Mountain gorillas are endangered primates currently situated in only 3 countries on earth. Of the 3 countries, Uganda is home to the highest mountain gorilla population of over 500 gorilla species inhabiting the two national parks of Bwindi Impenetrable forest and Mgahinga Gorilla Park both located in southwestern Uganda. Bwindi impenetrable forest is a more popular gorilla destination compared to Mgahinga national park with 11 habituated gorilla groups and 2 gorilla groups under the process of habituation where visitors are allowed to join and experience the habituation process.
Available Gorilla Groups in Uganda
Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks have a total of 14 gorilla groups 12 of which are fully habituated while 2 undergoing the habituation process. 11 of the habituated gorilla groups live in Bwindi impenetrable national park and are evenly distributed in the 3 major sectors that the park has. The major sectors in Bwindi include the Buhoma sector, which is the most visited part of the park, comprises of 3 habituated gorilla groups (Habinyanja group, Mubare group and Rushegura group), the Ruhija sector also has three habituated gorilla groups (Bitukura group, Kyaguriro group and Oruzogo group). Lastly is the Rushaga and Nkuringo sector situated in the southern part of Bwindi; there are 6 habituated gorilla groups here and they include Busingye group, Bweza group, Kahungye group, Mishaya group, Nshongi group and the Nkuringo group.
Strictly 8 tourists visit each of the groups every day and are only allowed to stay in the presence of the mountain gorillas for just an hour. The number of tourists allowed to visit gorillas in Uganda is restricted to only 8 people for just one hour on a single day to ensure sustainability of mountain gorilla , which would be undermined if crowds of tourists were left to visit the gorillas in a day.
Mgahinga gorilla national park has one mountain gorilla group known as the Nyakagezi group. Initially, this gorilla group usually moved across the border to volcanoes national park in Rwanda but with time stabilized and now permanently stays in Uganda. It has a total of 10 mountain gorillas including 3 males commonly known as silverbacks.
The 2 mountain gorilla groups that are undergoing habituation live in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park. They are the Bikingi and Bushaho gorilla groups.
Mountain Gorilla Hiking Experience
Visiting gorillas is Uganda is leading tourists attraction and the most in the south west of Uganda. The process of gorilla trekking starts in the morning taking 1 to 8 hours of hike through the forested Jungles. For one to do mountain gorilla tracking, he/she should first acquire a mountain gorilla permit. The mountain gorilla permits are sold at $600 in the peak tourist season and at $450 in the low seasons in April, May and November. Tourists tracking mountain gorillas are only allowed to be in the presence of the gorillas for only one hour after which they are led back to the park headquarters to b awarded with certificates of participation.
The permits fees include park entrance fees, guiding fees, and time with the gorillas, relevant government taxes and a small percentage income for the surrounding community.
Tourists who feel are not physically fit enough to track gorillas for long should endeavor to inform the guides or the warden early enough so that they get allocated mountain gorilla groups that can be got to after relatively less hours of hiking.
The Mountain Gorilla Habituation Experience
This has been newly introduced in the Rushaga sector where two mountain gorilla groups are undergoing habituation. The mountain gorilla habituation surpasses the mountain gorilla tracking experience because it gives tourists a chance to be In the presence of the mountain gorillas for four full hours. It also starts early in the morning with a briefing after which tourists are then led to the jungle following the trails of the gorillas.
Important to note is that only 4 tourists are allowed to be part of this incredible experience and the mountain gorilla habituation permit is sold at $1500 per person.
Magical Uganda gorilla experiences can be enjoyed in the pearl of Africa at any time of the year however tourists should book their gorilla permits early enough.
