Nkuringo is one of the sectors of the famous Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park a home to endangered mountain gorillas. This sector is located in the southern sector of the park harboring some of the mountain gorillas of Bwindi. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is the best destination to see mountain gorillas in the world and this is located in Uganda.
The impenetrable forest of Bwindi was gazetted in 1993 by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to protect endangered mountain gorillas from extinction. The number of mountain gorilla population within this park has been increasing every day and thanks to the great work being done by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a 321 sq. km piece of land divided into 4 sectors. Nkuringo sector and Rushaga sectors are in the south of the park while Ruhija and Buhoma are in the north of the park. Each of the sectors has its own gorilla families, gorilla permits, and a sector office where the briefing is done.
Nkuringo sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national is home to only 3 mountain gorilla families that are fully habituated and open for gorilla trekking activities. Nkuringo family, Bushaho family, and Christmas family do live in Nkuringo sector of the park. Each gorilla family can be trekked by a maximum of 8 people on a given day.
The gorilla families of Nkuringo sector are trekked every day with the activities starting early in the morning hours with a briefing from the sector headquarters. Trekkers are taught how to behave in the jungle and later given armed ranger guides to lead them throughout the activities. Once the gorilla family is spotted, trekkers get 1 hour around the apes which enables them to learn about their habits and record memories.
Things to do in Bwindi after gorilla trekking in Nkuringo
Gorilla habituation in Rushaga
Nkuringo and Rushaga are all located in the southern sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. After a successful gorilla trekking in Nkuringo, trekkers can try out gorilla habituation in Rushaga sector. The distance between these two sectors is not that long in that one can sleep in Nkuringo and go habituated gorillas of Rushaga the next day.
Gorilla habituation after gorilla trekking will enable tourists to have more time with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. Gorilla habituation is a four hour activity with mountain gorillas making them get used to human presence around them. In Bwindi, this activity can only be done in the Rushaga sector of the park where Bikingi gorilla family is open for the activity.
Bird watching
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a home to more than 350 bird species with 23 being endemic to the Albertine region. While on a gorilla trekking safari to Nkuringo, birders can carry out bird watching with the impenetrable forest of Bwindi. There are different walking trails that can be used to look out for birds and with a well-trained birder guide one is able to see lots of bird species in the park.
Birding in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can come with an opportunity of seeing species such as shelley’s crimsonwing, grauer’s swamp warbler, little green sunbird, handsome francolin, African emerald cuckoo, regal sunbird, bar-tailed trogon, ross’s turaco, dusky tit, Rwenzori apalis, sharpe’s starling, African emerald cuckoo, red-headed bluebill, black billed turaco, African broadbill, and grey cuckoo shrike to mention but a few.
Nature walks
Nature walks after gorilla trekking is the best way for tourists to explore the impenetrable forest of Bwindi and get close to the different attractions living there. Nature walks are guided within the park to make sure that the tourists are safe from anything that could be dangerous. During nature walks tourists get to see birds, animals, vegetation, water sources, and local people to mention but a few.
Batwa cultural experience
The impenetrable forest of Bwindi used to be a home for the Batwa pygmies not until 1993 when the government evicted them to create a safe home for endangered mountain gorillas. When they got evicted, they settled around the park boundaries where tourists could always meet them in their communities.
While in Nkuringo, different communities of Batwa are around the park and the guide can always do a transfer to their homes. A visit to the Batwa community comes with an opportunity to meet the elderly people who tell stories of long ago. Tourists get to know how these people survived in the jungle and they also get an opportunity to get entertained through dance and drama.
When to visit Nkuringo of Bwindi for gorilla trekking?
Tourists can go gorilla trekking in Nkuringo sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park at any time of the year. Those looking for the best time need to try out the dry season a period when the weather is very good within the park. June to September and December to February are the best times to visit Nkuringo for gorilla trekking.
Tourists visiting Nkuringo in the dry season will find the trekking trails dry and passable, the vegetation is always short and scattered with good views of the mountain gorillas and other attractions. The roads leading to the park are always in good condition which enables the trekkers to access different locations on time.
Tourists more so budget travelers can visit Nkuringo sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park during the rainy season. March to May and October to November are the rainy season characterized by plenty of rainfall and little sunshine. The bad weather attracts a few travelers and those who travel get discounted tour packages and lodge prices.
Tourists should know that plenty of rainfall makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery which affects the speed of trekkers. The vegetation is tall and thick with unclear views of the mountain gorillas and other park attractions. The roads leading to the park are in poor condition which makes tourists take longer time to access different locations.
Getting to Nkuringo Sector for gorilla trekking
Tourists can get to Nkuringo sector of Bwindi for mountain gorilla trekking and other activities in a single day using either road transport or air transport. Road transport is the most affordable way for tourists to get to the park and air transport is for the luxury or those who hate traveling long distances. From Kampala/Entebbe it’s 9 to 10 hours by road while air transport takes about 2 hours.
By road transport, tourists from Kampala/Entebbe drive through Masaka, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Kabale, and Kisoro where they branch off to Nkuringo sector of the park. Tourists on a flying safari can get flights from Entebbe International Airport/Kajjansi Airstrip to Kisoro Airstrip which is the closest to the sector.
Where to stay in Nkuringo sector
Nkuringo sector has a lot of accommodation options for tourists to stay in if they want to spend a night or more in the park. These accommodation options are budget, mid-range, and luxury with tourists staying in what they can afford. Lodges include Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge, Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel, and Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge among others.