If you a probably wondering if it is possible to fly to Nkuringo to see mountain gorillas, Yes it is possible at a very affordable price with Encounter Africa Safaris. We have mastered the art of making affordable tailor-made safaris to suit your budget. Bwindi Impenetrable forest in south-western Uganda boasts half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas. There are four sectors of Bwindi impenetrable park these are; Nkuringo sector, the Buhoma sector, Rushaga sector, and Ruhija sector, but we are focusing on the Nkuringo Sector, the home to the Nkuringo family.

ABOUT BWINDI IMPENERTABLE PARK

You find Bwindi impenetrable park in south-western Uganda. It’s 550km from Kampala. it is on the eastern edge of the Albertine rift valley.  The park has different tree species, half of the world’s most endangered species, with over 347 bird species. The park has four gorilla trekking sectors that include; Nkuringo sector; Southern sector, Rushaga sector; Southern part, Ruhija sector; eastern part, Buhoma sector; Northern part. The park has several habituated gorilla families in these sectors; Nkuringo has 2 groups which include nkuringo and the Christmas party, Rushaga has Mishaya, Nshogi, Busingye,bweza, and Kahungye, Ruhija has kuaguriri, oruzogo,bitukura,Buhoma has Mubare,Habinyanja and rushegura making it 11 habituated gorilla families on Bwindi impenetrable forest.

ABOUT NKURINGO SECTOR

We find Nkuringo in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable forest. The nkuringo family is the largest In the southern sector. The Nkuringo sector was opened in 2004 .it was named after an alpha silverback named Nkuringo that died four years later. Currently, the sector has 19 members with 2 silverbacks.

Introduction of the Christmas gorilla group

The Christmas group is the newest gorilla group in nkuringo, it comprises 6 members, headed by 1 silverback named Christmas, 1 black silverback, 3 females, and 2 babies. Nkuringo sector is the most strenuous of all regions, but it is a rewarding experience when you make it to the trail where the gorillas are.

Nkuringo gorilla Permits as of now are 600usd but with effect from July 2020 they will be increased to 700USD. You will spend 1 hour with the gorillas. We purchase these permits at Uganda wildlife authority and book them in advance as they are always on demand. You can book your permits through Encounter Africa Safaris. Another Beautiful thing to note about Bwindi impenetrable park is that it is the only park that harbors highly endangered species.

How to get there.

The pleasant news is that you can be able to get to the park by air, which is faster and less tiresome since it takes approximately 1 hour and 35minutes.

Aero link is a domestic airline offering both scheduled and charter flights to Bwindi national park.it operates daily flights to Kisoro since you are to track in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable park. The drive time from Kisoro to a nearby lodge is approximately 1 hour and a half. It always requires passengers to check-in 90minutes before the scheduled departure time on your flight. It is also important to note that Aero links baggage is 15kilograms per person and they charge the excess at 3usd per kilo. There also private charters available for clients that have different timing requirements and different routings too. You might also want to travel with your kids, which is free for an infant below 2years old. They carry children above 12years at 70% of the adult’s fare.

When to Travel

Bwindi impenetrable forest is open for trekking all year round, but it is also important to note that the forest is a tropical rain forest and can receive rain at any time. When you travel during March to May and November there are chances of higher rainfall, you will get discounts from some lodges for your accommodation.

The best months to track gorillas include; June to August and December to February, since they receive the lowest rainfall and the forest is less slippery.

Below I have tried to make a comparison of the seasons so it can help you in making a decision regarding which months you would like to travel;

March to May and September to November (low season, rainy season)

1. The roads leading to the park are too slippery

 2. Sometimes the forest is covered with mist and fog, making it difficult to see the gorillas.

3. It might rain for days

     4. On a lighter note, because of the rain, you might view more birds in the forest

June to August and December to February (High season, Dry season)

1. Permits are on very high demand

2. The roads are   passable and dry

3. Good chance of beautiful photography

Gorilla permits are always available all year through in case you would want to enjoy this experience of a lifetime.

Where to Stay

Nkuringo mostly compromises of high end luxury lodges, these include Nkuringo Bwindi gorilla lodge, a 4-star lodge located approximately 2 minutes from the park. It boasts of exquisitely handcrafted cottages with excellent service.

You can also opt for budget lodges basing on your budget needs but I would recommend you use the accommodation in rushaga though it is a bit far from Nkuringo sector that is a one hour drive meaning you will have to get up early for the drive.

 For the budget options, you can stay at Rushaga havens lodge; An exquisite lodge in Ryarutagara has an exquisite view as it overlooks the park.it also has very good service.

When we talk about budget, you might get worried, worry not. This lodge has ensuite bathrooms and free Wi-Fi. All these lodges have three meal plans when you book your safari with Encounter Africa Safaris, u a guaranteed a full board meal basis.

What to wear

 You might be probably wondering what to wear for your trek. Below is a compiled list on what to wear;

1. A  long-armed sweater since  the park gets cold
2. 2 pairs of long trousers
3.  Waterproof hiking boots
4.  A hat and sunglasses depending on the weather, though this is optional
5. Cameras and long-lasting batteries since photography is very important to keep your memories alive. Always remember to keep our flash off.
6. A pair of Binoculars. This will help you see the vast birds Bwindi impenetrable forest has among other primates.
7. Gardening Gloves; these will help you when you am holding onto trees are branches through the trek.
8. A raincoat; Since  Bwindi impenetrable forest is rainforest, the rain is unpredictable so to be on a safer side, it will require you to carry along a coat.
9. A mosquito Repellent; since it is a forest, it has different dangerous insects, so it’s advisable to carry it along or wear it
10. A sunscreen; Well, this is optional but depending on the season, it might get too hot and you end up getting sunburns on your skin so to avoid that, you will need sunscreen.

What color to wear for your Trek.

You should not wear dazzling colors since this will charge or scare away the gorillas.

Black and Blue colors are also not recommend since they attract Tsetse flies

So I would recommend neutral colors.

Booking your Trip

Booking your trip should not be stressful and hustle as Encounter Africa Safaris is here to help you with all our travel needs. Encounter Africa safaris has been around since 2003 and it has mastered the art of booking tailor-made safaris with over 200 reviews on trip advisor. We take pride in all this.

However, note that you have to make your booking in advance since permits will require reserving, Booking your flights, plus accommodation. These permits are usually on outrageous demand, your flights must be confirmed and sometimes the lodges might have no availability, so it is always advisable to book in advance and make a small deposit for your safari to secure all your services.

About Encounter Africa Safaris

Founded in 2003, Encounter Africa safaris takes pride in customizing tailor-made safaris.it has a very diligent and trustworthy team. we answer queries within 20minutes by our team of professional tour consultants. These consultants will make you a travel plan for you, answer to all your questions and make sure we book all your services in advance for you to avoid inconveniences. We also have very knowledgeable safari guides depending on your language preferences. There some fly in Gorilla safaris, and these include; the 2-day Gorilla Fly-in safari, the 3-day Gorilla Fly-in safari, 5 Day Gorilla fly-in safari, it all depends on your preference. Contact us via email can also visit our website on how to organize a flying safari to see mountain gorillas in Nkuringo.