Gorilla Habituation in Uganda from Kigali, Rwanda

Did you know that gorilla habituation can only be done in Uganda, not just in Africa, but in the whole world? Uganda is one of three countries where tourists can see the remaining endangered mountain gorillas.

The other two are Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These countries share the Virunga Mountains at their borders, where mountain gorillas live. The Virunga region offers a safe home for gorillas because of its altitude and climate.

According to the 2018 gorilla population census by the Dian Fossey team and partners, there are about 1,063 mountain gorillas left in the world. About 50% of them live in Bwindi National Park in Uganda, with around 500 gorillas in the forest. This is the only park where tourists can take part in the gorilla habituation experience.

Bwindi National Park is located in southwestern Uganda and has 20 habituated gorilla families that tourists can visit daily. The park has four sectors: Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Buhoma. Out of these, only Nkuringo and Rushaga have gorilla families set aside for the habituation experience.

Gorilla habituation means training gorillas to get used to the presence of humans. Mountain gorillas are shy and will often hide if they see people or unfamiliar creatures. During habituation, only four visitors are allowed to spend four hours with one gorilla family each day, along with trackers and researchers.

Visitors get to watch the gorillas as they play, search for food, feed, groom their young, and go about their daily lives. The silverback, the leader of the family, can also be seen carrying out its duties, including mating and leading the group. Gorilla habituation in Uganda is a unique experience worth adding to your Africa safari.

Uganda Gorilla Habituation from Kigali

Kigali is the capital city of Rwanda, and the closest sector of Bwindi National Park from Kigali is the Nkuringo sector. Many tourists coming from Kigali choose to do the gorilla habituation experience in Nkuringo or Rushaga because the distance is shorter than from Entebbe International Airport in Uganda.

Tourists can enjoy gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and then cross into Uganda for the habituation experience, all in a short safari of about four days. Since habituation permits are limited to just four people per day, it is best to book your permit at least six months to one year in advance.

You will need to spend a night in Nkuringo or Rushaga since the habituation activity starts early at 7:00 am, unlike gorilla trekking, which starts at 8:00 am. Both Nkuringo and Rushaga have many accommodation options, including budget, mid-range, and luxury lodges, guest houses, and homestays.

These sectors can only be accessed by road from Kigali through the Cyanika or Katuna border in southwestern Uganda. Flying is not an option, but the roads are well paved, making the drive comfortable and faster.

Anyone aged 15 years and above can take a gorilla habituation safari from Kigali, depending on their budget. We are ready to offer you a full package for a gorilla habituation experience in Uganda, starting from Kigali.

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