THE FOUR GORILLA TREKKING SECTORS IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
The family chief Sliver back Pausing for the coverage
Bwindi Impenetrable national park is a fabulous tourist destination every traveler around the world would wish to stretch. The park is situated in the southwestern Uganda looming DR Congo boarder, it can be titled the hub of world’s Mountain Gorilla having almost half of the world’s population of above 1000 giant apes. Bwindi Impenetrable is a more haunting African destination with steep ranges covered with profuse and treacherous forests that are sealed with mist cover and magnificence roaring sounds of fauna.
The UNESCO world heritage site seated on an altitude of 1160m to 2607m above sea level inhabiting about 120 mammals species and over 350 different bird species and insects. On a nature walk for lucky visitors may sight the 11 primate species L’Hoest monkey and silver back monkeys, duikers, bush bucks, forest elephants, African golden cats and the giant forest hogs and different mammal species.
Adventurous travelers can access Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Kigali 4 hours’ drive Kigali international airport Rwanda or can be more adventurous scenic road trip from Kampala about 8/9 hours’ drive. Enter the forest through the four parks entrances including Buhoma the park headquarter from north, Ruhija from the northeast Rushaga from the southeastern direction and Nkuringo entry from southwestern direction.
When in the forest with an armed tracker guide chances of sighting Mountain Gorillas are higher to 99% unless otherwise. The moment is next after briefing about trekking etiquette according to your trekking sector indicated on your permit and the adventure is contingent on the experience and fitness of visitors.
It’s advisable to have your overnight in the sector to trek gorillas from for purpose of time management as trekking starts at 7:30am with grouping and briefing about the etiquette of trekking activity for the safety of giant in their jungle and your safety against the giants. However, you can have your overnight in one sector and trek gorillas from another sector for example you can sleep at Ruhija and trek gorillas from buhoma or either way and the same to Rushaga and NKuringo, but this calls for an early morning preparations to drive to another sector before 7:30am.
Gorilla sectors in Bwindi and habituated gorilla families found of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park together with list of accommodation that can used if opt for a gorilla tour in Bwindi National Park.
Buhoma Gorilla trekking sector.
Buhoma is the park headquarter situated in the northern direction of the park. The sector can easily be accessed from Kabale and kihiki airstrip, here is where Gorilla tours in Uganda was initiated, and currently the sector has four habituated gorilla families for trekking including; Mubare led by a silver back Kanyunyi was the first habituated gorilla family in Bwindi and Uganda. Habinyanja family led by a silver back Makara and Rushagura family led by a silver back Kabukojo and the most recent habituated Katwe gorilla family. Buhoma gorilla sector every day presents 32 trekking permits to trek the four gorilla families at the sector
Accommodation include;
Luxury; Bwindi lodge, Buhoma lodge, Mahogany springs luxury lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla forest camp.
Mid-range; Volcano Bwindi lodge, Silver back Bwindi lodge, Lake Kitandara Bwindi Camp
Budget accommodation; Buhoma Community rest camp, Bwindi view Bandas, Gorilla conservation camp.
Ruhija gorilla trekking sector
Ruhija sector is located in the eastern direction and can be easily accessed from Kabale seated on altitude of 2,350 meters above sea level. Ruhija habitats three gorilla families including Kyaguriro gorilla family lead by a silver back Rukara, family considered to be the most entertaining to jumpy juveniles, Bitukura family was the first family to be habituated in Ruhija sector by 2007 and Oruzogo family lead by Bwakata the dominant silver back. Ruhija rewards with strenuous and adventurous hiking through Rwamunyonyi peak.
Accommodation at Ruhija; accommodation here ranges from luxury to budget including,
Luxury; Ruhija Gorilla safari lodge, Engagi lodge,
Mid-range; Gorilla resort, Bakiga lodge
Budget accommodation; include Ruhija gorilla friends resort and Ruhija community rest camp.
Rushaga gorilla family
The Rushaga setor is situated in the southeast of Bwindi park can be accessed from via Kisoro if used Kigali or via Kabale from Kampala. the sector has six fully habituated gorilla families ready for trekking, offering the higher opportunities of 48 gorilla permits daily. While here for lucky trekkers can sight forest elephants, gorilla families here include Nshongi family lead by Bweza silver back, Mishaya family led by Mishaya the dominant silver back, Kahungye gorilla family, the Busingye gorilla family and Bikingi family. Here tourist can decide to do the more adventurous four hours encounters with gorillas for the habituation process at USD $1500 per permit, inquire first to confirm if with the park administration to confirm if you can trek gorillas under habituation process.
Rushaga accommodation facilities include;
Luxury; Gorilla safari lodge, and Ichumba Gorilla lodge,
Mid-range; Rushaga Gorilla camp, Gorilla valley lodge, Bwindi jungle lodge
Budget; Nshongi camp, Nshongi Gorilla resort.
Nkuringo gorilla sector
The sector is located in the southwestern of Bwindi raised on the higher altitude and trekking through the sector one should be physically fit, the sector looks to be more adventurous and challenging with difficulty in trekking, but it can be recommended for the best gorilla trekking adventure experience among other sectors. The sector currently has three gorilla families including Nkuringo gorilla family this was the first habituated gorilla group in the sector led by the silver back Rafiki, this family is considered to be the more challenging to trek as you have to hike through very thick terrain for a summit with gorillas. Bushoho gorilla family habituated in 2012 led by silver back Bahati and the recently introduced Christmas gorilla family led by Christmas who is believed was born on Christmas. The sector rewards with a spectacular view of the Virunga conservation areas of Mgahinga Rwanda and Congo.
Nkuringo accommodations;
Luxury and mid-range accommodation; Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla lodge, Chameleon Hill lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge,
Budget accommodation; Bwindi backpacker’s .
The park has accommodation for luxurious, mid-range and budget travelers to meet their expectations and their dreams coming true while trekking the human closest relatives.
Bwindi National Park is the most rewarding park in the world with over half of mountain Gorillas and has over 120 gorilla permits for gorilla trekkers daily.
Besides Gorilla trekking adventure, the forest is the best alternative for nature walks especially to most adventurous tourist which rewards with sighting of several bird species, mammals, and insects. Cultural encounter with the local forest pygmies the Batwa people visiting their daily local activities like mushroom growing, bee keeping and the local dances and other demonstrations.
