Tracking Mountain Gorilla Families in Uganda

How is a Uganda gorilla tracking safari
Gorilla trekking is a distinctive wildlife activity in Africa that one can do while touring on his/her Congo, Rwanda and Uganda safari tour. Tracking mountain gorillas is done throughout the year and travellers visiting this part of Africa have a chance of seeing these rare gentle giants in the wild.

Things to consider while preparing for a gorilla tour
The cost of the gorilla permit and cost of the tour itself are 2 vital things to put into consideration when booking for a gorilla safari in Uganda or Rwanda. In Uganda a gorilla permit costs 600 USD while in Rwanda the permit price is 1500USD. Rwanda has introduced a low-season gorilla permit discount of 30% ($1,050) between the months of December and May for trackers who are willing to stay in the country for at least 3 days and also visit her other two wildlife destinations of Nyungwe and Akagera National Parks.
While considering where exactly to go for your gorilla trekking safari, Uganda and Rwanda may be the best choices for you given their safe mountain gorilla safaris compared to Congo which is facing insecurity cases around Virunga National Park where her mountain gorillas reside. For travelers who would still love to go to Congo, they can alternatively visit Kahuzi-Biega National Park which is safer to track Lowland gorillas.

Habituated Gorilla Groups of Uganda
The groups listed below are those currently available for Gorilla Tracking within Uganda’s Bwindi National Park

Buhoma Area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
• Mubare Group:  this group (also called the M-Group) – was the very first group to actually be tamed for tracking by tourists. The taming started in 1991 and the group received its very first tracking visitors in 1993.  Mubare group is really named after the dazzling Mubare Hills in which this group was discovered.

• Habinyanja Group: The Habinyanja Group was tamed for tracking in 1997 and welcomed her first tourists in the year 1999. In the start it was a huge group, however another family was split from it named the Rushegura Group.  These two groups crisscross each other now and again and co-exist peacefully.

• Rushegura Group: It was tamed for tracking in 2000 and started receiving tourists in the 2002.  It is a huge group within the Buhoma area of Bwindi Forest.
Ruhija region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – habitat of the Bitukura Gorilla group

• Bitukura Group:   The Group is among of the new ones in Bwindi Forest- it is found and wanders the verdant forest within the Ruhija area. There is constrained lodging in this area –with accessibility limited to moderate and high-class lodges.

Rushaga region of Bwindi Forest  – habitat of the Nshongi Group as well as the Mishaya Gorilla Family

• Mishaya Group: This family was formed after splitting from the large Nshongi group which still resides in the Rushaga  region in Southern Bwindi Forest.

• Nshongi Group: This is the biggest tamed gorilla group in Uganda. After taming it contained 25 after which 10 left to form another family called Mishaya Group.

The Nkuringo Region of Bwindi Forest – though physically challenging, this region is very rewarding being a home of the Nkuringo Gorilla Family

• Nkuringo Group:   The accommodation facilities found at Nkuringo – offer a breathtaking worth the cost of the gorilla-permits- this is among some of the most challenging hikes in Uganda – although unquestionably worthwhile- the most pleasing.  The Group comprises of 19 members and is a favorite to people who have tracked over one group.