Nile is a thrilling adventure where you beat through the heavy tides that flow through underlying rocks and more.

Sports fishing is amazing during Uganda safari for anglers. Some of the fish species you may get to catch include tilapia, Nile perch, catfish, lung fish and more.

Mountaineering on Uganda safari

Experience mountaineering adventure in Uganda with Mountain Rwenzori on the top list. Mountain Rwenzori is ice topped with its highest peak Magheritah at about 5109 meters. Excursion mountaineering is available in Uganda on mountains like Muhavura, Sabyinyo, Gahinga and more.

Birding in Uganda Uganda hosts over 1000 bird species and these live in various spots including Mabamba swamp, Mpanga swamp, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and more. Having a birding guide and a birding guide book gives you chance to spot a number of bird species.