Gorilla Safaris in Uganda is done throught the year and there is two best place to visit is the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is located in the Western part of Uganda located in the Eastern part of the African Continent; it’s characterized with its strong and thick impenetrable forest where these shy endangered Mountain Gorillas live. This Park is near Mgahinga National park and reaching it from Kampala it’s about 8-9 hours of driving on Masaka – Mbarara high way with a stopover at the Equator for some brief explanations, photographs and snacks.
The Great Bwindi Impenetrable National Park hosts most part of Uganda’s Gorilla population situated in the four sectors. Mountain Gorillas are herbivorous ground dwelling apes which usually feed on leaves, stem and some fruits, they are tailless and use tree branches and leaves as their shelter through constructing their simple huts composed of these tree leaves & branches. These apes usually they live in a group which is called a troop and led by a Silver back which is responsible for looking after and protecting its members in the troop.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Gorilla trekking involves visiting the shy endangered mountain gorillas in the jungle and when it comes to Bwindi these apes are found in the thick impenetrable forest. The permit for trekking Mountain Gorillas in Uganda costs $700 USD paid per person per day and this permit is legal to be used by only one person on a specific date, money paid for this permit part is used for the life conservation of these apes through supporting the conservation organizations like Gorilla Doctors, some portion of the money is for labour like salaries for the park rangers plus conservation of the park itself for future generation. Usually, a group of eight people is allowed to go for the trekking per gorilla family.
Before heading to the jungle for your gorilla trekking safari activity early in the morning you are first briefed about the Dos and Don’ts while in the presence of these apes, some of the Don’ts to be fulfilled are listed below: –
- If you have any signs of infectious diseases you are not allowed to go for the trekking.
- Always keep your voice at low tone while in the Jungle.
- Do not eat in the presence of these apes as you may force them to attack you in need of your eatables.
- Do not run after these apes
- Always keep a distance from these apes.
- You are not allowed to touch on these apes without permission.
- Do not use flush cameras when taking photos as you may scare them.
After the briefing you will be assigned a park ranger to lead you through the Jungle and after discovering these apes you are allowed to stay in their presence only for one hour while sharing with them, taking photos and more. After that head back to the park offices for gorilla trekking certificate award and this is a great experience to archive.
Gorilla Families in the four sectors
In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park gorilla families are grouped or located in four sectors named Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija and Rushaga sector.
- Buhoma Sector. In this sector we have these families which are listed below
- Mubare Gorilla Family
This is the oldest habituated gorilla family in Uganda and was opened for tourism in 1993 and was fully habituated in 1998. Its location is in Buhoma side of the Park and particularly in Mubare Hills. The group has a family size of 5 gorillas and 1 silverback. Originally there were 12 family members and when the leader, the silverback Ruhondeza died it left only 5 family members. In 2013 four other gorillas have joined the Mubare gorilla family and there are now nine family members as members of other groups have become part of the Mubare group recently.
- Rushegura Gorilla Family
This is one of the larger groups (16) in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and in the Buhoma area of the park. It is found in Buhoma and was opened for tourism in 2002. It was brought together after one of the silver backs from the Habinyanja group decided to break away. It has a family size of 20 members with 1 Silver back but initially group started with 12 individuals including 5 females. Sometimes the group is also referred to as “Habinyanja 2 group” and after the break up; it quickly received a new name, which derives from “Ebishegura” which is a tree species that was abundant in the home area of the new family. This is one of the calmest families and it’s not usually far from Buhoma Village. At times, the group members are seen wondering through the gardens of the lodges in Buhoma.
- Habinyanja Gorilla Family
It was one of the earlier habituated groups in the Buhoma area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and over the years has had thousands of visitors from around the world that have spent an hour with them in the ancient forest. The name comes from a local word “Nyanja” which means ‘body of water’. It refers to the swamp in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest where the group was first sighted.
- Nkuringo Sector which has only one Gorilla family
- Nkuringo Gorilla Family
Nkuringo is a local word meaning “round hill” It’s a word from the Rukiga language, referring to the hill where the group was first sighted Nkuringo group was launched in 2004 after the 2-year habituation process. One of the reasons for their habituation was their continued ventured into the local communities’ gardens feeding on bananas, sweet potatoes and other crops. Tracking the Nkuringo Gorilla Group takes a bit more energy and stamina. This is probably the toughest trek in Uganda. Nkuringo Family is a large group in the southern, scenic area of Nkuringo and not to be forgotten experience. The major reason for their habituation was the problems they created for the local communities by destroying crops and other products.
- Rushaga Sector. This has the more Gorilla families for trekking in Bwindi.
- Nshongi Gorilla Family
It was the largest group ever habituated with about 36 gorilla members and was officially introduced in September 2009. It was named after the river Nshongi, where the gorilla family was first found. It is located in Nshongi/Rushaga sector of the Park. It was named after the river Nshongi, close to the place where the gorilla family was first seen. Although most gorilla families usually consist of 25 members with one or two silver backs, this family was a rare exemption. Another remarkable fact is that the group is led by Nshongi, who is not even the oldest silverback in the family.
- Mishaya Gorilla Family
It was formed by a Silver back named Mishaya which left the Nshongi group with 9 others in July 2010 to establish its own Mishaya Group. It is one of the latest Gorilla groups to be opened for Tourism. In July 2010, Silver back Mishaya decided to leave the Nshongi Gorilla Group with some females and started his own family. He is a typical fighter and was able to gather more females from other non-habituated groups in the area, reaching a total group size of 12 gorillas, including three infants. Mishaya is the only adult in the group and is known for being a fighter who often starts interactions with other gorilla families.
- Kahungye Gorilla Family
To access this Gorilla group, clients will set off from the main Headquarters in Rushaga on foot or take a 30min drive to the trailhead. Mishaya was also able to gather more females from other groups in the area, getting to a total group size of 12 gorillas with one Silver back and three infants. The group was opened for tourism in 2011 and is one of the newest groups in the Park found in the Rushaga sector close to the Nshongi and Mishaya gorilla groups. The size of this group is 13 members with 3 silver backs which are the only ones named. The dominant silverback is called Rumansi followed by the other two old male gorillas named Rwigi and Ruhamuka.
- Bweza Gorilla Family
It is one of Nshongi Group that used to be the largest ever habituated in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. However, due to the July 2010 Silver back Mishaya decision to leave the group and start his own family, he left with reasonable number of them including the Silver back Bweza. Towards the end of 2012, Bweza chose to be independent; he walked away with about 6 other members from the Mishaya Gorilla Group. The group is 7 members strong and there are two infants. This group broke away from the Nshongi Family group because of too many feuds within the group at the end of 2013. Now in 2013 they can be tracked in the Rushaga area of the park. This is exciting news as the summer months approach which normally mean a scarcity of permits.
- Busingye Gorilla Family
This is a splinter group from the Kahungye Gorilla Group – an event that happened in August of 2012. At the last check the groups consisted of 9 members and among them were three infants and what is called a sub-adult – gorilla teen. It was Silver back Busingye who decided to split and create his own family. Busingye is a local language word for ‘peace’ which is quite surprising since this ambitious Silver back is known for his legendary fights with other gorilla groups.
- Ruhija Sector. These are some of the Gorilla families we have in this sector as listed below: –
- Bitukura Gorilla Family
It was named after a river where the family members were first sighted. The habituation that started in July 2007 was a relatively easy process as the gorillas were already frequently encountered by the UWA rangers. The Bitukura Gorilla group family learns quickly. Normally it takes two years of habituation training but this group was ready for visitors in 15 months. There are 14 members and a newborn arrived recently on the scene. Bitukura is a peaceful family including 4 silver backs and some playful juveniles.
They share a close bond and often have “group meetings” or get – togethers. This Gorilla group is found in Ruhija sector of Bwindi National Park and its name was derived from a river where it was first sighted. Its habituation began in July 2007 and it only took UWA 15 months rather than the normal 2 years to open it for tourism simply because it was frequently encountered by the UWA rangers and hence its habituation process was relatively easy.
- Oruzogo Gorilla Family
This is one of the recent gorilla families opened for visitor access in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This family is situated between Ruhija areas and is led by a dominant Silver back “Tibirikwata”. It’s the latest habituated gorilla family and was opened for tourism on 20th June 2011. Family size of this group consists of 23 gorilla members with 2 silver backs namely Bakwate and Busungu who could be around 35 years of age. The Oruzogo group has become popular with tourists not just because of the size of the group, but because the playful energy exhibited by the juveniles and toddlers in the group that keep visitors entertained to say the least.
- Kyaguriro Gorilla Family
Kyaguriro is located at Ruhija Area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Kyaguriro is another habituated Gorilla Group that is not visited by tourists and has been reserved for research and other studies. Keeping in contact with this group, helps conservationists to learn more about the mountain gorillas of Bwindi, including some remarkable differences with the mountain gorillas that live in the Virunga Volcanoes.
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