Mountain gorillas in Bwindi
Mountain gorillas are the main attractions in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. They are endangered species of primates said to have 98% human DNA which makes them close relatives to human beings. These apes attract thousands of travelers from different parts of the world who come to Uganda and visit the park to find them in their natural habitats.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has the highest number of mountain gorillas in the world. This park has the highest chances of seeing mountain gorillas in the wild more than any other gorilla park. Over 23 mountain gorilla families can be visited by tourists in their natural habitats.
The mountain gorilla families of Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has the highest number of mountain gorillas as well as mountain gorilla families in the world. The park has over 23 mountain gorilla families living in 4 sectors of the park namely Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Buhoma. 22 mountain gorilla families are fully habituated and one for gorilla trekking activities while 1 mountain gorilla family is semi-habituated and open for habituation.
Buhoma sector has 6 mountain gorilla families namely Mubare the oldest in the park, Muyambi, Katwe, Rushengura, Binyiindo, and Habinyanja. Nkuringo sector 3 mountain gorilla families Nkuringo, Bushaho, and Christmas. Ruhija sector has 5 mountain gorilla families Orugozo, Mukiza, Kyaguliro A, Kyaguliro B, and Bitakura.
Rushaga is another sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park famous for harboring the highest number of mountain gorilla families including one Bikingi family open for gorilla habituation activities. Fully habituated families of Rushaga include Busingye, Kahungye, Mishaya, Posho, Nshongi, Kutu, Mucunguzi, and Bweza.
gorilla trekking Bwindi
To see the mountain gorillas of Bwindi, tourists either have to do gorilla trekking in Bwindi where they are around the members for one hour, or habituation where they are with mountain gorillas for four hours. To see mountain gorillas, all tourists must walk into the jungle and search where they could be.
Very early in the morning, tourists who are to visit mountain gorillas must wake up and drive to the sector headquarters. Here they are entrained by traditional dancers and later briefed by the rangers about the rules and regulations of the activity. A maximum of 8 people does do gorilla trekking and habituation is carried out by a maximum of 4 people.
Trekkers who want to hire porters can only get them at the briefing point at a small fee to help in carrying luggage while in the jungle. Trekkers are driven to the starting points of the trek where they are left with the armed ranger guides to go into the jungle and search for the endangered mountain gorillas.
Searching mountain gorillas goes through different gorilla trekking trails which gives trekkers an opportunity to find spot a number of attractions living in the forest. It takes 2 to 4 hours to locate the mountain gorillas and the moment the trekkers spot them they are given 1 hour to be around the members. Tourists get an opportunity to learn about the gorilla habitats, take photos, and watch them carry out activities like hunting, mating, nesting, breasting, and many others.
Tourists who carry out gorilla habituation in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi when they locate the mountain gorilla family, are given 4 hours to be with the members. They are taught different activities to make these apes get used to the human presence around them. By the time the activity ends, they are able to learn about the gorilla habits, take photos, and record videos.
When to visit mountain gorillas in Bwindi
Mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park can be visited at any time of the year however the best period is the dry season. June to September and December to February are when the park receives little rainfall and plenty of sunshine. Tourists who visit the mountain gorillas find the gorilla trekking trails in bwindi dry and easier to pass through, the vegetation is short and scattered with good views of the mountain gorillas, and roads leading to the park are in good condition.
Mountain gorillas can still be visited during the rainy season from March to May and October to November for the park is open. Tourists who visit during that time should know that there is plenty of rainfall within the park and this affects the activities. The trails are muddy and slippery, vegetation is tall and thick with unclear views of apes, and roads to the park are in poor condition.
Where to stay in Bwindi on a gorilla safari
Tourists have a lot of accommodation options to use on a safari to Bwindi in different sectors of the park. The accommodation ranges from budget to mid-range to luxury options and where to stay depends on the tourist’s budget. Lodges include Nkuringo Bwindi Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Bweza Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Broadbill Forest Camp, Mahogany Springs Lodge, and Rushaga Gorilla Lodge among others.
