Gorilla Trekking Sectors in Bwindi Forest
Gorilla Trekking Sectors in Bwindi Forest are the different partitions of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in which you can find different gorilla groups. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is marked with four famous gorilla trekking sectors where a number of travelers do carry out their gorilla trekking expedition from on Uganda gorilla safari and such sectors include Buhoma in the north side of the park, Ruhija sector in Eastern side of the park, Rushanga sector to the southern part and Nkuringo to the southern side of the park. However, Bwindi Impenetrable national park is positioned in the south western region of Uganda estimating 500 kilometers from Kampala the main city to the reach the destination and travelers from Kigali traveling to Bwindi is just a short drive as you connect to Kyanika border to Bwindi last only 2 to 3 driving hours and this could be the best driving location to travelers from Kigali ‘’Rwanda’ ’Below are the detailed list of Bwindi gorilla sector as follows;
Buhoma Sector for Gorilla Trekking
The Buhoma sector is the pioneer of the gorilla trekking sector in Bwindi national park and is the major trekking sector in Bwindi because it was the first marked area to be open up for tourism in Bwindi and above of all, harbors with numbers of mountain gorillas which are all ready to trek. This sector is located in the northern part of Bwindi national park. Too many tourists prefer most to trek in Buhoma sector since they read the blog that is the best stunning and interesting sector for one to be able to trek in, and travelers before booking their gorilla trekking permits, they have to first inquiry if there is the availability of getting permits to trek in Buhoma sector.
To our guests, you should note that there is the possibility of failing to get Gorilla trekking permits in Buhoma because gorilla trekking permits are always on sale as the slogan say that ‘’first come first serve. So we advise out clients that you should always book your gorilla trekking permits in advance for you to be able to get your trekking permit on spot and to trek in preferred gorilla sector.
The Buhoma sector has as an amazing past and current history since it was the first visited region by the groups of tourist trekkers to Bwindi Forest. This is the same sector to be known to have the oldest and the first gorilla families to trek the famously known as Mubare which was habituated in 1992.
Gorilla families found in the Buhoma sector a home to three gorilla families ready to be habituated which include, Mubare Rushegura and Habinyanja family.
More so, each Gorilla family in the Buhoma sector has a different story to tell; Mubare is known as the first group of gorilla families to be habituated in 1992 and it is one of the oldest families with 9 members.
Habinyanja gorilla family was opened up in 1997 with 17 members.
Rushegura family was officially opened in 2000 for gorilla tourism and comprises of 19 members.
Buhoma sector has 24 gorilla permits that are issued on sale on daily basis by Uganda wildlife Authority to number of 8 people who visits the park for gorilla trekking activity.
During your gorilla trekking experience, travelers can still engage in such amazing activities like community walk, visit the Batwa pygmies trail and meet the first people who were the first inhabit of Bwindi forest with mountain gorillas.
The four gorilla trekking sector has an outstanding number of accommodation facilities ranging from luxury, mid-range and budget lodges with trained chefs.
Travelers you’re advised to always book lodges that are near to the sector you’re to trek in Bwindi. Buhoma lodges include; Bwindi view bandas, Bwindi volcano lodge, Buhoma lodge, Bwindi Forest lodge, Mahogany Springs lodge and more. You can also camp in the Buhoma region thus giving you the best memorable stay and life changing experience in a lifetime.
Rushanga sector for Gorilla trekking
This sector is positioned in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, a home to 5 gorilla families ready to be habituated by trekkers. Rushanga sector is one of the marked sector by Uganda wildlife Authority to be appointed for Gorilla habituation with a number of families such as Bweza, Busingye, Nshongi, Kahungye and Mishaya. Among these five gorilla families found in the Rushanga sector, the two families were selected to undergo habituation such as Bikyingi and Bushaho which are catered for by researchers, scientists through training.
On your trek to Rushanga sector, you can as well participate in other activities such as cultural visits to Batwa communities, birding many more. There is a great a chance for travelers to do boat cruise to Lake Mutanda since there is easy accessibility to the park.
Rushanga region also offers affordable accommodation lodges for visitors who visit Bwindi for gorilla trekking such as Gorilla safari camp, Bwindi jungle, Chameleon hill lodge, Gorilla haven lodge and many more.
Ruhija Sector for Gorilla Trekking
Ruhija sector sits on the Eastern side of Bwindi impenetrable national park, a sector that has three gorilla families ready for tourism such as Bitukura, Kyaguliro family, Oruzogo family. Ruhija region is the coldest area in Bwindi which stands with over 2,350 meters above the sea level. There is only 24 permits available for trekking in Ruhija and it is well advisable to trek in the region that you’re conversant with. By communicating by your tour operator to advise you more about these sectors, though they are all outstanding and amazing, you never know you may want to select the best one.
Along your gorilla trekking experience, you can visit to local people who used to live in the forest for quiet long time with mountain gorillas till the forest was gazette for tourism in 1991, visit the craft shops ,Ruhija sector is also best for birders where you can spot such birds ;Yellow streaked greenbul ,Dusky crimson ,yellow eyed black flycatcher ,hornbills and many more and trekkers are always recommended to carry their binoculars for clear sight-seeing of bird species .Through trekking in Ruhija sector ,travelers during their trekking experience ,they have a chance to discover the forest waterfalls ,caves ,rocks and many more as you listen to sweet melodies of birds in the trees.
Accommodation facilities: Ruhija region offers comfortable and safe accommodation facilities which are affordable to travelers and such lodges include Gorilla mist camp, Bakinga lodge, Trekkers Travern lodges, Agandi lodges among others.
Nkuringo sector for Gorilla trekking
Nkuringo sector is one of the four Gorilla Trekking sectors in Bwindi national park located in southern part of the park. The sector has one gorilla family known as Nkuringo gorilla family which is headed by Rafiki ‘’silver back’’ and this is the best interesting and exciting gorilla group which gives travelers quiet unforgettable experience in life time.
Nkuringo gorilla family has a group of 19 members which like to cross from Rushanga sector. Nkuringo gorilla family was first habituated in 1997 and since then it has been open for tourism.
In this sector, you can engage in other activities like birding, hiking along kishasha and Ivy trails where you can enjoy great view of the forest, spot birds, visit the community around the park.
Accommodation facilities in Nkuringo region
Nkuringo region of Bwindi forest national park offers nice lodge ranging between budget to Luxury such as Clouds Mountain Gorillas lodge, Nkuringo safari budget, Nkuringo Gorilla Camp.
To note, travelers to be able to trek in one of these sector, you need to be having a valid gorilla permits which costs USD600 per now but by effectively 1st July 2020/22 it will be costing USD700 per person per day.
These are the best essentials for your gorilla trekking safari which include; Rain coat, energy giving snacks, hiking boots, sweaters, long sleeved trouser ‘’kachi or jeans’’, long stockings, mineral water bottle many more.
Accessibility
Bwindi impenetrable national park can easily be accessed either by road or by air, from Kampala city to the park it takes 8 to 9 hours drives.
Alternatively, some travelers may fly from Entebbe Airport using domestic flight ‘’Aero link airline to fly you to Kihihi Airstrip which is nearby the park and be picked up by the safari drive to your lodge.
The time is now to visit one of the Bwindi impenetrable sector and experience into a life changing encounter with great mountain gorillas in their nature habits.
