Gorilla trekking is an activity where visitors get a chance to meet mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and have an eye to eye encounter with primates. Before a gorilla family is opened to visitors for trekking there is a process where the primates are studied and as well developed to relate to human mankind once you’re on your encounter with them in the forest, this process was termed as gorilla habituation process and it takes between 2-3 years for a gorilla family to be fully habituated and finally get opened for visitors. Gorilla habituation is currently done in Uganda in Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park where two gorilla families that is Bikyingi and Bushaho which are undergoing habituation process, you can enjoy short and cost efficient safari to the gorillas that are undergoing Habituation in the country through gorilla habituation from Kigali.

How to get to Rushaga sector for habituation experience

Visitors fly into Kigali and then drive 4 hours crossing through Katuna or Cyanika border to Uganda through Kabale connecting to Rushaga sector south of Bwindi forest national park

Process for Gorilla habituation

Four visitors are allowed to visit each family every day along with a team of gorilla doctors, conservationists. The gorilla habituation team must visit gorilla families undergoing habituation each day with or without visitors.

Cost of Gorilla Habituation

At a stated fee of $1500 you get to experience gorilla habituation from Kigali, this is the same normal amount that is charged to visitors who spend one hour with gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. On your gorilla encounter in Rushaga you will be entitled to spend four hours with the gorillas once you spot them where they will have relocated on the trekking date. Therefore book for your gorilla trekking permit in time approximately 3-4 months before to get a chance to experience this once in a life time experience. Send us your trekking dates, month and year, names so that we can help you arrange and process your permit, you will be sent scanned copies upon payment as proof and security for your dates when you’re going for the experience.

Reason for undertaking gorilla habituation from Kigali.

On a short vacation you can easily land in Kigali and transfer to Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable National Park for your gorilla experience than a taking long drive on road from Kampala/Entebbe where you need approximately 8-9 hours’ drive to get to Bwindi impenetrable National Park.

Gorilla habituation from Kigali gives you a favorable touch of double trekking where you can be able to undertake gorilla trekking in the hills of Volcanoes National Park and  as well cross to Uganda and enjoy gorilla habituation process which is not practiced in Rwanda and as well take a visit to renowned places of both Uganda and Rwanda.

Gorilla habituation experience is conducted all year round from January to December. However, the most amazing time for gorilla habituation experience is done in the dry season of June, July, August and mid-September, December to February. During this season, there is less rainfall and the trail tends to be less slippery making the gorilla habituation easier. Travelers are advised to keep calm, in their groups and at a distance of 7 meters way from mountain gorillas. This is to prevent the spread of human-wildlife communicable diseases, which are deadly to gorillas. The hiking time to see gorillas may be short or long depending on the location of a gorilla family and the speed of their movements.

Note: include a variety of items on your pack list in order not to be inconveniences by Afro-Montane terrains characterized with mist and rainy moments at any given time/Season on your trek. Endeavor to carry items like hiking boots to ease movements in the slippery muddy forest grounds, gardening gloves, rain jackets for the unpredictable forest weather, sunglasses and hats to protect from direct sun, long-sleeved trousers and shirts, Binoculars, Cameras and maintain some level of physical fitness before you travel to enable you on your hike in search for the Gentle Ape.

Book with us your gorilla safari from Kigali and our travel consultants will be ready to offer you accurate and timely arrangement for your desired adventure to Uganda and Rwanda.