🦍GORILLA TREKKING SECTORS IN BWINDI – UGANDA SAFARI TOURS

Gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi National park are four (4) situated in the North, East, and South. Each sector is different from the others in terms of location, accessibility, altitude and the trekking experience.  Some travelers take the trouble to visit two or more sectors, hence getting an opportunity to explore the different features in every sector. In the four sectors, Bwindi impenetrable National Park Harbors about 600 mountain Gorillas.

These sectors include:

Buhoma gorilla trekking Sector

Buhoma sector is the most visited area or gorilla trekking sector in Bwindi compared to other sectors, Its located in the Northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, its closeness to Kihihi airstrip and kabala makes it easy for tourists to access Buhoma. Buhoma is also known for the lowest altitude, for the fear of heights, it’s their destination. The very first gorilla trekking safaris took place here, this was during 1992, the group of gorillas trekked is called Mubare.

How many Gorilla Groups are in Buhoma?

Buhoma has 3 gorilla trekking Groups, that is first of all Mubare Gorilla group, this gorilla family was named after Mubare Hills where these gorillas were first seen. The Mubare gorilla family had about 12 Gorillas at the time it was opened that is in 1992 and around 1996 the gorilla family members in the Mubare group had increased to 18 Gorilla family members, But around 2012, Mubare gorilla group was attacked by a foreign male which forced a silverback Ruhondozo to move out of the group and seek refuge, later on, it passed. The disturbance left the group with only 5 Gorillas, which have successfully made Mubare gorilla group and Buhoma sector worth visiting.

Secondly, Habinyanja gorilla group is also part of the gorilla groups that are trekked in Buhoma Gorilla sector, Habinyanja is located within Nyamishaba village. Habinyanja Group was first habituated in 1997, Habinyanja group derives its name from a rukiga word ‘Nyanja’ that means a place with water, this is because this group was first seen around the swamp ponds in Bwindi Impenetrable Forests. Some of the Habinyanja Gorilla Family group members are Rugyendi, Nyamuhango, Elsa, Hamusini, Hakato, Gacyaro, and Bangenyi.

At the time of habituation, the group had about 30 gorilla members that were headed by an old Silverback called Mugurusi(Meaning an old man), the silverback later passed on leaving the group to two silverbacks that are Rwasingazi and Mwirima. These two silverbacks kept the groups together for quite some time. Rwasingazi always loved adventuring and moving long distances while Mwirima loved staying around and moving short distances.

As time went on Rwasingazi moved and went with a group of Gorillas and later released his power to his sone ‘Makara.’ Makara is the incumbent group leader with 18 family members. This group moves daily in the forests and covers a wider area within Buhoma region.

Mwirima stayed and created another gorilla family called the Rushegura gorilla Group.

Thirdly, Rushengura Gorilla Family, Known as the R Group was habituated in 2000, It received its first tourists in 2002. The gorilla family seceded from Habinyanja gorilla group in Buhoma gorilla trekking sector. It was led by Mwirima who later died in 2005, Leaving the leadership to Kabukojo who currently leads 16 gorilla family members. Members in this group include Kyirinvi, Kibande, Buzinza, Nyamunwa, karungyi and many others.

Besides the Gorilla families in Buhoma, Buhoma also treats tourists to Bakiga and Batwa community visits and community Trails, hiking and forest walk other trails include River Ivi trail, Rushura trail. Buhoma is also the best area for bird watching and an habitant to the blue Turaco.

Rushaga Gorilla trekking Sector

Rushanga gorilla trekking Sector is found in the southern parts of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Rushanga sector is a popular sector connecting from Kigali through Cyanika border in Kisoro District. Gorilla trekking in Rushanga gives you a supplementary view of the Virunga Volcanoes and Lake Mbunyonyi which is the deepest crater lake in Uganda.

Rushanga is known for sheltering the highest number of Mountain Gorilla families. These mountain Gorilla families include; Nshongi, kahungye, Busingye, Mishaya, and Bweza Gorilla Group.

Nshongi Gorilla Family is the largest group ever habituated and was officially launched in September 2009. Its name was derived from River Nshongi, the river has a deep color similar to that of honey, and as honey in the local language is called Omushongi Gwoboki the river was named Nshongi. the river is close to where the first gorilla family was seen and habituated. This gorilla family is unique in that it has about 36 individuals and still growing, it’s great to know that this family has 3 silverbacks in the gorilla group and seven blackbacks.

Addedly, is Kahungye Gorilla Group, this Gorilla Family can be trekked in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Rushanga Gorilla sector. Kahungye was set and ready to be habituated and fit for Gorilla trekking in 2011. This group amazingly in no time split and a new gorilla family was created and called Busingye which means peace.

Kahungye derives its name from a hill that is in the vicinity of this gorilla family, this gorilla family had about 27 primates before the break up. The group is happily led by Silverback Gwigi. Which means ‘door’.

Subsequently, Busingye gorilla Group which is considered to be the newest family to break away from Kahungye and this was around 2011 when Kahungye opened up for trekking. This Gorilla Family can be trekked and habituated however the permits can only and only be bought from Ground that in Rushanga, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) will soon announce how many Gorillas are in this family.

Mishaya Group of gorillas is also another gorilla family in Rushanga southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.  Mishaya is a silverback gorilla that left Nshogi Gorilla Family with a few other females from other different gorilla families around making a total of 12 gorillas including infants. Mishaya is a fighter and he is known to start fights around. But usually when they are severely wounded Veterinarians go and make a check.

Bweza Gorilla Family, this is the last Gorilla Family in Rushanga that also broke away from Nshongi Family Group that was the biggest family in Rushanga Gorilla sector. This group is made up of 7 members and led by Silverback Kakono and another silverback. This gorilla family broke away from Nshongi Gorilla family in 2012. Lastly, Bweza Gorilla family group is known as the most fun gorilla group to trek.

Nkuringo Gorilla trekking Sector

Nkuringo Gorilla sector Found in Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park, Its one of the four gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi National Park. Nkuringo gorilla sector is next to Buhoma gorilla sector, Nkuringo is filled with beautiful sceneries, it’s a sector you don’t want to miss if you are a photographer. Nkuringo Gorilla sector, also has about 3 different gorilla families, some of which include;

Firstly, Nkuringo Gorilla Family, which is composed of 2 silverbacks and 12 individual primates and 2 infants, Nkuringo gorilla family was the first Gorilla group Family that was trekked in the entire southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in 1977. At first the group had 17 gorilla individuals but with time the group members started separating to the current size of 12 Members. Nkuringo Gorilla group also is the first group give birth or to record the birth of gorilla twins in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in December 2004. The group is known for scrounging outside the park, this led to the displacement of the people round the park. The Nkuringo Gorilla Group is headed by Rafiki who has kept the group intact.

Bikingi Gorilla Family, This gorilla family is exceptionally praised and Known for the exclusive gorilla Habituation Experience. The habituation of this group started in the early 2012, this group was discovered as a result of the follow up of the breakaway gorilla family that left the Mishaya Gorilla Family. This family group is composed of 15 individuals’ primates. But the gorilla group’s leadership isn’t yet confirmed.

Bushaho Gorilla Family

Still looking at the Follow up following the Nkuringo family break up, a search for the different lost gorillas was launched and a silverback named Bahati who had disappeared was found leading a gorilla family, the group was later habituated and named ‘Bushaho’. This family is still headed by Bahati and is found in the Nkuringo Gorilla trekking sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This family is made up of 8 members, gorilla primate individuals.

Ruhija Gorilla trekking Sector

Reminding you of the 4 sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Ruhija Sector is the last one of them. Its located in the eastern part of Bwindi impenetrable National park.

Ruhija sector has 3 gorilla families that can be trekked on a daily basis namely Bitukura, Oruzongo and Kyaguriro enabling UWA to issue about 16 permits daily for Ruhija Sector. Ruhija gorilla sector is known to be the coldest area in Bwindi, anyone who is willing to trek gorillas from Ruhija should park winter clothes.

Bitukura Gorilla Family

Now to be exact this is the actual area that is really cold with a minimum of 7­­⁰ – 20⁰c.  This group was habituated in July 2007 and opened to tourists in October 2008, the habituation process for this gorilla family was a bit fast because normally it takes about 2 years to habituate gorilla family group.

This group derives its name from River Bitukura where the group was first sighted. What amazes the most with this group is that it exists with 4 silverbacks that are indeed fierce and fight for there gorilla family’s pride.

Oruzongo Gorilla Family

The Oruzungo Gorilla Family found in Ruhija sector in Bwindi was habituated in 2009 and opened for trekkers in 2011. This Gorilla group derives its name from a plant which in the local language is known as Oruzugoto. The family is headed by silverback Bakwate which means a first learner and intelligent, The family was made up of 16 gorillas but of recent a new gorilla joined the family making it 17 family gorilla members in Oruzongo.

Kyanguriro Gorilla Family

This is the third gorilla family group found in Ruhija one of the gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi National Park, but it also split into two groups we shall very soon have two gorilla groups making them four. These increased the Gorilla permits from 24 to 32 per day. New information about these Gorilla families is still being developed we shall keep you in a loop. Uganda Wildlife Authority and its team has continued to monitor these groups. If the split becomes permanent then habituation will be launched and a new gorilla family group will be confirmed.