Observing the Mountain Gorillas in silence for 60 minutes in the middle of Bwindi Impenetrable forest might be one of life’s greatest experience. The trek might be a bit tedious but once you get to sight these very rare species it is worth every minute spent walking in search of them. There are fewer than 900 mountain gorillas in existence and gorilla trekking provides a rare opportunity to observe the everyday interactions of these gentle and mysterious primates.
Uganda has an edge when it comes to Mountain Gorillas as Bwindi Impenetrable Forest by its own hosts half of the World’s mountain gorillas and in addition to Bwindi there is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which accounts for 13 square miles of the larger Virunga habitat. The National Park is the smallest and yet the most scenic, it also shelters 3 of the 08 volcanoes in the Virunga that includes: Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabyinyo.
HIGHLIGHTS
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a large primeval forest located in South – Western Uganda. Bwindi is derived from the Runyakitara language and means “Impenetrable”, the name comes from the extensive stands of bamboo interspersed amongst the larger forest hardwoods.
This one of the largest areas in East Africa covering approximately 32,092 ha, the Park is a biodiversity hotspot with possibly the greatest number of tree species for its altitude in East Africa. It is also host to a rich fauna including a number of endemic butterflies and one of the richest mammalian assemblages in Africa. And most importantly the home to almost half of the world’s mountain gorilla population, the Park represents a conservation frontline as an isolated forest of outstanding biological richness surrounded by an agricultural landscape supporting one of the highest rural population densities in tropical Africa.
MOUNTAIN GORILLAS
Mountain gorillas only live in the dense vegetation of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and along the dormant volcanic Virunga mountain range that stretches across Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
There are two gorilla trekking spots in Uganda: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Bwindi has 04 sectors for Gorilla Tracking:
Rushaga Sector: this lies in the Southern parts of Bwindi. Unlike other sectors in the park which have 03 gorilla families, this sector boasts of very many gorilla families and it’s not a surprise that gorilla permits in this region sells very fast. Rushaga can also be easily accessed by road from Kigali Rwanda due to its close proximity to the Cyanika Border (Uganda / Rwanda Border) approximately 45 km from the border and approximately 165 Km from Kigali Town the capital city of Rwanda.
The families available for tracking in this sector include; Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Busingye, Bweza and other two families that are still under habituation.
Buhoma Sector: This is the most popular area for Gorilla trekking as it was the first place in Uganda where gorilla trekking started back in 1993. Some of the families tracked in this region include; Buhoma which has 09 members, Rushegura with 16 members and Habinyanja with 19 individuals.
Most people prefer trekking in Buhoma area is easily accessible from Kampala, it is approximately 550 kms (8-9 hours’ drive). Also, if you looking to do more than Gorilla Trekking then Buhoma is the perfect place as its close to other National Parks. For instance, Queen Elizabeth National Park more specifically the southern sector popularly known as Ishasha is approximately 2 hours’ drive from Buhoma.
Secondly, at this region you are spoilt of choice when it comes to accommodation, the luxury options in this sector include; Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi Volcano Lodge, Buhoma Lodge and Mahogany Springs.
Lastly, Buhoma is somehow at the middle of it all therefore it is easy to connect to other regions, from this sector one can easily do trekking in the Ruhija sector which is approximately 2 hours drive.
