New Gorilla Families Open for trekking in Bwindi

It is always a dream comes true to track the mountain gorillas but it is an unforgettable experience to be among the few people to visit newly habituated gorilla families. The latest news now is that two gorilla families have been successfully habituated and open for tracking by primate enthusiasts to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are one of the earth’s critically endangered animals only found in the dense montane forests of three countries-Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. With more than 1000 individuals inhabiting Volcanoes, Virunga, Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks, they remain one of the most sought after animals by tourists visiting Africa for safaris.

Of the three countries, Uganda has always been a must visit destination for the life changing gorilla trekking adventure due to its high population of mountain gorillas and habituated families. According to a statement released by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in the month of August, two more families have been successfully habituated, hence increasing the number of habituated families in Uganda from fifteen (15) to seventeen (17) and these two wonderful families are Christmas within Bwindi’s Nkuringo sector (southern side) and Katwe within the legendary Buhoma sector (northern side). The advantage of tracking a newly habituated gorilla family is that it is not fully habituated like the already existing ones that are obviously used to receiving visitors thus still exhibit their wild behaviors.

The two new families join the already existing groups that include Bishaho and Nkuringo in Nkuringo sector, Mubare, Habinyanja and Rushegura within Buhoma sector, Kyaguliro, Oruzogo and Bitukura in Ruhija sector, Bweza, Kahungye, Bikyingi, Busingye, Nshongi and Mishaya in Rushaga sector meanwhile the Nyakagyezi family is found within Mgahinga National Park hence bringing the number of permits available per day to 128 permits from 96 permits (Kyaguliro family was reserved for research purposes). This is so far the best news for Uganda’s tourism industry because it means more tourists and eventually revenue but also calls for celebration by the tour operators who have for long struggled to acquire gorilla permits especially during the peak seasons.

Situated within Southwestern Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the exceptional gorilla trekking destinations in the World with the highest population of mountain gorillas totaling to over 500 individuals hence offering tourists with the once in a lifetime opportunity of encountering the critically endangered Giant Apes. However, gorilla trekking is also conducted from the Virunga Massif comprising of Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and DRC’s Virunga National Park. With the continuous conflicts in DRC as well as the high cost of gorilla permits in Rwanda, permits in Uganda are generally on high demand and such a development is a great move for the gorilla tourism.

About the Gorilla Families;

Katwe

As earlier mentioned, Katwe family is found within Buhoma sector and is comprised of one dominant silverback, four adult females, three blackbacks and two infants although establishment of the actual number of members is still ongoing. Just like other mountain gorillas, the family underwent habituation for about 3 years to make them used to the presence of tourists. Katwe joins the three other families within the sector that include Rushegura, Mubare and Habinyanja hence increasing the number of permits to 32 from 24. Being the first sector to be opened for tourism (with Mubare being the first visited in 1993), Buhoma has always been the preferred sector by tourists and tour operators thus opening the new family is good news. Tourists interested in tracking the remarkable Katwe gorilla family can spend overnights within Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Jungle View Lodge, CTPH Gorilla Conservation Camp, Engagi Lodge, Mahogany Springs Camp and Volcanoes Safaris Bwindi Lodge among others.

Christmas

Christmas gorilla family is one of the three families within Nkuringo sector (southern section of the Park). This gorilla group is headed by Christmas-the dominant silverback. He was born on Christmas day hence the name but other members of the group include three adult females, one blackback and one infant. Much as only 6 members are always sighted during tracking, the family is believed to comprise of up to 9 members. Nkuringo sector had only one gorilla family named Nkuringo before Bishaho and now Christmas were habituated for tracking. With these more gorilla families, 24 gorilla permits from 8 are now available for tourists planning to track from this remarkable region/sector. Tourists planning to track Christmas Gorilla family can also book to stay within Nshongi Camp, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Camp and many others.

Much as Uganda is popular for the critically endangered mountain gorillas, other attractions such as the big five animals (lions, leopards, rhinos, buffaloes and elephants), other primates (Chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys and grey cheeked mangabeys among others), waterfalls (Karuma, Murchison, Sezibwa and many others), mountains and the breathtaking scenery await tourists visiting the country that is dubbed the “Pearl of Africa”.

In conclusion, it has always been everyone’s hope that more mountain gorillas are habituated in Uganda and the addition of new groups is one of the biggest milestones for the country’s tourism industry. With just $600 for a gorilla permit, primate enthusiasts can now get the chance to track Katwe and Christmas Gorilla families in Buhoma and Nkuringo sectors respectively.