GORILLA TREKKING REGIONS IN BWINDI

GORILLA TREKKING REGIONS IN BWINDI.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park offers refuge to about 500 individuals which represent about half of the total population that is believed to be still thriving in the world. For life time experiences, only 19 habituated gorilla families are available for tourists to track every day in any of the four sectors; Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga.

Each group offers a different experience and if you have adequate time, you can visit more than one family while on a gorilla safari in Bwindi. Only 8 tourists are permitted to track one gorilla group per day. For magical encounters, visitors are allowed to spend only one hour with these endangered apes in the wild.

BWINDI GORILLA TREKKING REGIONS.

Rushaga.

Rushaga region of Bwindi is one of the four sectors that make up Bwindi impenetrable National Park. This sector is located in the Southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park between Rubanda and Kisoro district.

Rushaga region of Bwindi has five habituated groups, making it the largest number compared to other sectors which have four or less gorilla families hence availing Rushaga as one of the best regions in Bwindi for gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience. The Gorilla families in Rushaga include; Nshongi, Busingye, Kahungye, Bweza and Mishaya.

Buhoma.

This is the most famous region and recommended for travelers looking for a satisfying gorilla safari in Uganda. The region was the first gorilla trekking region to host the first group of trekkers in 1993. Since then, the sector has been the most famous for trekking mountain gorillas not only in Uganda, but the entire region. It is situated in the north of Bwindi national park with 4 habituated gorilla families that can be trekked by tourists daily. These include Mubare gorilla family, Habinyanja gorilla family, Rushegura gorilla family and Katwe family.

It’s always easy to connect from Queen Elizabeth national park to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and the park has a wide range of accommodation facilities from luxury, mid-range to budget and these have made Buhoma sector the best gorilla region in Bwindi impenetrable national park.

Ruhija.

This is also among the 4 gorilla regions in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, located on the eastern side of Bwindi near Kabale district. The park has 4 habituated gorilla families that are visited daily by tourists. These families include Oruzogo, Kyaguriro, Mukiza and Bitukura gorilla families. Ruhija is located between Buhoma and Kabale which makes it easy to be accessed from both sides of south and north. For one to trek gorillas in Rushija sector, they can stay in Buhoma, Ruhija, Lake Bunyonyi or even Kabale town and still make it to the starting point in the morning for trekking adventure.

Ruhija sector is the second most preferred region after Buhoma sector. The sector is used by tourists who don’t have enough time on their schedule and would love to find gorillas so fast in the forest. Mountain gorillas in Ruhija sector are found so fast because of the lowland terrain and less dense vegetation that characterize this region.

Nkuringo.

The home to Christmas and Nkuringo gorilla families in south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was officially opened for tourism in October 2004 when the Uganda Wildlife Authority begun to officially offer tracking permits for Nkuringo group. Just like other sectors, Nkuringo was reserved first for researchers, and no tourist was allowed to track in this sector before its official opening.

Click here to share this page

OTHER PAGES

MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK - MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK. Did you know that Murchison falls national park is the largest conservation area in Uganda? This is an amazing destination with a variety to see while on your safari to Uganda-the pearl of Africa. It covers an area of 3,840 square kilometres, divided into two parts by the Albert Nile where the boat cruise takes place. In 1926, it was gazetted as a game reserve and then turned into a national park in 1952. Murchison falls national park is home to over 76 mammal sp ....

QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK - QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK. The widest range of wildlife and savannah vegetation in Uganda is found in Queen Elizabeth National park characterized by a range of habitats - grassland savannah, lakes, forests and wetlands. Queen Elizabeth whose coordinates are; 00 12S, 30 00E (Latitude: 0.2000; Longitude: 30.0000) is situated in the Kamwenge, Kasese, Bushenyi and Rukungiri districts of western Uganda about 376Km from Kampala city. It covers total area of 1,978Km (744 square miles); 33%, 50% a ....

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK - BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK. Bwindi national park is one of the best conservation areas in the country located in southwestern region of Uganda. The park covers an area of 321 sq. km and it was first gazetted as a national park in 1991 and 1994 was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. This park is considered to be among the oldest national parks in this country, and also one of the two national parks that shelter mountain gorillas. Bwindi is on record to have half of the world&rsquo ....

KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK. 700km away from the city of Kampala-Uganda, bordering Sudan and Kenya in the semi-Arid region is Kidepo valley National park (the most isolated park in Uganda). Declared a park in the year 1962, with good population of game, inclusive of 77 mammal species plus 475 families of birds. A savannah landscape stretches past the designated area all the way from Apoka towards the distant Morungole mountain ranges. The waterlogged areas of Narus Valley a ....

MOUNT RWENZORI - MOUNTAIN RWENZORI. Popularly known as the mountains of the moon, Mt.Rwenzori is situated in western Uganda bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is characterized by equatorial snow peaks which mark the highest point in Uganda. In addition, the lower slopes are covered by moorland, bamboo, rich, moist montane forest, broad tree-heathers and colorful mosses draped across the mountainside engrossed with giant flowered lobelias that turn one’s day bright and memorable. A length of 1 ....

MOUNT GAHINGA - MOUNT. GAHINGA. Mt. Gahinga lies between Mt. Muhabura and Mt. Sabyinyo on the Uganda- Rwanda border. It is the smallest of all the Virunga volcanoes. The mountain traces its name from the Kinyarwanda / Kifumbira word “Gahinga” (a small pile of stones). It is believed that Mt. Gahinga has a swampy Caldera spanning up to 180m (591feet) width on its peak. It is also true that Mgahinga Gorilla National park derived its name from this volcano. The mountain has an elevation of ....

MOUNT SABYINYO - MOUNT. SABYINYO. A glance at the tooth-shaped mountain from a distance answers the question of origin of this name “Sabyinyo.” Mt. Sabyinyo, the oldest and extinct of the eight Virunga volcanoes traces its name from a Rwandese phrase “Iryinyo” (meaning a tooth). It stands at a 3669m elevation above sea level creating an intersection of Uganda, DRC and Rwanda. Its slopes are famous habitats for mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda. The rugged nature of Mt. Sabyinyo mak ....

CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN KIBALE FOREST - CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN KIBALE FOREST. Did you know that chimpanzee trekking can be done in Kyambura gorge, Budongo forest, Kalinzu forest reserve but Kibale forest presents the most incredible experience of all? Chimpanzee trekking is one of the activities that make any Uganda safari unique. Not only is it incredibly special to be able to combine both gorilla and chimp trek in one country but Kibale Forest is one of the best places not only in Uganda but in the world, to see chimpanzees. Kiba ....

MABAMBA WETLAND - MABAMBA WETLAND. Mabamba swamp is found in Uganda, a country well-known as birder’s paradise with over 1000 bird species and Mabamba bay swamp being one of the best destinations for birding. This lush wetland derives its name from the Luganda word ‘mamba’ which means lungfish. Mabamba wetland is situated at the Entebbe peninsula on the north-western shores of Lake Victoria, about 40km from Entebbe town. It is ranked among the ten best birding areas in Uganda with rare bird s ....

GORILLA FAMILIES IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE N/PARK - GORILLA FAMILIES IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE N PARK. Bwindi Impenetrable is one of the African national parks that harbour endangered mountain gorillas in their natural environment. It is on record that it shelters almost half of the world population of gorillas in 19 habituated gorilla families. Each family comprise a different number of individuals, ranging from 6 or even 4 to 23 and more. Trekking these mountain gorillas you need to book a gorilla permit in advance for early preparation. However ....

GORILLA FAMILIES IN MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK - GORILLA FAMILIES IN MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK. Mgahinga national park is the smallest national park in Uganda covering an area of 33.9sq.km but well known for homing the remaining endangered mountain gorillas and also, the golden monkeys. The park is open to all visitors both local and foreigners. It is located within the Virunga ranges neighbouring volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. All in the Virunga conservation area, which is a goo ....

LAKE BUNYONYI - LAKE BUNYONYI Lake Bunyonyi is one of the most romantic and adorable lakes in Uganda located in the south-western of the country. Bunyonyi which means small birds hence the origin of the name and this has made it a good birding site. The lake has over 29 islands that offer great scenery view, plus hundreds of terraced hills like those of Nepal. Lake Bunyonyi we see today was formed by volcanic eruptions that occurred 8000 million years ago that blocked what is now the River Kabaga creating eff ....

KAMPALA - KAMPALA CITY. Kampala is situated in the central part of Uganda-the pearl of Africa. It is the most heavily populated and largest commercial city in the country, located along the shores of Lake Victoria - the biggest fresh water lake in Africa. It occupies seven hills (old Kampala hill, Mengo hill, Kibuli hill, Rubaga hill, Namirembe hill, Nsambya hill and Nakasero hill) within five administrative divisions including Nakawa, Kampala central, Kawempe, Rubaga and Makindye divisions. It is also ....