Gorilla trekking Uganda from Kigali

Gorilla trekking Uganda from Kigali

Gorilla trekking Uganda from Kigali: gorilla trekking has always been a very fun and exciting safari activity to do as a tourists while in Uganda, Uganda has become to be the perfect country where you can do mountain gorilla trekking and have the best experience of your life time because it hosts 3 quarters of the world’s mountain gorilla population.

Though Uganda has many routes which can be used to get to the residence of mountain gorillas that is Bwindi impenetrable national park and mgahinga national park such as using Entebbe international airport the main gate way for international visitors, some visitors prefer flying into Rwanda and then connect to Uganda for mountain gorilla trekking experience. This is partly because when you fly into Rwanda using Kigali international airport situated in Kigali city, it is easy to reach Bwindi impenetrable national park and mgahinga national park. From Kigali to mgahinga national park it is a drive of 3-4 hours using cyanika border and to Bwindi impenetrable national park it is also a drive of 3-5 hours using Katuna border.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda from Kigali is done in two mountain gorilla homes in Uganda that is Bwindi impenetrable national park and mgahinga national park, these national park consists of many amazing habituated gorilla families which are encountered while on this experience. As a tourist to take part in mountain gorilla trekking experience you have to be in possession of a mountain gorilla trekking permit, the permit is bought at the offices of Uganda wild life authority and it costs USD 700 per permit per person.

 Mountain gorilla trekking Uganda from Rwanda in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Bwindi impenetrable national park is a UNESCO world heritage site located I south western Uganda in kanungu district, the park is a remarkable home for mountain gorillas hosting the largest population of mountain gorillas in the world exceeding 400 individuals. Bwindi impenetrable national park is a recognized ecological system as it is one of the few areas in Africa where montane and lowland forests meet, the park covers an area of 321 square kilometers and lies on the altitude range of 1190 meters – 2607 meters.

 Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park is done in the following families which underwent through habituation process meaning they are comfortable with human presence.

Buhoma sector

Buhoma sector is the most exciting and loved gorilla trekking sector consisting of 4 gorilla families that is

• Rushegura gorilla family

Rushegura gorilla family is found in buhoma gorilla trekking sector of bwindi impenetrable national park and it is where it is found by trekkers,  rushegura gorilla family is a family of 16 members under the leadership of silverback Kabukojo. The family consist of 1 silverback, 4 blackbucks, 4 adult females, 3 juveniles and 4 infants.

• Habinyanja gorilla family

Habinyanja gorilla family is one if the families in buhoma gorilla trekking  family in bwindi impenetrable national park, this family is a family of 17 members under the leadership of silverback Makara. Habinyanja gorilla family consists of 5 adult females, 1 sub adult, 3 juveniles, 6 infants, 1 black back and 1 silver back

• Mubare gorilla family

mubare gorilla family is the oldest and the first gorilla family to be habituated in bwindi impenetrable national park, mubare family is found in buhoma gorilla trekking sector  and it is where it is found during mountain gorilla trekking experience. The family has 11 family members and led by silverback kanyonyi, mubare gorilla family members include  6 adult females, 1 sub adult, 3 infants and one silverback.

• Katwe gorilla family

Katwe gorilla family is one of the newly habituated and opened gorilla families for trekking in Uganda and bwindi impenetrable national park, katwegorilla family has 10 familiy members which consist of 4 adult females, 2 infants and 3 blackback and 1 silverback

Rushaga sector

Rushaga gorilla trekking sector is a mesmerizing sector consists of 5 habituated gorilla families which are easily accessed and available or trekking in Uganda from kigali.

• Kahungye gorilla family

Kahungye gorilla family is a big family of 17 individuals trekked and found in rushaga gorilla trekking sector of bwindi impenetrable national park, this amazing family is under the leadership of silverback Rumanzi and consists of  3 silverbacks, 3 black backs, 3 adult females, 3 sub-adult, 3 juveniles and two infants

• Mishaya gorilla family

Mishaya is a big family of 12 members found and being trekked in rushaga gorilla trekking sector in bwindi impenetrable national park, mishaya family is under the leadership of silverback mishaya from whom  the family is named after.

• Nshongi gorilla family

Nshongi gorilla family is a small family of 7 members under the leadership of silverback Bweza a strong silverback in the group, the family consists of 1 silverback, 3 adult females, 1 sub-adult, 1 infant and 1 juvenile under the leadership of Bweza. This family is being trekked in rushaga gorilla trekking sector.

• Bweza gorilla family

Bweza gorilla family is also found and trekked in rushaga gorilla trekking sector, this family consists of 12 family members under the leadership of silverback Kakono. Bweza gorilla family members include  2 silverbacks, 4 black backs, 3 adult females, 1 sub-adult and 2 infants.

• Busingye gorilla family

Busigye gorilla family is a family of 9 members, this family is entertaining to trek and it is trekked in rushaga gorilla sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park.

• Kutu gorilla family

Kutu gorilla family is a family of 8 family members trekked and found in Rushaga gorilla trekking sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park.

• Mucunguzi gorilla family

Mucunguzi gorilla family is family in Rushaga gorilla trekking sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park, this family split from the Bweza gorilla family and it is made up of 8 family members with Mucunguzi as the leading silverback.

• bikyingi gorilla family

Bikyingi gorilla family is one of the newly habituated gorilla family in Bwindi in Rushanga impenetrable national park found and trekked in Rushaga gorilla trekking sector, this family is under the leadership of silverback bikyingi and it consists of 22 family members that is 1 dominant silverback, 9 female gorillas, 2 juveniles and 10 infants.

Ruhija sector

Ruhija gorilla trekking sector has 3 habituated gorilla families which are trekked in Uganda from kigali in bwindi impenetrable national park.

• Kyaguliro gorilla family

Kyaguliro gorilla family is one of the largest gorilla family in the whole of bwindi impenetrable national park found in Ruhija gorilla trekking sector, kyaguliro family consists of two families that i Rukara family also referred to as group A and Mukazi family also refered to as  group B. Rukara group consists of 10 members including1 silverback, 2 black backs, 3 adult females, 2 juveniles and 2 infants., mukazi group also consists of 10 members with 1 silverback, 4 adult females, 1 sub adult and 4 infants.

• Bitukura gorilla family

Butura gorilla family is found in ruhija gorilla trekking  sector of bwindi impenetrable national park, this family has 13 family members under the leadership of silverback Ndahura . Family members in Bitukura include 4 silverbacks, 4 adult females, 2 juveniles and 3 infants.

• Oruzogo family group

Oruzogo family is a family of 17 family members found and being trekked in Ruhija gorilla trekking sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park, Oruzogo family is under the leadership of silverback Bukwate and it consists of 2 silverbacks, 2 black backs, 5 adult females, 2 sub-adults, 1 juvenile and 5 infants.

• Mukiza gorilla family

Mukiza gorilla family is found and trekking in Ruhija gorilla trekking sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park, this family consist of 10 family members.

Nkuringo sector

As per trekkers, Nkuringo sector is the toughest gorilla sector to trek, this sector hosts 2 gorilla families which are trekked that is

• Nkuringo gorilla family

Nkuringo gorilla family is relatively a large family consisting 12 gorilla family individuals, this family is found and trekked in Nkuringo gorilla trekking sector. Nkuringo gorilla family is headed by silverback Rafiki and it consists of 2 silverbacks, 1 blackback, 2 adult females, 2 sub-adults, 3 juveniles and two infants.

• Christmas gorilla family

Christmas gorilla family is one of the newly habituated and opened families for trekking experience found and trekked in Nkuringo gorilla trekking sector, Christmas gorilla family consists of 9 family members but only 6 members are usually sighted by trekkers and they include 1 blackback, 3 females and 1 baby.

• Bushaho gorilla family

Bushaho gorilla family is another newly habituated gorilla family in Bwindi impenetrable national park habituated in the same tome with bikyingi gorilla family, Bushaho gorilla family is found and trekked in Nkuringo gorilla trekking sector and consists of 11 members with 1 silverback, 1 black back, 4 adult females, 2 semi-adult females and 3 infants.

Gorilla trekking from Rwanda in Uganda in mgahinga gorilla national park

It is also possible to do mountain gorilla trekking in mgahinga national park while from Rwanda

Mgahinga gorilla national park

Mgahinga gorilla national park is the second home for mountain gorillas in Uganda located in Kisoro district in southwestern region of Uganda like Bwindi impenetrable national park, mgahinga national park is relatively a small national park covering an area of 33.9 square kilometers. Mgahinga national park lies among the Virunga conservation area which consists of other two gorilla homes that is Virunga national park of democratic republic of Congo and volcanoes national park of Rwanda.

Mountain gorilla trekking in mgahinga national park from Rwanda done only in one gorilla family which is a residence of mgahinga forests, this family is called Nyakagezi gorilla family. Nyakagezi gorilla family is a family of 10 family members lead by silverback Mark, family members in Nyakagezi family include 5 silverbacks, 2 adult females, 2 juveniles, and 1 infant.

Accessing mgahinga national park from Rwanda 

Mgahinga national park is situated approximately 141 kilometers from kigali town and 3-4 hours’ of drive, the park is accessed by crossing into Uganda using cyanika borders via Kigali—Katuna – Ruhengeri – Kisoro route.

When to go for mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda from Rwanda 

Mountain gorilla trekking is done throughout the year but for an easier and spectacular experience mountain gorilla trekking experience is best done in the dry months, dry months Bwindi impenetrable national park and mgahinga national park are experienced in the months of June to December. What makes these months amazing is that the trekking trails are dry and less slippery, also chance of rain falling are slim which makes the experience more amazing.

 Note: to participate in the most interesting mountain gorilla trekking you need to be in possession of a mountain gorilla trekking permit, a mountain gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is purchased at the offices of Uganda wildlife authority and it costs US$700