Uganda’s Nkuringo Sector Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: In the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, gorilla trekking is popular in four sections, including Nkuringo. Half of the remaining endangered mountain gorillas can be found in the Nkuringo sector, which is located in the southern region of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, a well-known safari destination.
In addition to the Nkuringo sector, there are other areas where gorilla trekking is possible, including the north’s Buhoma sector, which is the most visited of the four; the south’s Rushanga sector, which is the best place to see the greatest number of habituated gorilla families; and the east’s Ruhija sector.
These highly endangered mountain gorillas are the reason behind the international fame of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, which is situated in the Kanungu district in the southwest of Uganda and is around nine to ten hours’ drive away.
Trekking with Gorillas in Nkuringo Sector
Three habituated gorilla families can be found in the Nkuringo sector, where daily mountain gorilla trekking is possible. These families are
The family of Nkuringo gorillas
Trekkers originally named this gorilla group after the round hill known as Nkuringo. After being acclimated under the leadership of an elderly Nkuringo silverback who passed away in April 2008, the Nkuringo gorilla family was formally opened for tourists in 2004. This left two species of silverbacks: the safari and Rafiki. It currently has two silverbacks and 19 members.
Family of Bushaho Gorillas
One of the gorilla families in Nkuringo sector that coexisted with the Bikyangi gorilla group in Rushaga sector was the Bushaho family. Later in 2012, some members of the Nkuringo gorilla family, such as the Bahati silverback, broke away from the group.
Upon doing a search, the trekkers discovered that these individuals had joined the Bushaho gorilla family. The family, which now consists of 11 individuals, was habituated at that point. They include one black back, four adult females, two semi-adult females, three newborns, and one silverback, Bahati, who is the family’s dominant leader.
The family of Christmas Gorillas
In the Nkuringo sector, this is a recently established gorilla trekking family. The dominating silverback that was born on Christmas is the source of the group’s name. It has nine members, including six that may be seen when trekking. These members include one silverback, three adult females, one baby, and one blackback.
Similar to the other three sectors, gorilla trekking in the Nkuringo sector begins with an orientation on the dos and don’ts of the hike. Following the briefing, you will be divided into eight groups and assigned to a habituated gorilla family for the hike. In order to reduce the behavioral changes of the habituated gorillas and the transmission of human diseases including malaria, flu, and diarrhea, Bwindi gorilla trekking only permits a maximum of 8 people to trek a habituated gorilla family.
Along with a park guide who will be providing accurate facts about this gentle giant, the hike begins at approximately 8:00 am. In the Nkuringo sector, gorilla trekking takes roughly three to seven hours in the middle of the jungle. Once the gorillas are found, trekkers get the opportunity to spend an hour with them in their natural environment. You can learn about their customs, way of life, and how to take pictures with a digital camera in this hour.
In order to trek gorillas in the Nkuringo sector, tourists must first get a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda. This costs USD 800 for foreign nonresidents, USD 700 for foreign residents, and UGX 300,000 for East African nationals.
Gorilla trekking permits can be purchased directly from Uganda Wildlife Offices or via a reputable tour operator such as All In Africa Safaris. The best way to get a gorilla trekking permit is to book through a tour operator, which is what we urge guests to do at all times. We will also arrange for your transportation to Nkuringo sector, meals, and lodging.
Please take note that there are only 24 gorilla trekking permits available in the Nkuringo sector, which means that only 24 tourists are permitted to walk the mountain gorillas there each day.Therefore, it is best to reserve your gorilla trekking permit well in advance of the trek date to prevent last-minute destruction. Permits are sold on a daily basis, and during the busiest months of June, July, August, December, and January to February, travelers are advised to book six months in advance.
Accommodations in the Nkuringo sector
Aside from gorilla trekking, which is the main attraction in the Nkuringo sector, you can also partake in other reasonable activities like birdwatching, where you can see a variety of stunning bird species, including the African blue flycatcher, garner warbler, Kivu ground thrush, short-tailed warbler, yellow-eyed black catcher, African emerald cuckoo, and short-tailed warbler, to name a few.
You can take a forest walk on foot, where you can discover the hidden gems of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest while taking in the fresh air, the sounds of birds, primates, and monkeys. You can also have a community encounter, where you can meet and talk to the Batwa people, who once lived in the forest with endangered mountain gorillas, and the Bakiga people.
Lodging in the Nkuringo Sector
During your gorilla trekking safari, you can stay at a variety of cozy lodging options in the Nkuringo region, including Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Campsite, Hammerkop Bunkhouse, and Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge. These accommodations range from luxury to mid-range and cheap. many others, like Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge. All of them have cozy mattresses, private bathrooms, and a garden where guests may unwind while enjoying rewarding views of the forest, various birds, and primates. Birdwatching, community tours, and forest walks are other activities.
The Best Time to Go Gorilla Trekking in Nkuringo Sector
Although gorilla trekking in the Nkuringo sector is possible throughout the year, the best time to travel is during the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February, when the park is not as slick. Roads to the Nkuringo sector are accessible during dry seasons, allowing you to get a good look at the mountain gorillas.
Even during the rainy season, tourists can still go gorilla trekking in the Nkuringo area because there is less competition for permits, lodging costs drop, and permits can still be obtained at the last minute.
How to Reach the Nkuringo Sector
The Nkuringo Sector is located in Bwindi’s southern region. road or air transportation to reach the area, which is an impenetrable national park;
Through Road Transportation
Nkuringo sector is easily accessible from a variety of locations; for example, it takes 8 to 9 hours to drive from Kampala to Nkuringo sector via Masaka, Mbarara, and Kabale. After that, the travel from Kabale town takes roughly three hours.
Although it is not advised, you are free to choose to travel to Nkuringo Sector via public transportation. If you choose to use public transportation, you will take a bus from Kampala to Kabale and then take a private cab from Kabale to the park headquarters.
Through Air Travel
You’re going to reserve a domestic flight. Aerolink Uganda Limited offers both scheduled and chartered flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip, from whence you must take a road conveyance to Nkuringo Sector.
