There are roughly 1080 mountain gorillas left in the world, and the tropical forests of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park are home to more than half of them. The national parks of Mgahinga, Volcanoes, and Virunga are home to the remaining population of mountain gorillas.
Mountain gorillas are species of primates said to be closely related to human beings since they share 98% human DNA. Mountain gorillas, are 98% vegetarian diet as they feed on shoots, roots, stems, fruits, bamboo, pulp, and tree bark. Mountain gorillas have thicker fur which is taller than that of other species of gorillas and this enables them to live in cold temperatures.
In Bwindi Gorilla Park, mountain gorillas spend most of their day searching for food. In the afternoon, they make nests where they will sleep, and the moms take care of their offsprings, who are frequently spotted climbing trees. Silverbacks dominate the gorilla groups of two to twenty mountain gorillas that inhabit the area. In addition to being the group’s rulers and controllers, the silverback mates with every female member. If there isn’t another silverback to assume the group’s leadership after the ruling silverback passes away, the family can be disrupted.
Families of Mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Gorilla Park
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park shelters more than half of the world’s population of Mountain Gorillas. Over twenty-one mountain gorilla families have been recorded in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park and are dispersed across four gorilla trekking sectors of the forest to include: Nkuringo, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Buhoma.
Gorilla families in Nkuringo gorilla trekking sector are the Nkuringo, Bikingi, and Christmas groups, as well as the Bishaho gorilla groups. Gorilla families present in Rushaga gorilla trekking sector are the Mishaya, Nshongi, Bweza, Kahungye, Busingye, Rwigi, and Mucunguzi gorilla families.
Mountain gorilla families in Ruhija sector are, Bitukura, Kyaguriro, Oruzogo, and Mukiza families where as gorilla families in Buhoma gorilla trekking sector are; Katwe, Habinyanja, Muyambi, Katwe, and Rushengura families.
Encounter Bwindi Mountain Gorillas
Every day, visitors to Bwindi Gorilla Forest Park can encounter mountain gorillas. The experience begins with a briefing early in the morning at 7am at each sector’s offices. Trekkers get up early on the day of the gorilla tracking, eat breakfast thereafter the driver guide will transfer you to park headquarters to receive a briefing from the park wardens.
Gorilla trekkers undergo briefing on the guidelines governing the trekking or habituation activity at the park headquarters. Individuals intending for gorilla habituation are grouped in no more than four groups, whereas those intending to trek are grouped no more than eight members per group. All adventures in the jungle are led by armed ranger guides, and finding mountain gorillas requires trekking through various vegetation trails for about 2-7 hours.
Upon encountering the mountain gorilla family, trekkers will have an hour to spend with these apes, while those participating in gorilla habituation will have four hours with mountain gorillas. In the allocated time, the trekkers can take pictures, observe the gorillas going about their daily lives, learn about their habits, and help them become used to human presence.
What is the price to see the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Gorilla Park?
In Bwindi Gorilla Park, gorilla trekking permits are the official paperwork that grant visitors permission to participate in the trekking activity and spend an hour with mountain gorillas. For foreign non-residents, the cost of a gorilla trekking permit at Bwindi Gorilla Park is $700; for foreign residents, it is $600; and for East African citizens, it is shs250,000.
Gorilla habituation permits in Bwindi: These permits, which are only available to those over the age of 15, allow visitors to spend four hours with mountain gorillas. The cost of a gorilla habituation permits is shs750,000 for East African citizens, $1500 for foreign non-residents, and $1000 for foreign residents. only two gorilla families are undergoing habituation, there are only 8 gorilla habituation permits in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park.
packing list for a Bwindi Gorilla gorilla safari
Waterproof hiking shoes, gardening gloves, gaiters, long sleeves, a rain jacket, a camera, energy-boosting snacks, insect repellents, a hat, sunscreen, a face mask, a drinking water bottle, sanitizer, a pair of binoculars, and a first aid kit are among the items to bring on a gorilla safari to Bwindi Gorilla Park.
Lodging options while on a gorilla safari in Bwindi National Park
The following lodging options are available in the Buhoma sector: Bwindi Neckview Lodge Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Rest Camp, Silverback Lodge, Ride 4 Women Guest House, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi Forest Lodge, and Bwindi View Bandas.
The following lodging options are available in the Rushaga sector: Wagtail Eco Safari Lodge, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Nsongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, and Rushaga Gorilla Camp.
The following lodging options are available in the Nkuringo sector: Nshongi Camp, Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Virunga Campsite, Mutanda Eco Community Center, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge.
The following lodging options are available in the Ruhija sector: Agandi Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Cuckoo Land Tented Lodge, Ecomarvels Gorilla Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Broadbill Forest Camp, and Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge.