5 Day Gorilla And Chimpanzee Habituation Experience In Uganda

Doing the 5 day gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience in Uganda gives you extra time with the huge primates in Africa other than the usual one hour allowed during the trekking adventure. Gorilla and chimpanzee habituation adventure are safaris where tourists accompany a team of researchers in the wild to have four hours with these primate.

Uganda currently has four gorilla habituation experience families and chimpanzee habituation communities. You need a gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority to engage in this Uganda safari adventure. It is best to book accommodation closer to where your gorilla or chimpanzee habituation safari is happening. ENQUIRE NOW

Reserve accommodation to use during gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience.

Summary of 5 Day Gorilla and Chimpanzee habituation Experience safari in Uganda

Day 1: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 2: Gorilla Habituation Experience

Day 3: Drive to Kibale National Park

Day 4: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

Day 5 Departure

Detailed 5 Day Gorilla and Chimpanzee habituation Experience safari in Uganda

Day 1: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, our ranger guide will pick you from your overnight hotel and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National park. Bwindi forest is s pristine forest hosting the few leftover mountain gorillas in the world. More than 20 gorilla trekking families are living in Bwindi forest and four gorilla habituation families.

Enjoy the stopovers enroute like at the Equator to perform the water experiment and take photos standing on both sides of the earth at the same time that is the northern and southern hemisphere.

Check into your lodge

Bwindi accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla safari Lodge/ Ichumbi Lodge/ Nshongi Camp/ Bwindi Backparker’s Camp

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 2: Gorilla Habituation Experience In Bwindi

Rise up for breakfast and head to the ranger station for briefing. Carry your gorilla habituation experience gears like safari boots, rainproof gears, safari hat and much more. Don’t forget packed lunch as return time after the gorilla habituation experience is unknown.

Follow the ranger guide and researchers but ensure you abide by the rules of gorilla habituation adventure. These mountain gorillas are not fully accustomed to human presence so they are still very sensitive to visitors in there vicinity.

Look out for other occupants in the forest like black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and others. An array of birds live in Bwindi forest including Albertine rift endemics.

Finally when you meet the mountain gorillas, wait for the researchers to establish there mood before approaching them to take photos or film. Help the researcher collect some sample, watch the gorilla family and take notes, you may be requested to participate in naming the mountain gorillas and much more.

These mountain gorillas still posses natural traits even though they are semi-habituated they can go into hiding, hooting at you and much more drama but be calm and show no signs of being suspicious.

Having that extra time with the mountain gorillas opens chances for you to understand more about these primates, be in there space for enough time and capture the best moments that may not be held by those who take one hour of gorilla trekking.

Get back to your lodge after four hours with the mountain gorillas.

Day 3: Drive To Kibale National Park

Take breakfast early morning and head to Kibale National Park after gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Forest. The drive time from Bwindi Impenetrable National park to Kibale National Park is about 5 to 6 hours.

Kibale forest is a tropical rain forest that is home to the largest number of chimpanzees in Uganda. at the moment, the population of chimpanzees in this park is about 1500 chimpanzees out of 5000 chimpanzees that the Uganda is having.

Kibale forest is home for about 13 primate species including chimpanzees, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, pottos, bush babies and others. More than 325 bird species are so far recorded as residents of Kibale National Park.

Get into your accommodation

Kibale accommodations: Primates lodge/ Ndali Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge/ Chimpanzee Guest House/ C.V.K

Day 4: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Kibale National Park

Wake up for breakfast and head to the ranger station for briefing nor forgetting your chimpanzee trekking gears and a clean mask. After verifying your documents, the ranger and researchers lead the way to where the chimpanzees may be spending the day.

You have to be very keen with these chimpanzees because they are semi-habituated and still posses so odd behaviors. The chimpanzees live in communities and split into smaller groups each day to feed. Chimpanzees operate a spy network so they get to see you before you actually spot them. The researchers may request you to assist with collecting data, observing and taking notes, and much more.

Four hours are allowed with the chimpanzees and later return to your lodge

Day 5: Departure

After the gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience, head drive back to Entebbe airport to catch up with your homebound flight.

How Much Is The Cost Of Gorilla And Chimpanzee Habituation Experience In Uganda?

The cost of the gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience safari starts with the cost of the permits. At the moment, the cost of the gorilla habituation safari permits is $ 1500 for international nonresidents, $1000 for foreign residents, $1000 for other Africans and 750000shs for East Africans.

The cost of chimpanzee habituation experience permit includes $300 for international nonresidents, $250 for foreign residents and 250,000 shs for East Africans.

We cost our gorilla and chimpanzee habituation tours according to Luxury, mid-range and budget package. Some Items included in cost of gorilla and chimpanzee safari package include number of people travelling with, number of days, additional activities, accommodation, transport and other safari expenses.

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When Is The Best Time To Book A Gorilla And Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Safari In Uganda?

The dry season is most preferred for the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking adventure. The forest is full of life and less precipitation is within the forest. The trails are more passable as more sunrays penetrate through to the ground.

The dry season is normally June, July, August, September, December, January and February. Generally there is less rain received in these forests although Bwindi forest is known for untimely rains. For the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, they are more active in the dry season and feed closer to the ground. There is generally lesser food supply in the dry season so they have to get down to search for more sources.

Even other forest dwellers are active in the dry season like blue monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys and others. A plethora of birds live in Kibale and Bwindi forest and you may get to spot some of them especially in the dry season.

Note that the dry season is peak tourism season in Uganda so high competition for both gorilla and chimpanzee permits is expected. It is best to book these permits in advance like 6 months to a year up front.

The wet season which is March, April , May and November attracts less tourists but gorilla habituation and chimpanzee habituation safari still go on. Expect showers during the search or when with mountain gorillas during this season. Ensure you carry some rainproof gears in order not to get wet and cold as you walk through the jungle. Wear waterproof safari boots to help you get passed the boggy surfaces.

What is the age limit for gorilla and chimpanzee habituation Experience in Uganda?

Gorilla habituation experience age limit is 12 years and over while chimpanzee habituation experience age limit is 12 year and over. The nature of these adventures allows you to walk in the jungle which is quite rough and gets soggy especially during the severe rainy seasons which may not be comfortable for a child below these ages.

The chimpanzees and mountain gorillas may try to tease these visitors which children below this age may not be in position to withstand. Being with the mountain gorilla and chimpanzees requires some patience which children below 12 years may not be in position to with hold.

How safe is gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience?

Gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience is safe as there are ranger guides on ground to protect the mountain gorillas, chimpanzees plus there habitants. These also protect the visitors in there company so they carry some emergency protective gears like a rifle, machete and often use radio call to communicate to on ground security.

Tourists must attend briefing before the gorilla and chimpanzee habituation adventure to go through the dos and don’ts of this adventure. Abiding by the rules of this Uganda safari adventure helps you complete the entire experience.

Tourists are urged never to walk into the forest without an escorting ranger guide.

Within Kibale and Bwindi forests are other security agencies who coordinate with Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers to keep law and order in and out of these primate habitants.

Are mountain Gorillas or chimpanzees Dangerous?

In nature, mountain gorillas are serene creatures whose life depend on the supplies of the forest. Chimpanzees are also first habituated to be in the presence of humans so they are opened to the public when they are not wild.

Before heading for gorilla or chimpanzee habituation experience, you must attend briefing so that you can go through all the necessary guidelines of the habituation experience. You must not stare into the eyes of the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees as this makes you look suspicious before them.

Keep a distance of about 7 meters while with the chimpanzees or mountain gorillas so that you can prevent spreading any infection to them or them to you. Sometimes the infants of these primates are curious so may reach out to touch you but they are wild animals that you must not touch.

Although the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees have a scaring outlook, they are calm and most of the times when agitated they walk into hiding. Try to follow the rules of gorilla and chimpanzee habituation to prevent causing friction between you and these primates. The mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are very keen with intruders in there vicinity.

What can I Pack for Gorilla and chimpanzee Habituation Experience?

A camera to take photos and keep memories of this once in a lifetime adventure with the mountain gorillas.

Safari foldable hat with a large brim to protect your head from buzzing insects in the jungle.

Safari convertible trousers and log sleeved shirt in wilderness friendly colors like tan and Khaki to use while in the jungle. Camouflage is not accepted in Uganda as this is related to military wear.

Warmers as it gets so cold in the morning and late afternoons so you need to keep warm.

Foldable waterproof bottle to carry with water in order to quench thirst

Waterproof backpack on wilderness friendly colors that you are not afraid to get dirty.

Safari waterproof boot to use when walking through the jungle which is quite slippery and soggy from the decomposing matter.

Garden gloves to hold a tighter grip on to the vines while walking along the trails

A pair of binocular to capture a better vision of the far ranging features in the jungle.

Rain coat in case it falls as these tropical rain forest may receive rains the entire day

Hard cash to use as a means of exchange when purchasing on ground items like souvenirs as credit cards are not easy to use in Africa because of the lengthy process of obtaining money from them.

First aid kit with medication for emergency treatment.

Insect repellant to apply and keep away insects that may hurt you while in the jungle.

Sunglasses to protect your eyes from insects that buzz in the jungle.

Fully charged batteries to exchange with in case one run low.

Energy treats to munch on as breakfast is taken too early to last the entire time you are in the jungle.

An adopter and charger in case you need to recharge your gargets.

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