Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the only place in the World where you can get an up close experience with man’s closest relative – mountain gorillas undergo habituation.

Be among the few people enjoying this once in a lifetime adventure by joining our 3 days Bwindi Gorilla Habituation conducted within Rushaga that is situated in the South of Bwindi. Unlike the usual gorilla trekking adventure where tourists have only one hour with the habituated gorilla family, the Gorilla Habituation Experience offers an elaborate time (4 hours) with a gorilla family still undergoing the Habituation (training) process. 

This 3 days gorilla habituation experience starts in Kampala/Entebbe or Kigali (Rwanda) depending on your flight schedules.

Highlights of your 3 days gorilla habituated experience

• 4 hours with a gorilla family undergoing habituation.
• Road trip with a comfortable 4WD Vehicle.
• Two nights’ stay in the best wilderness safari lodge.
• Service of a professional tour guide.
• Chance to discover the hidden beauty of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Brief itinerary of 3 days Bwindi Gorilla Habituation Safari

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 2: Gorilla Habituation Experience

Day 3: Departure

Detailed Itinerary of 3 days Bwindi Gorilla Habituation Safari

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport (Rwanda) or Entebbe International Airport (Uganda), meet your driver/guide who will brief you about the 3 days Gorilla Habituation  experience before embarking on a trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in South-western Uganda.

Travel time from Entebbe to this Park is between 8 and 9 hours thus a full day of driving and exploring Uganda’s incredible countryside with several stopovers. Break the journey at the Uganda Equator for 30 minutes of photography and snacking as well as have a lunch break in Mbarara Town (4 hours away from Entebbe). One thing for sure is that it is a long drive but the interesting thing is that it offers you beautiful sceneries along the way.

For tourists opting to start the trip from Kigali, it takes about 4 hours to drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Katuna or Cyanika border in Kabale and Kisoro Towns respectively. It won’t be a straight drive to the Park but will incorporate a tour of Kigali city and later connect to Bwindi later.

Overnight stay:

• Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge or Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge.
• Midrange: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge.
• Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Camp.

Travel time: 8-9 hours.

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner.

Day 2: Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Forest

Wake up to a cup of pure Ugandan coffee grown on the fertile hills of Kapchorwa, get your backpack, packed lunch, water and gorilla permit for a transfer to Rushaga sector headquarters for a briefing on the activity. In a group of 4 tourists plus Park rangers, porters as well as Researchers start the 1-3 hours trek for the gorilla family and while you’re at it, look out for other residents of the Park especially other primates, birds and reptiles.

Let the guidelines issued during briefing apply when watching the wild gorillas undergoing habituation and feel free to take photos or record videos of them playing, being trained, named and once your time is up, you will be directed to a comfortable spot in the Park to enjoy your Lunch. Return to the lodge to freshen-up and rest but if time allows or you still feel energetic visit the nearby Batwa communities to learn about their ancient forest life.  These pygmies inhabited the forest and surprisingly lived harmoniously with wild animals for years before Bwindi Forest was gazetted into a National Park.

Overnight stay:

• Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge or Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge.
• Midrange: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge.
• Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Camp.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

 Day 3: Departure

Have a leisurely breakfast and check-out of the Lodge for a 8-9 hours’ drive to Entebbe International Airport or 4 hours’ drive to Kigali International Airport for your return flight.

End of the 3 days Gorilla Habituation tour

This 3 days gorilla habituation package includes

• Accommodation and meals
• Bottled drinking water
• Ground transportation with a 4X4 vehicle.
• Services of a full-time English speaking guide
• Gorilla Habituation permit
• Border crossing (for tourists starting the trip from Kigali).
• Airport transfers.
• Driver allowances.
• Relevant Government taxes.
• Fuel charges.

This 3 days gorilla habituation experience

• Personal insurance.
• International airfares
• Alcoholic beverages and cigarettes.
• Visa and visa fees
• Driver guide/ranger/porters tip.
• Accommodation in Entebbe/Kampala or Kigali.
• Telephone fees.
• Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary