Booking a gorilla habituation safari from the USA
Booking a gorilla habituation safari from the USA: It’s every person’s dream to meet endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. This is because they are said to be second closest relatives to human beings with more than 98% of their DNA. In the whole world mountain gorillas can be found in Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo. Among those countries, gorilla habituation is only possible in Uganda in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Tourists from the United States of Africa to do a gorilla habituation safari should know that this activity is currently possible in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi. This sector is found in the southern part of the park and one family is open for the activity. A maximum of 4 people can do this activity on a single day with valid gorilla habituation permits.
Booking a gorilla habituation safari from the USA
Tourists from the United States of America can book a gorilla habituation safari to see the semi-habituated mountain gorillas of Bwindi using a tour operator or by themselves. Using a local tour operator would be the best option for any traveler who wants to have a Bwindi gorilla habituation safari because it saves one from searching for different service providers some of which can be fraudsters.
Tourists from the USA when looking for a tour operator we advise you to get those that are licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board. Those are safe to deal with and are very professional at what they are doing. Africa Adventure Vacations is one of the local tour operators tourists from the USA need to contact when they intend to have a gorilla safari in Uganda.
Tourists need to just contact a local tour operator with the dates of travel, the number of people traveling, and the travel budget. Well-experienced tour consultants will design a for you an itinerary with how much a safari can cost you. If you are interested you can ask for the contract to be signed and pay then for your safari dates, travel to Uganda, and carry out habituation.
The gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi
Gorilla habituation in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is carried out in the Rushaga sector as of now. This is where all tourists for the day gather at the sector headquarters for a briefing from the rangers. These teach the rules and regulations of the activity for trekkers to know how to behave around the mountain gorillas.
A maximum of 4 people go for gorilla habituation in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi and these are escorted by a team of researchers, doctors, and armed ranger guides. Trekkers of the day are driven to the starting point of the trek where they are left to walk on foot through different trails and search for where the semi habituated gorilla family could be.
Searching and finding mountain gorillas in Bwindi might take 1 to 3 hours and when the members are spotted trekkers are given 4 hours to be with the mountain gorillas. Trekkers are allowed to be part of the activities that make these mountain gorillas get used to the human presence around them.
How to book a gorilla habituation safari from the USA?
The best way tourists can book a gorilla habituation safari to Bwindi from the USA is by using a local tour operator. Different tour operators are in Uganda to help tourists have successful safaris around the country. Tourists should be very careful about the tour operators they use because we recommend only those that are licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board.
Africa Adventure Vacations is one of the tour operators that can help tourists have a very successful gorilla habituation safari in Bwindi. Tourists from the USA can simply contact us with their travel budget, budget, and number of people who are interested in traveling. Our travel consultants will be quick to respond with how much a safari may cost you based on your interests.
Tourists that are intending to travel are advised to book with a licensed tour operator because it’s very safe and prevents one from dealing with fraudsters. It’s also advisable to book in advance when your favorite accommodation facilities are still available. For gorilla habituation permits it’s better when on books 6 months or even more before the safari when they are still available. The park currently has a maximum of 4 permits.
How much is a gorilla habituation permit in Bwindi?
Tourists from the USA need a gorilla habituation permit to see the semi-habituated mountain gorillas of Bwindi for a maximum of 4 hours. The permits are sold by the Uganda Wildlife Authority a government agency managing and protecting the park. Each gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for foreign residents, and UGX750,000 citizens of East African member states.
When is the best time to purchase the gorilla habituation permits?
Tourists intending to visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and take part in the activities that will get mountain gorillas used to the human presence around them need gorilla habituation permits. Bwindi has a maximum of 4 gorilla permits on a day which calls for advance booking. Tourists are advised to book these permits 6 months or even a year before the safari begins to avoid disappointments.
Accommodation facilities to use on a gorilla habituation safari in Bwindi
Apparently, gorilla habituation is only done in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Tourists looking for where to stay before and after habituation can use lodges of Rushaga and a few in Nkuringo that are close to the sector. These lodges include Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Lodge, Rushaga Valley Lodge, and Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge to mention but a few.
When is the most best time for a habituation safari
Tourists from the USA can visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for a habituation safari at any time of the year however we recommend the dry season which has the best weather. June to September and December to February are the best times to have habituation safaris in Bwindi because they have little rainfall and plenty of sunshine.
During the dry season months, trekkers find the trekking trails dry and passable, the vegetation is always short giving good views of the mountain gorillas and the roads leading to the park are in good condition. Tourists can still Bwindi during the rainy season if that is when they have time. March to May and October to November the park is still one.
Tourists who will visit Bwindi for gorilla trekking during the low season will find the trekking trails will find the trekking trails muddy and slippery due to heavy rains. The vegetation is tall with unclear views of some of the attractions in the forest and even though the area is green animals might not be well captured. Roads leading to the park are in a bad state especially when it rains heavily.
