Nkuringo Sector
Nkuringo sector is found in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, one of the four mountain gorillas’ homes in the world. Bwindi National Park is a home to the largest population of mountain gorillas that still exist in the wild and boosts with over 23 habituated gorilla families, divided into four gorilla regions that it; Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga, where gorillas can be trekked.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is the most top tourist destination to be visited on Uganda Safaris because it sounds as world heritage that protect wide range of Mountain Gorillas. Some Gorillas can be seen in the slopes of volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
In this deep thick forest of Bwindi, it’s where you can find this Gorilla family ‘Nkuringo’’ which was named after the rolling hills and was the first sighted family. Nkuringo gorilla family was launched out to the public in 2004.
This Gorilla family has got more than 12 members that are undergone habituation. This group’s members used to live in the villages around the park and since they were seen destroying people’s crops, park rangers had to bring them under a training of habituation. Today, they are fully habituated and tourists visit them daily on their Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Bwindi.
The region at first had only the Nkuringo family and was originally led by the silverback Nkuringo who died on 2008 and later safari and Rafiki the silverback took over the power to led the family. That same year the family was blessed with set of twins from Kwitonda the twin mother, the twins were named Muhozi and Katungi making the family to expand more. However, Katungi died before even making 2 years.
Gorilla groups of Nkuringo sector include;
Nkuringo Gorilla Family
Bushaho Gorilla Family
Christmas Gorilla Family
Posho Gorilla Family and among others.
The only way to meet up with mountain gorilla in their natural inhabitant, you need to buy a gorilla permit which costs USD700 per person per day. However, it doesn’t indicate which gorilla family you will track -during the briefing time at the sector’s ‘’UWA trailhead office. They will assign you to one of these gorilla groups based on your physical ability. Although, most of trekkers who visit Nkuringo region, prefer visiting Bushaho family because is more entertaining and easier to track. The family is led by silverback known as Bahati who like showing off his intimidating chest -thumping demeanor thus making the family rewarding.
Note; Gorilla trekking is done in group of eight tourists per gorilla family a day. During trekking you will be allowed to spend up to one hour with the gorillas at a distance of 8 to 10 meters away.
Nkuringo sector has got different stunning activities carried out besides Gorilla trekking. Other activities includes; Community walks, learn about the day to day life of the local people in the region – enjoy tasting their meal and stories , Visit the Batwa trail where you will be able to interact with the first people to live in this ancient forest caves – learn about their unique life how they lived in the forest and survived.
Visit the local community schools and interact with these children, how they learn in barefoot, learn with no computers among others
To be able to track mountain gorillas in Nkuringo needs more of your physical fitness and good energy, because it’s one of the toughest trails in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest but after this Gorilla experience which is once a life time, one can no longer complain of how hard the trails spent during the trek.
Best time to visit Nkuringo -Bwindi National Park
Nkuringo region can be visited throughout for gorilla trekking experience though the best to visit the region is during the dry season that starts from June to Mid-September and December to February.
Where to stay while on gorilla safaris in Nkuringo region
There is no worry where to stay while on gorilla safari in Nkuringo region because the region has got excellent lodges ranges from Luxury, Mid-range and Budget. They include Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Karungi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Crested Crane Hotel, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge among others.
Accessibility to Nkuringo region -Bwindi National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be easily accessed by both road and air transport.
From Kampala or Entebbe to Bwindi can take between 8 to 9 hours drive to access the main visited destination.
Alternatively, you can use a domestic flight schedule or charter flight ‘’Aero link Uganda’’ based at Entebbe International Airstrip – it flies you to kihihi or Kisoro Airport a nearby local Airstrip ‘’1:15 hours’’.
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