Exclusive 3 Days Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi

3 Days Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park allows you to encounter wild mountain gorillas that are in the process of getting used to human presence. You will spend up to 4 magical hours with them in their natural habitat, contrasting with the regular gorilla tracking, where you’ll spend only one hour with them.

The habituation process in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park takes a period of 2-5 years after which the gorillas are made available for daily treks. The experience is safe for both humans and the gorillas.

On this extraordinary 3 Days Gorilla Habituation Experience safari, you will follow a group of experts, researchers, scientists, and experienced trackers into the wild to find a family of semi-habituated gorillas in the Rushaga Sector. You will observe their gentle nature yet powerful existence.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to over half of the world’s total gorilla population and it is the only place where the gorilla habituation experience is conducted.

Brief 3 Days Gorilla Habituation Experience Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 2: Gorilla habituation experience in Rushaga
Day 3: Back to Entebbe

Detailed 3 Days Gorilla Habituation Experience Itinerary

Day 1:

Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Assuming you already arrived, enjoy a quick breakfast before embarking on a scenic road trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda. The 10-hour journey takes you through breathtaking landscapes, rolling hills, terraced farmlands, banana plantations, and offers a glimpse of typical Ugandan rural life.

Eventually, the majestic chain of the Virunga volcanoes and the tropical rainforest of Bwindi come into view, marking your arrival. You will proceed to Rushaga sector in the south and check in at Gorilla Safari Lodge, an up-market facility situated on the edge of Bwindi Forest near the largest habituated troop of gorillas in the world. Relax and enjoy breathtaking views and the cool of the forest marked by birdsongs.

Accommodation: Gorilla Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 2:

Gorilla Habituation Experience

After a hefty breakfast, you will be transferred to the park headquarters to join other trekkers for registration and briefing. Besides carrying your packed lunch and enough drinking water, you should prepare yourself for muddy, humid, and perhaps challenging conditions.

Hiking through the dense rainforest is possible for all reasonably fit and healthy travelers. You will embark on this incredible excursion with a group of researchers and expert guides. During the trek, you will encounter several birds, animals, and other primates.

Once you have found a semi-habituated gorilla family, you will spend a maximum of four hours with them. The time is enough to observe them closely and take as many photos as you like. After this awe-inspiring moment, you will return to your lodge for dinner and a restful night.

Day 3:

Back to Kampala/Entebbe

After a leisurely breakfast, you will pack up and travel back to Kampala on a scenic drive through the beautiful countryside. You will take short breaks for lunch in Mbarara and at the equator for photographs and witnessing a water experiment before being dropped off at your hotel or airport for your departure.

End of the 3 Days Gorilla Habituation Experience Safari

Guide Price

Low Season from USD 3,400 pp.

High Season from USD 3,800 pp.

Single room supplement may apply
Please treat all pricing as a guide only: all rates are subject to availability and may change without notice.
Request a quote or chat with our African safari specialist for the best, most current rate available.

Includes
Excludes

All transfers during your itinerary in a 4WD truck
Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
Fees & permits (a gorilla habituation permit @ USD 1,500 per person)
Bottled drinking water
English speaking guide/driver
All activities in the travel plan except optional ones
24/7 assistance and support during your trip

Visa & Travel insurance
Emergency medical bills
Trip cancellation insurance
International flights
Airport taxes
Dinner and accommodation before and after the trip
All meals and drinks not specified
Tips and gratuities
Items of a personal nature

Important Notes

The 3 Days Gorilla Habituation Experience safari is limited to a maximum of four travelers, and a 30% deposit is required on confirmation.
Travelers with special needs may be required to pay an extra fee for trekking facilitation.
The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years.
Porters are available for hire at a cost of about $20. The porters can be found during the briefing or at the starting point of the trek. Some of these porters are former poachers who have now been given a chance to earn a living by helping tourists trek gorillas.
This 3 Days Gorilla Habituation Experience safari is tailor-made and can be customized to your own style of travel. You can set your own dates (subject to availability) and choose your accommodation facilities with our guidance. The lodges selected here are what we think will suit this kind of trip and are where we have the best rates for you.
Due to the uncertainty of travel, you can postpone your trip up to 12 months (considering accommodation availability) and have a minimum of 30 days to cancel.

Gorilla Habituation Safari Tips

Gorilla tracking is an amazing activity, but for the best experience, you will need:

Waterproof hiking shoes or closed shoes
Rain poncho or coat during the rainy season
Camera with an additional battery and charger. No flash photography, lest you frighten the gorillas into being defensive.
Hand gloves
Sun hat
Sunscreen
Insect repellent