What you need to know about Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park.
Bwindi Forest National Park is unquestionably the most popular gorilla trekking destination globally and Uganda’s most popular national park when it comes to Mountain Gorillas. Gorilla trekking is the most popular safari activity in Uganda and is the primary reason why millions of tourists visit the country, the rare mountain gorillas are the main attraction making the park the most popular and sought–after destination for any tourist to Uganda.
Bwindi Forest National Park is a vast park of high-altitude forested mountains, known for its thick vegetation, thick mists, streams and dew, endangered mountain gorillas, and loud colourful birds.
Bwindi Forest National Park was established as a national park in 1991, the park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated because of its biological richness and significance. The park has 160 species of trees which is the highest diversity of tree species in East Africa, more than 100 species of ferns, over 347 species of forest birds, and more than 200 species of butterflies.
Size of Bwindi Forest National Park
Bwindi Forest National Park covers an area of 321 square kilometers, the park was created through the merging of three former protected areas that is the Impenetrable Central Forest Reserve, the Mgahinga Gorilla Reserve, and the Rwenzori Mountains Reserve.
The Majestic Mountain Gorillas
Mountain gorillas are endangered primate species that can only be found and seen in only three countries in the world which are Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda. Well as these magnificent primates can be found in three countries they can only be seen in 4 respective National Parks in does different countries where in Rwanda and Congo they are in the Virunga Mountains which are made up of volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Parks in the Democratic Republic of Congo,the other two National Parks are Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park which has half of the population of these amazing Mountain Gorillas. We can definitely say Uganda has the biggest percentage of these surviving endangered species in the world.for those who might not be informed Mountain gorillas share 98% of the DNA with humans, this makes them our closest living relatives, and spending time with them is very rewarding and amazing. On the gorilla trekking experience, visitors are able to see how these primates socialize within themselves ,how they communicate shockingly like Humans and also how they survive in there families.
Gorilla Families and sectors where they are found in Bwindi Forest National Park
Mountain gorillas also have families they belong to known as Gorilla Families with each family led by a male gorilla. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has four gorilla trekking sectors that are Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga. Each of these gorilla trekking sectors hosts its own habituated gorilla families.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to about 18 habituated gorilla families which are open for gorilla trekking expeditions all seasons.
Starting off with Buhoma Sector Gorilla Group which is found in the northern region of Bwindi Forest National Park Buhoma has 5 habituated gorilla groups this sector is very special and the most visited sectors among others,this sector has the oldest gorilla group in the park which is Mubare with 9 members as the first Gorilla family to be trekked by tourists and one of the newest gorilla group which is Katwe Gorilla Family with 8 members which makes it unique and pulls visitors to go for this sector and not the others, The other members in Buhoma are Mayambi with 6 members, Rushegura with 18 members which have the big number in Buhoma sector and lastly Habinyanza with 14 beautiful Members.
Heading on to the next sector which is Nkuringo Sector Gorilla Groups which has 3 habituated Gorilla groups available for gorilla trekking including Nkuringo with 13 members, Bushaho with 8 members, Christmas with 9 members, and lastly Bikingi with 15 members which are still under habituation.
Next is the Rushaga Sector Gorilla Groups which lies in the southern region of Bwindi, to most of the gorilla families in Bwindi every family or Group has over seven gorilla members some of the groups in the Rushaga sector we can talk of Nshongi with 9 members, Mishaya has 12 members, Kahungye with 17 members, Busingye with 9 members, Bweza with 12 members and lastly Mucunguzi with12 members of Mountain Gorillas.
Last but not the least is Ruhija Sector Gorilla Group located in the eastern part of Bwindi Forest National Park at an elevation of 2350 above sea level, the sector is home to three gorilla families namely Bitukura with 13 members, Oruzogo with 17 members, Kyaguriri with 20 members. and these are how these mountain Gorillas are differentiated through their groups or Families and sectors they inhabit in as mentioned above. Visitors are able to choose which sector to trek in depending on their preferences. However, only a group of 8 people is allowed to visit one gorilla family each day, because of the variety of habituated gorilla families in Bwindi, no visitor has even gone on a gorilla safari in Bwindi and missed a glimpse of the gorillas.
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park
Gorilla trekking is the most famous and wanted activity in Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park to most tourists to the Park, the fascinating activity is carried on in groups of 8 visitors per gorilla family each day.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi starts early in the morning with reporting to the park headquarters for briefing about the rules and regulations in the Park and at the site of the gorillas, visitors are allocated to their guides who will guide them through their trekking. After that, Visitors are allowed to start off the trekking journey through deep bush to begin the activity. Trekking gorillas is an unexpected adventure since the activity can take anywhere from 1 to 8 hours depending on where these gentle apes spent their last night. You are only permitted to be in their presence for one hour after finding them, they will be eating, socializing, and moving around. visitors are free to take as take pictures and videos of these beautiful Primates but when there is no lighting of the cameras beause that’s forbidden.
wondering when Bwindi can be best visited? worry less because the Park is open to receive visitors all year around however to People interested in Mountain Gorilla Trekking it is advised to go during the dry season when there is less rain. During the rainy season, you may be stopped by strong rains and the routes in the jungle are muddy and slippery making hiking difficult but regardless trekking in Bwindi is possible all the time.
What is required to meet Gorillas?
To meet mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest National Park, a gorilla permit is required. A gorilla permit is a password for trekking gorillas and no one is permitted to hike without a gorilla permit, in Uganda gorilla permit cost USD 800 per person and it can only be acquired through an authorized local tour operator or by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) which is the only institution in charge to provide all Gorilla Permits.
Mountain Gorillas offers an amazing experience and Achieves Global safari tour operates are your trusted team that offers the best packages helps tourists book gorilla trekking permits without any stress and organizes the most rewarding trips.
