Gorilla and Chimp habituation safari from Kigali. Organizing a gorilla or chimpanzee safari in Uganda can only commence with a gorilla and chimpanzee permit confirmed. If you wish to attend the gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience at the last minute, you must be able to make payments as soon as possible. We consider last-minute gorilla and chimpanzee habituation safari planning from 90 days to a day before this adventure.
If Kigali in Rwanda is your point of commencement to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kibale National Park, you must secure a visa if it’s part of your travel requirements into Uganda or Rwanda. Purchasing the East African visa is time-saving as it allows you entry into two East African countries, Rwanda and Uganda, which are members. You get to cross from Rwanda into Uganda via the Cyanika or Gatuna Border.
If you’re trying to find last-minute gorilla and chimpanzee habituation permit availability, using a tour operator will save you frustration, as the chances of finding them narrow as the time to book closes. At Anthill Safaris, we may assist you in the search for last-minute gorilla or chimpanzee permits because we can also check with other tour operators under the umbrella Association of Uganda Tour Operators ( AUTO). Under this association, members have access to gorilla or chimpanzee permits for resale. You may be lucky to get the gorilla and chimpanzee permits on resale in case they are sold out at the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
What is the Gorilla Habituation experience?
Gorilla habituation experience is an adventure where tourists follow a team of researchers and trackers to find semi-habituated mountain gorillas and spend four hours with them. In Uganda, gorilla habituation safaris are happening in the southern sector of Bwindi. Currently, only two families are open for the gorilla habituation experience.
What is the chimpanzee Habituation experience?
Chimpanzee habituation experience is an adventure where tourists escort a team of researchers and habituators in the wilderness to follow a community of semi-habituated chimpanzees and spend four hours with them. Kibale National Park and Budongo Forest are the homes for the chimpanzee habituation experience in Uganda so far. During this adventure, chimpanzees get familiar with humans without altering their nature.
How To Plan For Gorilla and Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Safari at the Last Minute?
Book Uganda Gorilla and chimpanzee Habituation Permits
You must first secure gorilla and chimpanzee permits to confirm this Uganda primate safari. You’ll need to find availability first, as the Uganda Wildlife Authority sells and regulates both gorilla and chimpanzee permits. In Uganda, they only attach gorilla habituation experience permits to the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Kibale National Park is the main chimpanzee habituation experience destination of Uganda.
During the peak season, that is June, July, August, September, December, and January, demand for the gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience permits is high and sells out fast because of their limited number of maximum four per troop or per family.
If you find last-minute gorilla or chimpanzee habituation permits, purchase them as soon as possible because they can sell out at any moment.
When booking these Uganda primate habituation permits, you must have the date for the adventure and the number of people you hope to travel with. This is to avoid moving back and forth to check for permit availability. Buy the gorilla and chimpanzee permits when you get availability per your confirmed dates.
Forward some personal details to add to your gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience card, from which this information is retrieved on the day of the adventure.
What Is The Cost of Uganda Gorilla and chimpanzee habituation Experience Permits?
At the moment, the cost of a gorilla habituation permit is $1500 per person for foreign nonresidents, $1000 for foreign residents, and 750000 shs for East African residents.
Currently, chimpanzee habituation experience costs $300 for foreign nonresidents, $250 for foreign residents, and 250000shs for East African residents.
What are the inclusions in the gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience permit?
The gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience permit covers researcher fees, ranger guide fees, park entrance fees, security, certificate after the gorilla safari, government tax, local community support, gorilla or chimpanzee conservation, and others.
What is excluded from the cost of gorilla and chimpanzee habituation permits?
The gorilla and chimpanzee habituation permit cost excludes transport, porter hire, snacks, and any other items of a personal nature.
Book accommodations to use during the gorilla and chimpanzee safari
Gorilla And Chimp Habituation Safari from Kigali. In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you can book accommodations for either the Nkuringo or Rushaga area. These areas lie in the southern part of the Bwindi forest. Accommodations in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are graded according to Luxury, mid-range, and budget.
Bwindi Accommodations: Clouds Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Safaris Lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers Camp
Secure accommodations in and out of the Kibale National Park area for the chimpanzee habituation experience.
Kibale accommodations: Kibale Safari Lodge, Primates Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge, Chimps Nest Camp, CVK
When booking accommodation to use during the gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience, you must consider the distance from the lodge to the park, especially for clients who have to attend the early morning session for chimpanzee habituation and gorilla habituation experience. The lodge must be quick to get to the briefing point.
Reserve transport to the gorilla and chimpanzee habituation destinations
You can reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kibale National Park by Road or air from Kigali in Rwanda.
By Road
You need to hire a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle that can withstand the rough road conditions in the countryside. Sometimes the roads are dusty, and other times very slippery, so you need a vehicle that can withstand all these conditions.
From Kigali, Rwanda, the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park may take 5 to 6 hours. You cross into Uganda from Rwanda via the Gatuna or Cyanika border to Kabale, then Kisoro and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive is scenic as you drive through winding roads shielded by several highlands.
At Anthill Safaris, we use professional and experienced driver guides familiar with the necessary routes from Rwanda into Uganda in order not to prolong the journey for our clients who may need a rest from jet lag and get ready for the gorilla and chimpanzee safari.
By air,
You can fly from Kigali airport to Entebbe airport, then catch up with the daily domestic flights from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kisoro airstrip or Kasese Airstrip.
Hire a transfer vehicle because there is a distance from Kisoro Airstrip to the southern sector of Bwindi, even from Kasese Airstrip to Kibale National Park.
Consider Additional Activities To Combine With Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari
Gorilla And Chimp Habituation Safari from Kigali. Apart from gorilla and chimpanzee habituation safari in Uganda, you can do other Uganda safari activities like golden monkey habituation experience in Mgahinga National Park, visit Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary in Lake Victoria, and other primate viewing in Bwindi and Kibale National Park.
Game safaris in Uganda are an interesting addition to your tour package, like game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park. You can attend white water rafting on Itanda Falls on the River Nile, visit the source of the River Nile, do bungee jumping on the River Nile, go kayaking, and others.
Can I buy last-minute Gorilla or chimpanzee Habituation permits in installments?
Uganda Wildlife Authority accepts installment gorilla and chimpanzee permit purchases if you secure your permit 90 days before safari day, and remember to top up 90 days to the habituation day. Last-minute gorilla and chimpanzee permit purchases may not be eligible for installment permit purchases.
When you fail to top up your gorilla and chimpanzee permit, you lose it and the prepaid money.
What Is The Best Time To Book last-minute Gorilla and Chimpanzee Habituation Permits?
Gorilla And Chimp Habituation Safari from Kigali. Although gorilla and chimpanzee habituation safaris are open all year, last-minute primate safaris are more convenient in the low season. The low Uganda tourism season is March, April, May, and November, chances of finding gorilla and chimpanzee permits are more open in this season when demand for them is lower.
At Anthill Safaris, we advise clients never to travel without securing a gorilla or chimpanzee permit because, no matter the season, finding these permits is not a guarantee. Sometimes,s even the low season may attract many tourists on a given day.
The competition for gorilla and chimpanzee habituation permits is higher in the peak season, which is June, July, August, September, December, and January, with a tight supply of gorilla permits. Most tourists buy their gorilla and chimpanzee permits at least 6 months to a year in advance, leaving a limited or no time for those who plan at the last minute. Finding gorilla and chimpanzee permit availability gets trickier at the last minute. This also trickles down to finding accommodation for your last-minute primate safari, as they sell out the best options in advance.
What are the rules of the Gorilla and chimpanzee Habituation experience Safari?
- Always keep your voice low when you are in the presence of mountain gorillas.
- Do not litter rubbish in the forests
- Ill tourists are not allowed to take part in the trek
- Always stay in the group
- Do not make unnecessary movements while in the presence of the mountain gorillas.
- Stay at a distance of 7-8 meters while in the presence of mountain gorillas.
- Do not smoke or drink in the presence of mountain gorillas
- While taking pictures, do not use cameras with a flashlight on, as it scares the gorillas
- Do not mimic the gestures of the gorillas, as you cannot tell what they mean
Contact us for more information and let us plan your safari today.
