- CONTACT US
- info@oruganosafaris.com
- +256-701-230-309
Getting the chance to be close to gorillas and chimpanzees in their natural habitat is one of the top reasons people travel to Uganda and Africa at large.
With less than 1,500 mountain gorillas left in the world, seeing them up close—just a few meters away—is not only exciting but also helps us understand why protecting them is so important. Now, there’s an even better way to experience these amazing animals: the Gorilla and Chimpanzee Habituation Experiences.
Instead of a short visit, you spend more time with them as they get used to having people around. It’s a special chance to learn more, see more, and help make a difference in their future.
Gorillas are among the most intelligent primates on Earth.
They use tools, can communicate through sign language, and even laugh and grieve—just like humans. Sharing 98% of our DNA, these gentle apes form strong family bonds, with the dominant silverback (an older male) protecting a family that can include up to 30 individuals.
Because of their endangered status and their close connection to us, gorillas are closely monitored by conservationists and researchers. However, for effective study and protection, gorillas must first become accustomed to human presence. This is achieved through a gradual process called gorilla habituation.
In simple terms, gorilla habituation is a slow and careful process of getting a wild gorilla family used to seeing and being around people.
This helps ensure both human safety and gorilla welfare. Only fully habituated gorilla families can be visited by gorilla trekking groups—unhabituated groups are left undisturbed. The habituation process is carried out by a dedicated team of conservationists, researchers, trackers, and park rangers. It typically takes two to three years of daily interaction to gently earn the gorillas’ trust.
Curious about what the Gorilla Habituation Experience entails?
Uganda offers a rare and remarkable opportunity for travelers to not only observe but also take part in the habituation process by tracking a semi-habituated gorilla group—a phase in which the gorillas are familiar with regular trackers but still adjusting to the presence of strangers.
During habituation, a team of trackers visits the same wild gorilla group every day over a span of about three years, gradually building trust and increasing the amount of time spent near them.
By the semi-habituated stage, the gorillas tolerate known faces, and the Gorilla Habituation Experience helps them become more accustomed to new ones—like yours.
Unlike traditional gorilla trekking, where trackers have already located the gorillas and guide you straight to them, this four-hour experience begins at the point where the group was last seen the previous evening.
You’ll walk alongside the trackers through thick forest, learning how to read subtle signs such as knuckle prints in the mud, snapped and bent vegetation, and leftover food—clues that help locate the gorillas’ new nest site.
Gorillas build fresh nests every night and move on in search of food, leaving behind valuable samples of hair and dung, which the team collects to monitor health and population trends. The real adventure begins once the gorillas are found.
The aim of habituation is to follow the family while staying within their line of sight, eventually reaching that magical 7-meter cut-off point. But don’t expect them to sit still.
Unlike fully habituated families that often lounge and feed during your one-hour visit, these semi-habituated gorillas are constantly on the move—darting through dense rainforest, climbing steep, muddy slopes, and disappearing into thick foliage.
It’s a physically demanding pursuit, more jungle boot camp than casual walk, and definitely not for the unfit or fainthearted.
Though all gorillas are wild, some are wilder than others, and these semi-habituated individuals carry an air of unpredictability.
A silverback may charge, but such displays are almost always a warning rather than an attack. Trackers will prepare you in advance: stay calm, crouch down, and avoid eye contact. Of course, that’s easier said than done.
When the gorillas pause, so do you—mirroring their behavior to put them at ease.
You might crouch when they do, pretend to nibble on grass, and even communicate in gorilla language—a range of vocalizations with specific meanings.
To have a gorilla respond to your deep, throaty rumble—a sound that signifies contentment—is nothing short of spine-tingling. It’s not just a wildlife encounter; it’s a moment of profound connection.
Gorilla habituation is currently only offered in Uganda, specifically in the Rushaga region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Unlike traditional trekking (which is available in both Uganda and Rwanda), this is a more intimate and exclusive experience. Only four participants per day are allowed to join a habituation group, alongside the trackers and researchers.
The best time to go is during the dry seasons: mid-December to March and June to October, when the forest trails are less muddy and more accessible.
As of June 2025, a permit for the Gorilla Habituation Experience costs $1,500 USD per person. With only four permits issued per day for each gorilla family under habituation, booking well in advance is essential.
The permit covers park entry, professional guides and trackers, 24-hour security, and a contribution toward ongoing gorilla conservation efforts—including research, veterinary care, community development, and national park operations.
Participants must be at least 15 years old to take part. For comparison, a standard gorilla trekking permit costs $800 USD for foreign non-residents in Uganda and $1,500 USD in Rwanda.
Much like the Gorilla Habituation program, the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience operates on a similar concept, offering visitors a rare opportunity to observe wild chimpanzees as they gradually become accustomed to human presence.
Uganda is home to approximately 5,000 wild chimpanzees, with an estimated 1,500 individuals residing in Kibale National Park— one of the only two places in Uganda where the habituation of chimpanzees takes place.
Located in the Kabarole District, Kibale National Park is a lush and biodiverse rainforest that serves as the ideal setting for this immersive experience. A typical chimpanzee habituation excursion begins early in the morning, between 6:00 AM and 6:30 AM, when the forest is just beginning to stir.
Like the gorilla experience, the chimpanzee habituation activity is highly exclusive, with only four participants allowed per group, including researchers and guides.
The day begins by trekking to the area where the chimpanzees built their nests the night before. With a bit of luck, you might catch them just waking up.
Throughout the day, you’ll witness a wide range of natural behaviors such as feeding, patrolling, mating, grooming, hunting, resting, and constructing new nests. This extended observation time allows for a deeper understanding of chimpanzee social dynamics and daily routines.
But chimpanzees are just the beginning. Kibale National Park is a primate paradise, boasting 12 different primate species, including the Red Colobus Monkey, Red-tailed monkey, Black-and-White Colobus Monkey, Blue Monkey, and L’Hoest’s Monkey, among others.
Beyond primates, the park is also home to over 375 species of birds, including rare and endemic species like the Ground Thrush, Western Tinkerbird, African Grey Parrot, and Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo. And yes—elephants can occasionally be spotted roaming the forest paths!
For those seeking a more intensive and rewarding primate encounter, the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience is well worth the investment. While the standard Chimpanzee Trekking permit costs $250 USD per person, the Chimpanzee Habituation permit is priced at $300 USD per person.
This slightly higher fee grants you extended time in the forest and a much deeper interaction with the chimpanzees, alongside researchers and conservationists working on the frontlines of primate protection.
Looking to add these exclusive experiences to your travel plans for 2025/2026? If you would like to make this experience yours then contact us today, our primate safari expert team are ready to create your bespoke journey. Check out our safari itineraries here.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Nkuringo Sector- Uganda
+256-701-230-309
info@oruganosafaris.com
