Bwindi Gorilla Habituation Experience — Full Day with Gorillas

About This Tour

The Gorilla Habituation Experience (GHEX) is the most extraordinary gorilla encounter available anywhere. Unlike a standard gorilla trekking permit that gives you one regulated hour with a fully habituated family, the GHEX permit allows you to spend a full day (typically 6–8 hours) with a gorilla family that is still being habituated to human presence. You'll be with the research team and Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers as they work — watching gorillas that are curious about but not yet fully accustomed to human observers. The family may approach you, study you, move away and return. You'll see behaviours — building nests, foraging, resting, playing — across multiple hours rather than moments. Only four visitors are permitted per day. The GHEX is only available in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi. This 5-day itinerary is designed around this once-in-a-lifetime permit, combined with a standard gorilla trek for comparison, giving you two completely different gorilla encounters on the same trip.

Tour Highlights

• Full-day Gorilla Habituation Experience (GHEX) — 6–8 hours with a semi-habituated family
• Maximum 4 visitors per day — the most exclusive wildlife permit in Africa
• Standard gorilla trekking permit included — compare fully and semi-habituated families
• Rushaga sector of Bwindi — most gorilla families of any sector (7+)
• Research team and behaviour observation
• Batwa cultural heritage experience
• Night walk in the ancient forest