Trekking Gorillas In Sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park; Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is gazetted in 1991 as national park , its found in south western Uganda in districts of Kisoro Rubanda and Kanungu districts, it covers a distance of 331 squire kilometers and its found on the edge of Rift Valley. Its mist-covered hillsides which is blanketed with one of the Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rain forests , which covered over of about 2500 years back and contains almost 386 species of plants this make impenetrable forest, also protects half of the remaining mountain gorillas in worlds populations.
Bwindi impenetrable forest also provide home to over 120 mammals, including several primates species such as Olive Baboons , Chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys among others, as well as the forested elephants, antelopes, there are also over 350 bird species in the forest mainly in Mubwindi swamp including the 23 Albertine Rift endemics.
Bwindi impenetrable forest in also home to over 200 better fly species including the 8 species from the Albertine rift endemics and the park hosts reptile species.
Gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi are the locations or zones where gorillas are trekked from these are the Buhoma sector, Rushaga sector, Nkuringo sector and Ruhija sector. Bwindi impenetrable forest is mostly known for mountain gorilla trekking where by the half worlds mountain gorillas population live in this Bwindi forest.
All the gorilla trekking is carried in the similar way that the permit for is sold at Uganda wildlife authority head quotes in kampala and it cost $800 per person for one hour for trekking but it also cost $1500 for habituation which takes fours with the gorillas in their habitat and the trekking is done all of the four sectors that is Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo sectors and in one sector for habituation that is Rushaga sector.
Rushaga sector trekking head
Rushaga sector is located in southern part of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. In the way to Rushaga you will be having the beautiful views of volcanic mountains like that of Sabinyo, Gahinga and Muhavura mountains with the beautiful scenery of Kisoro hills and valleys together with amazing photography of the area.
Rushaga sector has 10 gorilla families, with the highest number of habituated gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable national park. These families includes Bweza, Nshongi, Mishaya, Bikingi, Busingye, Kahungye, Tindatine, Mucunguzi, Rwigi, Kutu gorilla families. The Rushaga sector is the only place in Bwindi forest where you can go for Gorilla Habituation Experience which allows you to spend 4 hours with gorillas in their habitat being escorted with armed rangers.
The costs gorilla habituation experience permit cost USD 1500 per person in Uganda and the normal trekking the permit cost USD 800 per person. The park has selected two gorilla families for habituation experience therefore 8 permits are sold per day for habituation and 80 permits daily, with 4 people visiting each gorilla family for habituation experience and the 8 people per gorilla family standing to normal trekking.
Buhoma sector in Bwindi forest
Buhoma sector is found in the northern part of the Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in Kanungu district. This is one of the 4 gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi forest national park tat where opened in the year of 1991. The Buhoma sector is the first sector to opened in Bwindi and is the one having the first and the oldest gorilla habituated family known as Mubale gorilla family that was opened in 1993 and it was named after Mubale hills where it was first sighted. This group was started with 12 members led by dominant sliver back called Ruhondeza at the time of habituation. As per now Mubale gorilla family is having 9 members, the family Ruhondeza died after a serious fight with other males in group and he dead in 2013.
Since Buhoma is the oldest among the four sectors in Bwindi impenetrable national park. Buhoma is the most visited sector in Bwindi because of its history, easy to trek gorillas since the gorillas come up to the starting point of Buhoma and the first sector to be opened for trekking gorillas.
Buhoma sector has 7 habituated gorilla families that can be visited by the tourist, these are Mubale gorilla family, Rushegura gorilla family, Muyambi gorilla family, Katwe gorilla family, Habinyanja gorilla family, Binyindo gorilla family, and Kanywanyi gorilla family of Buhoma sector in Bwindi forest national park.
Nkuringo sector in Bwindi forest.
Nkuringo is located in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park bordering Rushaga sector and Buhoma sector of Bwindi forest. The gorilla families here is strenuous to trek needs enough fitness to climb hills to search for gorillas. The trekking is so rewarding with beautiful view of Mt. Nyiragongo and Mt. Nyamuragira in Virunga national park in D R Congo. The visitors who love adventurous activities will need to trek Nkuringo sector gorilla families.
Nkuringo sector is having four habituated gorilla families these are Nkuringo gorilla family, Bushaho gorilla family, Christmas gorilla family, and the Posho gorilla family availability for trekking which means there are 32 gorilla permits sold daily at USD 800 person Mirama Hills Safaris is welcoming you for the great experience.
Ruhija sector in Bwindi forest.
Ruhija sector is location in the eastern part of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park bordering Buhoma sector and Rubanda district and is accessible.
Ruhija sector has six gorilla families that is Kyaguliro A gorilla family, Bitukura gorilla family Orizogo gorilla family, Mukiza gorilla family, Kyaguliro B gorilla family, and Happy gorilla family .
Bwindi forest is the best birding destination on the African continent most especially in Ruhija sector with best birdwatching spots, some of the birds you can spot while in Bwindi is Rwenzori batis, African green broadbill, Grauers warbler, Rwenzori turaco among others, you can carry binoculars for better bird watching who lovers birds.
There are more activities in all Bwindi impenetrable forest national park sectors; such the nature walks in the forest, explore the forest on foot, visit community and interact with Batwa pygmy people who were inhabitant of the park before they evicted from forest in 1991 and learn their traditional way of living as you are going to relax around lake Bunyonyi after visit gorillas in Bwindi forest.
What To Carry With When You To Visit Bwindi for Gorillas;
Camera
Insect repellents
Comfortable hiking shoes
Pair of binoculars
Travel documents
Sunglasses
Back packer bag
Long trouser
Long sleeved shirts