Officially, Uganda has 18 gorilla families but its believed that Mgahinga National Park received a visitor from Rwanda in the names of Hirwa Gorilla group to make 19 gorilla groups today. All gorilla families have gone through the process of habituation to prepare them for trekking in Uganda. They are located in different sectors in 2 national parks in south western part of Uganda, which is Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park including one group which migrated from Rwanda to Mgahinga National park. Sectors in Bwindi impenetrable national park include;
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Ruhija sector is located in the Eastern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park with 3 gorilla families. The gorilla families include Bitukuru, Oruzogo and Kyaguliro and each family is only allowed to be visited by a maximum number of 8 visitors a day.
A gorilla trekking permit in Ruhija sector currently costs US$600 for foreign non-residents, US$ 500 for foreign residents and 250000 Uganda shillings for East African residents making it a total of 24 permits per day. A traveler is allowed to make a choice of any gorilla family he/ she wants to visit depending on the availability of permits. All permits are booked from Uganda wildlife Authority 3 months in advance.
On your visit to Ruhija sector, visit and support the community based projects run by the local people like basket weaving, crafts among others and also the tourists can take part in the activities so as to feel part of the community.
Ruhija sector is also best spot for bird watching which is home to almost 23 bird endemic species and recognized as an important bird area. Nature walks through the forest can also be an adventurous feeling that one cannot miss when you trek gorillas in Ruhija sector where you expect to meet many wild animals and sounds of birds singing.
Ruhija sector has also many accommodation facilities that cater for all categories of visitors include luxurious, midrange and budget accommodations. The most commonly known lodges are Gorilla mist camp, Bakiga lodge, Trekkers Tavern lodge, Agandi lodge among others which assures travelers with comfortable lodging services.
Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Rushaga sector is located in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable National Park home to over 400 mountain gorillas in south western Uganda. Rushaga sector can be accessed by road means via Masaka- Mbarara- Kabale to Rushaga from Kampala/Entebbe airport and can also be accessed by air transport means using Aero link Uganda Ltd to Kisoro airstrip .
Rushaga sector is well known for gorilla trekking, has 6 gorilla families that have been habituated for the trekking process which include Nshongi, mishaya, kahungye, Busingye, Bweza and Bikingi and each gorilla family is headed by a silver back. Only 8 members are allowed to visit each gorilla family making it 48 permits per day, it is mostly visited by visitors arriving from Rwanda through Cyanika border in Kisoro district.
Rushaga sector is one of the most popular sectors for gorilla trekking because it is strategically located with closer views of the virungas in DR.Congo, mount Gahinga and Muhabura on Uganda’s side.
Rushaga sector also offers chances for visitors who are interested in the habituation process where gorillas are trained to get familiar to human beings before they are declared free for trekking. There is still 1 gorilla family in Rushaga sector which is the Bushaho family which allows travelers to have more 4 hours in the presence of the gorillas compared to 1 hour for gorilla trekking, and 4 people are allowed to habituate compared to 8 people in trekking. A gorilla Habituation permit currently cost $1500.
Apart from gorilla trekking, Rushaga sector offers other tour experiences to the travelers like Batwa community tour, Lake Mutanda exploration among others.
Rushaga sector has a variety of accommodations depending on traveller’s budgets that can be enjoyed by the travellers. Some of the lodges in Rushaga sector include Chameleon Hill lodge, Gorilla safari lodge, Lake Mutanda resort, Rushaga gorilla Havens lodge, Rushaga gorilla camp, Ichumbi gorilla lodge, Bwindi valley lodge
Nkuringo sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Nkuringo sector is situated in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable National Park known for gorilla trekking with 2 gorilla families that have been habituated to prepare them for the trekking process. The commonly known Nkuringo family which has existed since 2009 headed by Bahati the silver back which separated its self from Nshongi family of Rushaga and the recently habituated family Christmas.
Apart from gorilla trekking, Nkuringo sector is also good for nature walks which are normally done early morning and evening as you enjoy the calm environment and also meet more wild animals like baboons, monkeys among others.
Bird watching is also another activity that you cannot miss on trekking gorillas in Nkuringo as you hear the beautiful melodies of singing birds.
Travelers can visit the Batwa and Bakiga communities and learn more about their traditional life styles and cultures, their traditional dances, songs and poems welcoming visitors to the community.
From Entebbe Airport, Nkuringo sector can be accessed via Kabale-Kisoro to Nkuringo 8-9 hours by road transport means or you can use air transport means 2 hours to Kisoro district.
Nkuringo sector has excellent accommodation facilities depending on the budget and interests of the travellers include Clouds mountain lodge,Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla campsite with excellent staff with good customer care.
Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Buhoma sector is located in the northern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park in Kanungu district and is one of the most visited sectors because it was the first region to be visited by a group of travelers and is home to the oldest gorilla family called Mubare
Regarding access, Buhoma is easily accessible, 2 hours from Kabale via kanungu and 4 hours from Ishasha sector which makes it easy for game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park. From Kampala Buhoma can be accessed from Masaka-Mbarara-Ntungamo–Rukungiri- Buhoma route and can also be accessed by air transport from Entebbe Airport to Kihihi airstrip and drive few kilometers to the park.
Buhoma sector is home to 3 gorilla families including Mubare, Habinyanja and Rushegura and each a different history. Mubare is the oldest gorilla family and was habituated in 1992 with 9 members, Habinyanja was habituated in 1997 with 17 members and Rushegura habituated in 2000 with 19 members. Having three gorilla family makes it 24 permits per day in Buhoma sector since only 8 visitors are allowed to visit each family.
Besides gorilla trekking in Buhoma sector, travelers can go on community tour to the Batwa and Bakiga communities and learn about their traditional backgrounds and also engage in their cultural dances which make the travelers feel at home.
Buhoma sector also provides chances for bird watching in the forests of Bwindi impenetrable forests and enjoy the melodies of the singing birds.
Buhoma sector has a variety of luxury, mid-range and budget accommodations which all serve quality services depending on the travelers’ budget and interests. Lodges in Buhoma include Mahogany spring lodge, Buhoma lodge, Bwindi forest lodge, Bwindi guest house, Bwindi view Bandas, Bwindi volcano lodge among others. All these lodge have short cuts to the starting point of gorilla trekking in Buhoma which makes it easy and memorable.