Gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi
Bwindi gorilla trekking sectors : Situated on the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most famous gorilla trekking destination in the world. The park is located in western Uganda covering area of 124 square miles of untamed mountainous and lowland forest. This forest is over 25,000 years old and is one of the most biologically diverse forests in the country.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is divided into 4 sectors also known as Bwindi gorilla trekking sectors that is Ruhija Sector, Rushaga Sector, Buhoma Sector and Nkuringo Sector. Each of these sectors. Each of these Bwindi gorilla trekking sectors offers different difficulty level for tracking the mountain gorillas and different habituated mountain gorillas.
The easiest Bwindi gorilla trekking sector is Buhoma Sector.
Buhoma Sector
Buhoma Sector also known as Buhoma gorilla trekking sector is the most popular gorilla trekking sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park located in the Northern section of the park and offers the most exquisite gorilla trekking experience.
Buhoma Sector is the first gorilla trekking sector to be opened in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and is where gorilla tourism started from, the sector was open in 1993 paving way to gorilla tourism in Uganda with Mubare Gorilla Group as the first gorilla family to be opened for gorilla trekking after a three-year habituation process.
The first team that visited Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking visited Mubare gorilla family, at that time the family had 18 members with the dominant silverback who also the one the eldest known as Ruhondeza
Buhoma Sector has for 4 habituated gorilla family groups open for gorilla trekking that is
- Mubare gorilla family
- Habimanya gorilla family
- Rushegura gorilla family
- Katwe gorilla family.
In Buhoma Sector, a total of 32 gorilla permits are issued on a daily since only eight (8) gorilla permits are issued per group.
Buhoma sector is an easy sector to access compared to other three gorilla trekking sectors of Bwindi. Buhoma sector is accessed on a drive of approximately 550 kilometers for about 8-9 hours via Kampala – Masaka – Mbarara – Ntungamo – Rukungira – Kihihi route.
By flight, Buhoma Sector is served by Kihihi Airstrip.
Buhoma Sector is also situated close to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest National Park and Rwenzori Mountains National Park so these Uganda safari destinations can easily added to your Uganda gorilla trekking safari itinerary in Buhoma Sector.
Gorilla trekking in Buhoma Sector takes place at a lower altitude “as low as 1,400 meters” and the trekking is rated as moderately easier.
Rushaga Sector
Rushaga gorilla trekking sector “Rushaga Sector” is located in the extreme southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park close to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, this sector is renowned for hosting the highest number of habituated gorilla families and gorilla habituation experience which allows visitors to spend more hours (4 hours) with a semi- habituated mountain gorilla.
Rushaga Sector is situated in the Kisoro and Nkirungo districts, the sector stretches around the rolling hills providing greate vantage point from which you will have uninterrupted views of the forest canopy, Lake Mutanda and the distance Virunga Mountains of Rwanda.
Rushaga Sector has eight (8) gorilla groups available for gorilla trekking with two gorilla families reserved for research and habituation experience (Gorilla Habituation Experience). These gorilla families include
- Nshongi Gorilla Family
- Mishaya Gorilla Family
- Busingye Gorilla Family
- Bweeza Gorilla Family
- Kahungye Gorilla Family
- Bikingi Gorilla Family
- Mucunguzi Gorilla Family
- Rwiigi Gorilla Family.
On a daily, only 64 gorilla permits are issued for gorilla trekking.
Rushaga Sector is situated close to Lake Mutanda and Lake Bunyonyi which are approximately 2 hours drive away and can be added to your Uganda gorilla trekking itinerary to Rushaga Sector, the sector is also situated approximately 5 hours of drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Rushaga sector can also be accessed from Kigali, Rwanda through the Cyanika Border in Kisoro which is approximately a 3 hours drive.
By charter/domestic flight, Rushaga Sector is served by Kisoro Airstrip.
Nkuringo Sector
Nkuringo Sector is located in South of the park, the sector is renowned for sheltering one of the most popular dominant silverbacks in Bwindi – Rafiki.
Nkuring Sector was the second gorilla sector to be established in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in 2004 and is the second most popular gorilla trekking sector after Buhoma Sector, this sector offers the most challenging to reach and most entertain gorilla groups in Uganda.
Nkuringo Sector has 3 habituated gorilla groups available for gorillas and one other gorilla group which is currently going through the habituation process and soon it will be avail for the exclusive Gorilla Habituation Experience.
Habituated gorilla families in Nkuringo gorilla trekking sector are
- Nkuringo Gorilla Family
- Bushaho Gorilla Family
- Christmas Gorilla Family
- Posho Gorilla Family (Under Habituation)
On a daily, a total of 24 gorilla permits are issued for gorilla trekking.
Nkuringo gorilla trekking sector has high altitudes thus being one of the hardest sectors to the trek.
This sector is accessed on Entebbe – Kabale – Muko – Nkuringo route via Kampala by road or on Entebbe – Kisoro – Mutanda – Nkuringo route. Nkuringo Sector can also be accessed from Queen Elizabeth National Park on a drive of 5 hours.
By air, Nkuringo sector is served by Kisoro Airstrip.
Ruhija Sector
Ruhija Sector is located in the Eastern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and is one of the coldest areas of the park thanks to its altitude of 2,350 meters above the sea level, this sector is mainly positioned between Buhoma region in the north and Kabale Town in the South.
Ruhija Sector is the quietest of the four gorilla trekking regions of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park providing with the most secluded experience, Ruhija is the highest point of Bwindi Forest siting an altitude just above 2,500m and from here, you get exquisite views of lush rolling hills and the distant Virunga Mountains.
While in Ruhija, you can hike to the top of Rwamunyonyi peak (2,607 m) known as the hill of many birds, Rwamunyonyi is the highest and coldest point in Bwindi Forest and there is a large swamp.
Ruhija Sector is home to 4 habituated gorilla families which are open for gorilla trekking families that are
- Kyaguliro A Gorilla Family
- Oruzogo family
- Bitukura Gorilla Family
- On a daily, only 24 gorilla trekking permits are available in Ruhija Sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
