Gorilla Habituation Experience

Introduced in Uganda in 2014 by Uganda Wildlife Authority, gorilla habituation experience gives tourists a chance to spend 4 hours in company of a semi-habituated mountain gorilla family in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Uganda is home to approximately half of the world’s endangered mountain gorilla population, making it the best gorilla trekking destination in Africa. Gorilla trekking is one of the most incredible wildlife experience in Africa, and in Uganda visitors have two options of encounters with gorillas that is standard gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience. Standard gorilla trekking give you the chance to spend up to one hour in the company of a habituated gorilla family whilst gorilla habituation experience, gives you a chance to spend 4 hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family.

There are few experiences as powerful and moving as witnessing wild mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Unlike gorilla trekking which is available in Rwanda’s Volcanic National Park, Uganda’s Bwindi National  park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Virunga National Park in DR.Congo. Gorilla Habituation Experience is only available in Rushaga Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

What is Gorilla Habituation Experience?

Gorilla Habituation Experience refers to a slow and gentle introduction of a wild gorilla family to presence of humans. Wild gorillas are habituated for study purposes by researchers, treat them for sickness and injuries, protect them from hunter and boast their conservation efforts through sustainable tourism.

Currently, there are two gorillas families in Rushaga Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park open for gorilla habituation experiences, that is Bukingyi and Bushaho.

For the gorillas to become accustomed to the presence of humans, each gorilla group has undergone a length habituation process between 3-5 years managed by a team of expert researchers, conservationists, trackers and rangers.

At the start of the habituation process, park rangers spend a short period of time with the gorillas each day, maintaining a specific distances at the limit of the gorillas’ comfort zone. Every few months they gradually increase the time and reduce the distance until they are certain that the gorillas are ready for tourists to visit them. While gorillas are not yet completely habituated, they are used to trackers and rangers, not to strangers or tourists. The Gorilla Habituation Experience will help to ensure that they will eventually become fully comfortable in the company of humans.

By participating in the Gorilla Habituation Experience you are directly supporting the crucial work in habituating gorillas and ensuring their survival. It is truly humbling to known that you will be one of the first humans to meet these gorillas.

The Gorilla Habituation Experience offers a more relaxed and enriching encounter with the mountain gorillas. You will feel less rushed and you will have plenty rushed and have plenty of time to fully absorb this incredible wildlife experience. During your time with the gorilla family, you can immerse yourself in their world as they continue to go about their daily lives, feeding and interacting with each other, under the watchful gaze of the mighty silverback.

History of Gorilla Habituation

Gorilla Habituation started in Rwanda after the discovery of mountain gorillas by Von Beringe, a German Colonia Army Captain and later other western scientists including George Schaller, Louis Leakey and Dian Fossey.

However, it was Dian Fossey who camped in the rainforests of Virunga Mountains, in Volcanoes National Park who pioneered making friends with the gorillas, eventually habituating them to human presence.

Before her work, mountain gorillas had a tainted reputation as violent beasts, and tales from hunters suggested that if any one got too close to them they would charge to kill. She out a stop to this belief and showed to the world these huge apes are in reality gentle giants, with individual personalities and interesting social lives, they are like us in so many ways.

Her early work of making gorillas her friends was very difficult. To get close to them, she has to imitate their behavior like feeding, munching on celery stalks, or scratching herself. Her ultimate patience later paid off. She gain the trust of the mountain gorillas and could observe them undisturbed, soon she started to identify which gorilla belonged to which gorilla family and learned the key role of a dominant silverback – male gorilla in each family. This method of gaining their trust is what is known as Gorilla Habituation. It was Dian Fossey’s great gift to the world that keeps giving.

Despite her great work, Dian Fossey did not universal popularity as she made many enemies amongst local Rwandans including poachers and those who wish to convert the gorillas’ habitat to farmland. Sadly, she was found murdered at her research station in 1985. She is buried on the slopes of Mount Karisimbi along with her gorilla friends including her favorite whom she called “Digit”.

In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, gorilla habituation was introduced in 1903 with the habituation of Mubare Gorilla Family just after the reserve was gazetted as a National Park in 1991.

Gorilla Habituation Experience Permit

To take part in a gorilla habituation experience on a Uganda safari, you need a gorilla habituation permit. This permit is a legal documents issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority allowing visitors above the age of 15 to engage in this experimental gorilla experience.

The cost of a Gorilla Habituation Permit as of 2024-2025 is as follows

Best Time for a Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi

The best time to go for a gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is during the dry and warm months of June, July, August, mid-September, December, January, and February.

During these dry months, there is less rainfall that is likely to interrupt your Gorilla Habituation Experience and also the trails in the forest are less slippery and muddy.

Where to stay During Your Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi

Since gorilla habituation experience is only carried out in Rushaga Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, visitors are advised to stay in accommodations near the sector’s headquarters. Rushaga Sector has a range of accommodation options, from luxury, midrange to budget. These include

• Clouds Mountains Gorilla Lodge
• Chameleon Hill Lodge
• Mutanda Lake Resort
• Mulehe Gorilla Safari Lodge
• Gorilla Valley Lodg
• Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge among others.

How many people are allowed to visit a Semi-Habituated Gorilla Family?

Unlike gorilla trekking, where a group of 8 people per group is allowed in a day to visit a gorilla family. Only 4 people are allowed to take part in gorilla habituation experience, this is because they spend a lot of time with a gorilla family which is not so comfortable with human presence. Also, gorillas do not need a lot of commotion from the people as they can charge negatively at their presence.

What to Pack for a Gorilla Habituation Experience

Your packing list for a gorilla habituation experience in Uganda should including the following items

• Comfortable hiking boots
• Gardening gloves
• Hat and sunscreen
• Rain Jacket
• Sweater/fleece
• Water bottle
• Insect repellent
• Camera
• Binoculars for bird watching