Combining the Big Five safari with a gorilla habituation is one of the fantastic ideas for an adventure experience on a Uganda safari. This creates a perfect balance of the safari experience.
Uganda is a perfect destination that combines a Big Five safari with gorilla habituation, and it is one of the few countries in the world that offers this.
The Big Five refers to the iconic African wildlife, which includes lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants, and rhinos. These wildlife gained this name not only due to their size, but also because they were historically the most challenging and dangerous wildlife to hunt on foot.
Where to see the big five wildlife in a combined safari of the big five and gorilla habituation?
On considering where to see the big five animals on a Uganda safari, there are several destinations around Uganda where you can see the big five, and some of these include?
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a private sanctuary established in 2005 to reintroduce white rhinos to Uganda. Rhinos in Uganda had gone extinct due to human-wildlife conflicts. It is an en route destination on the route to the Murchison Falls National Park.
Encountering one of the big five during a safari to Uganda, rhinos are only encountered in this sanctuary and not anywhere else in Uganda on a safari.
Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Queen elizabeth National Park is situated in western Uganda at the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the country’s second-largest national park.
In this park, there are some of the big five wildlife that include lions, leopards, buffalo, and elephants. These wildlife are situated in all sectors of the park that include the kasenyi and Ishasha sectors.
To encounter the Big Five wildlife is through a game drive, nature walks, lion tracking, boat cruise, and many other activities.
Murchison Falls National Park.
It is one of the largest National parks in Uganda, located in northwestern Uganda. It is named after the World’s strongest falls, the Murchison Falls, which are part of the Nile River.
In the Murchison Falls National Park, the big five wildlife encountered include the lions, leopards, buffalo, and elephants.
Lake Mburo National Park.
Lake Mburo National Park is the smallest savannah park in western Uganda and the nearest park to Kampala. This park is also home to several big five wildlife such as leopards and buffalo.
Encountering some of the big five in Lake Mburo National Park is through a game drive, night game drive, nature walks, and many other activities.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the remote national parks that is situated within the Karamoja region in the north-eastern Uganda. It is near the border of Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan.
It is made of two regions, that is, the Narus and Kidepo valleys. Some of the big five wildlife around the Kidepo Valley National Park include lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalo.
Where to engage in the gorilla habituation during a combined safari of the big five with the gorilla habituation?
In engaging in the gorilla habituation, this activity is only done in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In this park, it is done in the Rushaga sector in the southern part of the park.
Gorilla habituation is the process by which gorillas are trained to get used to the human presence. This process takes about 2 years to train the gorillas.
In Uganda, travelers can engage in the gorilla habituation, which offers a more experienced gorilla encounter on a Uganda safari. Gorilla habituation is a 4-hour experience, and it is worth it since travelers spend more time with the gorillas.
In engaging in the gorilla habituation, a group of 4 people is allowed to visit each gorilla family. To encounter these gorillas, you are supposed to have acquired a gorilla habituation permit.
The gorilla habituation permit is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to reliable and licensed tour operators. For travelers willing to acquire the gorilla habituation permit, they are supposed to use the licensed tour operators.
These permits are supposed to be booked in time to ensure availability during the safari. The cost of the gorilla habituation permit is 1500 USD for foreign non-residents, 800 USD for foreign residents, and 750000UGX for the East African residents.
What to expect on a gorilla habituation safari in Uganda?
Gorilla habituation experience is one of the most exclusive and immersive experiences of the gorilla encounters in Uganda. It usually takes up to 4 hours of the day with the gorillas in the form of habituating them.
Gorilla habituation starts as early as 0600 hours of the day with a group of researchers, trackers, and guides. It is also more physically demanding than the regular tracking since the gorilla families are exclusively situated away from each other.
Gorilla habituation permits are limited to 4 people per day compared to the gorilla trekking permit.