Do you want to trek gorillas in Uganda? Book a Uganda gorilla tour and get a chance to trek one of the 17 gorilla families in Uganda with Gorilla Safaris in Africa. The pearl of Africa is home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas habituated into 17 gorilla groups. Uganda gorillas inhabit the rain forest of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga gorilla national park both located in southwestern Uganda. The 2018 gorilla census indicates that Uganda is home to over 600 mountain gorillas, which make it a premier gorilla safari destination in Africa. With the high cost of Rwanda gorilla tours, Uganda remains your ultimate gorilla tour destination offering affordable gorilla safaris with no difficulty. Uganda gorillas in Bwindi forest are spit into four sectors namely Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east, Nkuringo and Rushaga gorilla sectors in the southern region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park. In addition, Uganda is home to 2 more gorilla families undergoing the habituation process in Rushaga sector. In gorilla trekking, each gorilla family is visited by a group of 8 people while in habituation, four people a day visit a gorilla family. Uganda gorilla groups in Bwindi forest and Mgahinga gorilla parks are:
1. Mubare gorilla family
Mubare Gorilla family in Bwindi Forest
Located in Buhoma sector north of Bwindi forest, Mubare gorilla family is the oldest gorilla group that was habituated in1991. Mubare was the first gorilla group to be visited by the first set of gorilla trekkers to Bwindi. In October and November 2019, Mubare has been blessed with 2 baby gorillas which give hope for sustainable gorilla tourism in Bwindi forest and Uganda as a whole. Mubare gorilla family is headed by Kanyonyi, a dominant silverback who took over the group after the death of Ruhondoza silverback. Mubare is locally translated as “Amabare” where this gorilla was first sighted.
2. Habinyanja gorilla family
Also located in Buhoma sector, Habinyanja is a group you ought to visit. The family was habituated in 1997 and is one of the most visited gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable forest National park. The family has 17 members comprised of the silverback, adult females, black backs, juveniles, and babies. The gorilla family was named after the watery swamps where it was first sighted.
3. Rushegura gorilla group
Formerly part of the Habinyanja gorilla family, Rushegura is yet another gorilla family in the Buhoma sector north of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park.
The family split from Habinyanja group in 2002 when Mwirima decided to leave his gorilla family and decided to take some adult females with him. Mwirima fought hard to expand the size of his family and he is undeniably the strongest silverback in Bwindi Forest.
4. Bitukura Gorilla Family
Named after the Bitukura river where the family rivers, Bitukura gorilla family is trekked in Ruhija sector east of Bwindi Forest National Park. formerly Bitukura had over 30 members most of which have been lost in fights and external attacks from wild gorilla families. Currently, Bitukura gorilla family has 14 members who include silverbacks, adult females, black backs and babies.
5. Oruzogo Gorilla group
Also located in Ruhija sector east of Bwindi forest National Park, Oruzogo is a big gorilla family comprised of over 25 members. Bakwate is the reigning dominant silverback gorilla family leading the other 5 adult females, infants, juveniles and blackbucks within the group. The group is located in a hilly area hence quite difficult to trek.
6. Bitukura Gorilla Family
Comprised of 13 members, Bitukura gorilla group is an interesting gorilla family to visit in Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park. Bitukura is one of the peaceful gorilla families in Bwindi, a not miss for every traveler. The playful juveniles keep the family lively and worth visiting. Ndahura is the dominant silverback who leads the other 4 silverbacks, 5 adult females, juveniles and infants.
7. Kyaguliro family in Ruhija sector
8. Nkuringo gorilla family in Nkuringo sector
9. Nshongi gorilla group in Rushaga sector
10. Mishaya family in Rushaga sector
11. Kahungye gorilla group on Rushaga sector
12. Busingye family in Rushaga
13. Bweza family in Rushaga
14. Katwe gorilla family in Buhoma sector
15. Christmas gorilla family in Nkuringo
16. Nyakagyezi gorilla family in Mgahinga Gorilla National park
The gorilla families undergoing habituation experience are Bikyingi and Bushaho all located in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park. A single gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 but the magical experience achieved is worth it.
In general, an encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas remains the best wildlife experience in the world. Book a Uganda gorilla trip today, trek any one of the habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Forest/Mgahinga gorilla national parks and enjoy this once in a lifetime experience with African Apes Holidays
