Bwindi is a popular gorilla safari destination in southwestern Uganda. The impenetrable forest is widely known for sheltering the highest number of mountain gorillas that give high number of travelers a chance to meet “face to face” with the critically endangered mountain gorillas in the jungle. With no doubt, Bwindi is surely gifted by nature. We bring the good news of more two-gorilla families, which have been opened, for trekking. The newly introduced gorilla families bring a total of fully habituated gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park to 17 hence an opportunity for many travelers to access gorilla permits and trek mountain gorillas. The other gorilla families in Bwindi are Mubare gorilla family, Habinyanja gorilla family, Rushegura gorilla family, Oruzogo family, Bitukura gorilla family, Kyaguliro family, Nshongi gorilla family, Mishaya gorilla group, Kahungye gorilla family, Busingye gorilla group, Bweza family, and Nkuringo family. In addition, two more groups namely;Bushaho and Bikyingi gorilla families are yet to be opened for trekking in Rushag setcor of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park bringing the total number of mountain gorilla families in Uganda to 21 including Nyakagezi family in the sister Mgahinga gorilla national park.
The two new families come along with 16 extra gorilla permits since each family is visited by eight travelers each given one permit. Gorilla trekking is the most done activity in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo which bring in the highest number of travelers from all parts of the world and the whole world to have a taste of this once in a lifetime experience. The breaking news called for celebration by travel operators in Uganda and travelers who had been struggling to get gorilla permits. Uganda of recent faced a scarcity on gorilla permits due to high demand for gorilla safaris by the incoming travelers and the high cost of gorilla permits in the neighboring Rwanda.
The major aim for the introduction of new gorilla families in Uganda was to address the high demand for gorilla permits in Bwindi, which would at times put the management of Bwindi on tension. On the same day UWA introduced new gorilla families, it put an end to ground payments for the permits. For that case, all travel operators were asked to pay for permit at UWA headquarters to avoid risks of handling cash on ground. Also, UWA is putting up strategies to develop an improved cashless system saving tour operators risks of carrying large sums of money to UWA head quarters to make payments. Fortunately, Travelers are assured of their safety in the presence of these two new families just like with other groups. The two families successfully went through a habituation process for three years and are not wild to travelers.
Which are these new gorilla families
You should be enthusiastic to know these newly introduced gorilla families. These are Christmas and katwe gorilla families. The two families are in Buhoma and Nkuringo sectors of the park in the north and southern parts of Bwindi respectively and these include:
Christmas gorilla family
Sited in Nkuringo sector south of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, Christmas has become a third gorilla family in this region along side Nkuringo and Bushaho gorilla families. The family is headed by Christmas as a dominant silverback, which some people believe, was born on Christmas. The family has a total of 9 members including 3 adult females, 3 black backs, and two babies. Fortunately, travelers intending to trek Christmas family have a variety for accommodation services including clouds mountain gorilla lodge, and Nkuringo Bwindi lodge, which serve travelers with excellent food and sleeping services.
Katwe gorilla family
This is anew family in Buhoma sector north of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Katwe family joins the other three families of Mubare, Habinyanja and Rushegura making a total of habituated gorilla families in Buhoma to four. The ease of access to Buhoma from kabale town and availability of luxury accommodation facilities make Buhoma the first choice of most gorilla trekkers in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Presently, there are 32 gorilla permits in Buhoma hence an added chance for most gorilla trekkers in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. The family under went through a habituation process for 3 years which h made it familiar to human presence hence guarantee travelers of their security in presence of these gentle giants. Investigations are still undergoing about the actual number gorilla members make up this family but its trekking has already started. The accommodation facilities in Buhoma sector include among others mahogany springs lodge, Buhoma lodge, Bwindi forest lodge, Engagi lodge, Trackers safari lodge, Silverback lodge, and Buhoma community haven lodge. These lodges are luxury, midrange and budget serving excellent comfortable food and sleeping services to travelers at affordable rates.
Uganda gorilla treks in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park/Mgahinga gorilla national park can be complemented by other activities such as batwa cultural trail golden monkey trekking, forest walks and volcano climbing which all make your safari an experience for lifetime.
In general, Uganda celebrates the increase of habituated gorilla families in the four sectors of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Book a Uganda safari to Bwindi, meet face to face with the critically endangered mountain gorillas in the jungle and enjoy this life changing experience.
