Overview.
With 3 days Uganda gorilla habituation experience from Kigali in Bwindi Impenetrable national park, you have a lifetime opportunity to spend more time with the rare mountain gorillas than when you are on normal gorilla trekking. It is a perfect safari package for travelers who would like to have a deep understanding about mountain gorillas while in the wild. This is completely different from the usual gorilla trekking.
On a guided gorilla habituation experience, you will be visiting the semi habituated gorilla groups/wild mountain gorillas that are still undergoing habituation process.
Gorilla habituation is a process of training wild mountain gorillas to get familiar to human presence before they are opened for actual gorilla trekking. Gorilla habituation is done only in Uganda and specifically, you will be visiting Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This primate adventures allows you to have a deep understanding on the daily behaviors of mountain gorillas, their lifestyles, taking pictures, and a lot more.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Kigali to Rushaga sector, Bwindi National Park
Set off from Kigali capital for gorilla habituation experience trip in Rushaga sector, the Southern region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will meet one of our company representatives who will brief you about the entire gorilla habituation experience.
Drive from Kigali through Chanika border, connect to Kisoro, about 4-5 hours’ drive while enjoying view of the countryside rolling hills. When you get to Rushaga, check in at the lodge for lunch and relaxation, dinner and overnight stay. If you didn’t have a city tour in Kigali, you will enjoy an afternoon Batwa cultural experience.
Visit the Batwa community located near the park, get to learn more about the Batwa and their cultures, traditions, lifestyles, enjoy great dances and music performances. The Batwa lived in Bwindi Forest as hunters and gatherers, for thousands of years.
Day 2: Gorilla Habituation experience in Bwindi national park
Enjoy a full day mountain gorilla habituation experience: Wake up early enough, have a sumptuous breakfast. Thereafter, join the rest of the guests for briefing about the guidelines for gorilla habituation. Briefing and allocation of park guides will be done at Rushaga sector, a region with over 6 gorilla families including Kutu, Bwenge, Rwigi, Mucunguzi, Busingye, Kahungye, Bikingi and others.
Here, you will be visiting a family that is still under gorilla habituation with researchers, trackers and other scientists. During habituation, you can be part of the team that collects samples, takes record of daily behaviors of mountain gorillas, naming them, with a chance to take photos during the 4 hours of magical encounter. Later, walk back to the park offices to meet your driver guide to transfer you to your respective comfortable places of stay for relaxation, share stories of your day adventure, dine and night stay.
Note, gorilla habituation is a long day adventure and to enjoy it to the fullest, you must consider packing right gear. The essentials you must have include waterproof walking or hiking boots, enough bottled mineral water, sunscreen, long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, safari hat, high energy giving snacks, rain jacket or poncho, an insect repellent, pair of socks, day pack and consider carrying waterproof, gardening gloves, and many more. A walking stick is essential, but you will find it at the park offices or request for one while still at the lodge.
Day 3: Return journey to Kigali
Rise up early for breakfast. Exit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for Kigali and you will be driving via Chanika border. Reach early and undertake a short Kigali city tour inclusive of visiting Kigali Genocide Memorial Site, local markets like Kimironko market, craft shops, presidential museum and others.
