Uganda wildlife Authority with pleasure has announced a new gorilla group called Katwe gorilla family in the northern sector of the great Bwindi impenetrable National Park. According to a statement issued by Uganda wildlife Authority and addressed to Tour operators and other stake holders, Katwe gorilla group which has been under habituation can now be reserved and booked for gorilla trekking in the region. Katwe gorilla family now brings the total number of habituated mountain gorilla families to four in Buhoma. Initially Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable National Park had only three habituated mountain gorilla group including Mubare group (The first gorilla family to be habituated and opened for gorilla trekking in 1993), Rushegura (The darling of tourists who visit Buhoma for gorilla trekking) and Habinyanja gorilla group. For more details about gorilla trekking families in Bwindi, kindly refer or request our updated gorilla trekking document and one of our Safari designer will email it to you.

About Katwe gorilla family in Buhoma.

It took up to three years to habituate and complete Katwe gorilla family located in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Gorilla habituation is a process of making sure that wild mountain gorillas get used to human beings. According to reliable sources, Katwe gorilla family or group located in the northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has one dominant silverback, two babies and four adult females. The actual number is yet to be established and Encounter Africa safaris is always on top of things to make sure that you get timely and accurate information about gorilla families and gorilla trekking activities in both Uganda and Rwanda. We continue to be the leading tour operator for Rwanda and Uganda by providing relevant information and affordable gorilla tour rates for both destinations.

Impact of Katwe gorilla family on Buhoma gorilla permits

With the introduction of Katwe gorilla group in Buhoma region of Bwindi impenetrable National park, it means that the number of gorilla permits available daily for trekking in Buhom region has increased from 24 to 32 gorilla permits. It should be noted that each habituated gorilla family in Uganda and Rwanda is supposed to be trekked by a maximum 8 people for one hour. Since Buhoma has been having only three habituated mountain gorilla families (Mubare, Habinyanja and Rushegura), the introduction of Katwe gorilla group hence increased on the number of permits available for this region. Tourists can take advantage of the increased gorilla trekking spots to visit mountain gorillas in Buhoma region.

Katwe gorilla group and Buhoma Region

Buhoma region is one of the most thought after gorilla trekking region in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is because, it was the first region where gorilla trekking started and the first group of tourist visited Mubare gorilla group in 1993. With this rich history, Buhoma region in the northern part of Bwindi has developed very fast and has many optional activities and Lodges of different categories. With Katwe gorilla family fully habituated, Lodges in Buhoma will stand to benefit from the increased number of tourists per day. Such lodges in Buhoma region include Gorilla Forest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Haven Lodge Bwindi and many others including Buhoma Community Camp. Encounter Africa safaris organizes affordable gorilla safaris to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi including a 3 Day gorilla tour from Entebbe/Kampala, 3 Day gorilla tour from Kigali/Rwanda, 5 Day gorillas and chimpanzee trekking tour, 5 Day gorillas and game viewing Safari. We can organize safaris from 5 to 25 days as long as you have enough time at your disposal.

The other reason that makes Buhoma one of the favorite region in Bwindi impenetrable National Park is that it has the lowest level when it comes to altitude of Bwindi. The lowest point of Bwindi is in Buhoma making it look like it is much easier to trek gorillas of Buhoma compared to other regions. (This however remains under discussion and no clear facts to back this up). Buhoma is also closer to Ruhija in the Eastern part of Bwindi and as such, one can stay in Buhoma Lodges and trek gorillas in Ruhija. From Buhoma also, one can drive 2-3 hours to Queen Elizabeth National Park to have an opportunity to visit the tree climbing lions of Ishasha and a boat cruise on Kazinga channel in the northern sector of Mweya. Our 5 Day gorilla and game safari is designed specifically for this.

Access Buhoma to trek Katwe gorilla family

For those interested in trekking Katwe gorilla family and other habituated gorilla groups in Buhoma region of Bwindi impenetrable National Park, you may choose to travel by road from Entebbe/Kampala to the northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or fly in from Entebbe international Airport to Kihihi Airstrip. Daily scheduled flights and charters can be arranged when Encounter Africa safaris is contacted.

Katwe gorilla group and Christmas gorilla family (In Nkuringo region) have now increased the number of habituated gorilla families in Uganda and Bwindi in particular from 15 to 17 groups making Uganda a destination with the highest number of habituated gorilla families in the whole word. It also imples that the 17 gorilla families can now provide 136 gorilla permits available for trekking gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Uganda remains an affordable gorilla trekking destination due to the fact that gorilla permits in Uganda are slightly cheaper than those of Rwanda.

As earlier noted, habituation of Katwe gorilla family took up to 3 years to be completed and you too can experience how wild gorillas are trained to get used to human beings. You can only do this by booking one of our special four hour gorilla habituation experience safaris to Bwindi to spend four hours with mountain gorillas still under habituation. This experience is only available in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and not Buhoma. You can choose to book our 3 Day gorilla habituation safari from Entebbe or 3 Day Bwindi gorilla habituation experience tour from Kigali. For those interested in combing gorilla and chimp habituation experience, then our 5 Day gorilla and chimp habituation safari is best for you.

For more details about Katwe gorilla family, how to book Katwe gorilla permits or Buhoma gorilla permits, do not hesitate to Contact Encounter Africa safaris, your trusted tour operator for Uganda and Rwanda. We are highly recommended on Trip Advisor as well as Safari Bookings and our expertise and professionalism in handling clients/tourist is un paralleled.