April 2017

Trekking Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi National Park

The Gorilla trekking experience is the highlight of your safari on your Ugandan safari and when    you visit Bwindi Impenetrable National park in the south Western part of the country.  You will be required to visit the park headquarters at the Uganda Wildlife Authority as early as 7:45 from where you will be allocated a guide before heading into the Impenetrable forest for the activity. Do not forget a walk stick which will be offered to you at the head quarters thus you should take this very useful because it will help you in slippery conditions. Porters to help you with your luggage are available at the park head quarters and these are very   helpful during the rainy season.

If you are involved in the gorilla habituation group, it will take you a minimum of two years with daily visits which allow the gorilla group to tolerate your presence. It should be noted however that it is only when gorillas are happy with the presence of human beings that  visitors are allowed to share the  daily  hour of contact with them  and only a maximum of eight people are allowed to  track  each habituated gorillas  and the walk to find these gorillas may be  as short as two hours.

While tracking the gorillas, the park rangers and guides will clear the way and will assist you through the forest thus you will need very good fitness to make this walk a success though the walk may be slippery. Spending time, sitting with the mountain gorillas is one of the most amazing wildlife experiences one will ever have and dominant male silver back can weigh over 200 kilograms. You are required to come with the following during tracking;

You should come along with;

• A minimum of two litres  of water
• Packed lunch
• Some money
• A gorilla permit and passport which will be asked at the check in
• Long parts are required to be worn by you while walking in the bush
• Walking boots and hiking socks are recommended to be worn
• Layers are best as conditions in the tropical rain forest can change from hot to wet and cold in an instant. At the end of the track, you will have to be  given  tracking certificate

Gorilla families habituated in Bwindi Impenetrable national park for viewing

Presently there 12 gorilla families which are habituated for   viewing and these include; Mubare Gorilla family which is the oldest habituated gorilla group in Uganda. Habinyanja Gorilla family and visitors tracking this family need about 3-8 hours.  Other gorilla families include Reshegura gorilla family, Nkuringo, Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Bweza, Busingye, Nyakagezi and Kyaguriro Gorilla family.

The Mubare group was the very first group to be habituated for tourist in 1993 and was named after the stunning of Mubare Hills in which the group was discovered. The Habinyanja group was habituated in 1997 for tracking and received the first visitors in 1999. Rushegura group was habituated in 2000 and started receiving tourists in 2002. The Bitukura group found in the Ruhija region while the Mishaya is found in the Rushaga region. The Nshongi group is currently the biggest habituated gorilla family with over 25 members

The Nkuringo Region of Bwindi Forest is   one the most physically challenging regions although it is very rewarding in the forest for the enjoyment of Gorilla tracking The accommodation facilities in Nkuringo offer a very good environment to view the Nkuringo gorilla family and this group comprises of 19 members and most people who have tracked gorillas in Bwindi say, it is a favorite to track this gorilla group. If you’re in plans of visiting this park for the gorilla trekking experience, just click here and visit one of the most and efficient tour operator who will take you for the experience.