Uganda introduces new gorilla families for gorilla trekking in 2024 and beyond.

After years of gorilla habituation, Uganda recently introduced new gorilla families, which have been introduced in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The new gorilla families are located in different sectors, including the Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Buhoma. The research team has spent about four years habituating these Mountain gorilla families, and they were introduced to the public on 17th January 2024, making a total of 5 newly introduced gorilla families.

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Rushaga Sector

The Rushaga sector has two new gorilla families, the Rwigi family, and the Tindatine gorilla family. 

The Rwigi gorilla family split from the main group of the Kahugye gorilla family and is led by the dominant silverback Rwigi, after which the family was named. The group was formed after the silverbacks in Kahugye got into a misunderstanding, resulting in a fight and, later, a breakaway when one of the silverbacks left, and some of the family members went with him after believing in his leadership. The Rwigi gorilla family currently has ten gorillas, including one silverback, two babies, five females, and two juveniles.

The Tindatine gorilla family is also one of the newly introduced gorilla families in the Rushaga sector, and it split from Nshongi. Tindatine gorilla family has 8 gorilla family members, which are led by one silverback.

Buhoma sector  

The Buhoma sector is located in the northern part of Bwindi with several gorilla families that can be tracked all year round. The Buhoma sector has two new gorilla families: the Bunyindo gorilla and the Muyambi gorilla family. 

The muyambi gorilla family is one of the newest gorilla families recently introduced to the public in the Buhoma sector. The group broke away from the Mubare gorilla family. The family is led by the silverback Muyambi, who led to the split from Mubare in 20919, and currently has 8 family members.

The Bunyindo gorilla family is also new in the Buhoma sector and is currently led by the silverback Bunyindo.

The Buhoma sector is also home to four more gorilla families, including Habinyanja, Katwe, Mubare, and Rushegura gorilla families. 

The Habinyanja gorilla family is found in Buhoma and was habituated in 1996. At the time of habituation, the gorilla family had 25 members and was led by the Mugurusi silverback, who died of old age. After his death, three gorilla silverbacks were fighting for succession, which led to Mwirima and Rwansigazi sharing power until 2002 when they separated into Habinyanja, led by Rwansigazi, and Rushegura by Mwirima. Habinyanja has 12 gorilla families, including 2 silverbacks, 2 juveniles, 2 blackbucks, 3 semi-adults, and 3 adult females.

Katwe gorilla family is a habituated gorilla family with 9 family members, including 2 infants, 1 silverback, 2 blackbucks, and 4 adult females, and it was opened to the public in 2008. There is no known number of gorilla families in Katwe because the family members keep moving in and out of the gorilla family.

The mubare gorilla family is the oldest habituated gorilla family in Buhoma and was also the first tracked gorilla family in Bwindi in 1993. The Mubare gorilla family had 12 members immediately after habituation but currently has 9 members, including 4 babies, 1 silverback, and four adult females, including Buzinza, Nyampazi, Twesiime, and Karungi.

The Rushegura gorilla family was part of the Habinyanja before the breakaway in 2002. The group was under the leadership of Mwirima who later died and currently, the group is under the leadership of a blackbuck. Rushegura has 19 members, including 1 sub-adult, 2 silverbacks, 6 adult females, 3 blackbucks, 4 infants, and 3 juveniles.

Nkuringo sector

Nkuringo sector is located in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and has been famous for being home to the popular Rafiki silverback that was killed by poachers in 2020 during the pandemic.

Only one gorilla family was introduced in Nkuringo, and this is the posho gorilla family. The group has 14 members, including infants, adult females, silverbacks, juveniles, and Blackbacks. The posho gorilla family is led by the silverback Magara.  

Nkuringo gorilla family has other gorilla families that have been open for habituation for a while, and these can be viewed at any time throughout the year for as long as you book for the permit in advance. The different gorilla families in Nkuringo include the Nkuringo gorilla family, which by 2021 had 12 gorilla family members. It was first led by the dominant silverback Nkuringo until his death in 2008, and the group was taken up by the blackback Rwamutwe. 

Christmas gorilla family has 9 family members who are under the leadership of the silverback Christmas who once belonged to the Nkuringo family. The silverback got its name Christmas because it was born on 25th December, and although there are 9 gorillas, only 6 can be spotted easily.

The Bushaho gorilla family is also located in the Nkuringo sector, and it was established in 2012, with some of the members coming from the Nkuringo family. This was the sector's second habituated gorilla family, consisting of 4 adult females, 2 silverbacks, 1 juvenile, 1 blackback, and 1 infant.

Other sectors in Bwindi

Rushaga sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southern part of the park. Rushaga sector is the only place in the country where the gorilla habituation process takes place, and it is home to a variety of gorilla families, including Bweza, Busingye, Kahungye, Mucunguzi, Rushaga, Mishaya, Rwigi, Nshongi and Bikini gorilla families. The Mishaya gorilla family has 8 members and was officially opened in 2009. The gorilla family, which was opened in 2011, has 12 members; the Bweza gorilla family has 11 members and was opened to the public in 2013; the Mucunguzi gorilla family has 10 members, dominantly filled with females; the Bikini gorilla family has 18 members; and the Busingye gorilla family has 10 members.

Note that the members in each family keep on changing with new baby gorillas, gorillas breaking away from their families due to conflicts, divorce, migration, and death. We shall keep on updating the numbers with time when new members join the gorilla families and with the formation of new groups.

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park

Besides Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in Mgahinga National Park, where you find only one gorilla family known as the Nyakagezi family. Mgahinga National Park has other gorillas; however, they are not habituated, and the main reason why there is only one gorilla family in Mgahinga is that the national park is close to the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and this has seen many gorillas crossing to the different countries leaving only Nyakagezi as the only one that stayed back in Mgahinga.

The challenges faced by gorilla families in Uganda

There has been a widespread campaign for the conservation of both habituated and non-habituated gorilla families, and this has been done through various ways by increasing the cost of the gorilla permit, which increases the number of people that trek the gorillas per day, and introducing the different rules and regulations that are to be followed during the trek exercise. However, some challenges are still being faced, like poaching from the locals because there is a demand for gorilla body parts and meat, encroaching on the park area by the locals, and diseases. Overcoming these challenges is not an easy fit and is a combined effort from government agencies, gorilla conservation organizations, and the local communities.

Purchasing a gorilla permit in Uganda

A gorilla permit is a legal document/ticket that grants tourists access to the endangered Mountain gorillas. Tourists can only get a chance to track gorillas in their natural habitat after purchasing a gorilla trek permit, and this is to protect the gorillas from poachers and diseases.

Gorilla permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, a government body responsible for protecting the wildlife and national parks in the country. You can easily purchase the permits directly through UWA; however, for convenience, you can purchase through a reliable tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris to help with purchasing the permit on your behalf and organizing the safari for you by booking transport and accommodation and many other services.

When purchasing a gorilla permit, you need to be able to note the sector (Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Nkuringo) because once a permit has been purchased for a specific sector, for example, Nkuringo, it cannot be used for any other sector for example Ruhija.

The cost of the gorilla permit in Uganda has been increased starting from 1st July 2024, and below is the cost of the permit, which can directly be bought from the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices or through a local tour operator, depending on the category of tourist you belong to.

Current cost permit Cost effective 1st July 2024

Foreign non-residents $700 to $800

Foreign residents $600 to $700

East African citizens UGX 250, 0000 to UGX300, 000

African citizens $500 $500

The gorilla permit gives you an hour with the gorillas; however, the trek can take between 1 to 7 hours, depending on the location of the gorilla family.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park also has a gorilla habituation permit, which grants you access to the gorillas for the gorilla habituation process, and you get to spend 4 hours with the primates.

Foreign non-residents     $1500

Foreign residents $1000

East African citizens     750, 000UGX

For the rest of Africa $1000         

Above is the new pricing of the gorilla habituation permits, and any permit that is bought before 30th June 2024 is not subject to the price change, but any reschedules done after the 1st are liable to the changes.

When to purchase gorilla permits in Uganda?    

Gorilla permits are to be purchased as soon as possible because they are always in high demand, especially during the dry season of June to September and December to February. Tourists are advised to purchase permits in advance, 6 to 12 months before the trek date. The peak/dry season permit demand is over the roof, and the chances of finding the availability of the permits on your desired dates are minimal. On the other hand, the wet/low season is experienced from March to May and October to November, and gorilla permits during this period are easier to get. However, you still need to purchase the permits in advance.

How to get to Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park for gorilla trekking        

There are two modes of transport that are used to get to Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and these are road and air transport.

By road: Driving from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga takes 9 to 10 hours, and this is the most commonly used mode of transport because it has beautiful views along the way, including the Equator monument. Tourists can also drive from Kigali to the national parks through the land borders of Cyanika and Gatuna. This is a much shorter distance and takes 4 to 5 hours.

By air: Flying to the national parks has been easy with the domestic charter flights from Entebbe to Kihihi airstrip and Kisoro airstrip, which take about one hour and a half. The charter flights must be booked in advance to match the trekking dates. When you get to the airstrip. You will be transferred to the park headquarters or your accommodation facility using a 4x4 safari vehicle. 

The gorilla trekking experience in Uganda is an exciting exercise where you meet the large Mountain gorillas, and we are here to help you plan your safari. Our staff is always ready to help you book the gorilla trekking permits and answer any questions that you might have about the safari. We will send you a detailed itinerary for your safari. Plan for the safari in time to enjoy both the old and the newly introduced gorilla families in the country.

Contact us for more information.