Gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi starting from Nkuringo sector

Are you looking for Gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi starting from Nkuringo sector?  Nkuringo sector is one of the places in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park a park in Uganda has more than a half of the mountain gorilla population left in the world. Mountain gorillas are relatives to human beings with over 98% human DNA just like chimpanzees. Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is was gazette in 1991 and is located in the southwestern part of Uganda. The park was declared a UNESCO natural world heritage site in 1994 protecting over 400 different tree species, 120 mammals, and over 350 bird species. Nkuringo sector is located in the southern part of this park. Trekking mountain gorillas in the Nkuringo sector is best done in the dry season and there are 99% chances of seeing these gentle primates when you visit the park.

Nkuringo sector is one of the 4 sectors where mountain gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and it harbors 2 mountain gorilla families Nkuringo and Christmas and 2 going under habituation that’s Bikingi and Bushaho and all these are open for trekking at any time of the year. Other sectors where mountain gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park are Ruhija, Buhoma, and Rushaga.

Trekking Nkuringo mountain gorillas in Bwindi

Gorilla trekking is the topmost done activity in the Nkuringo sector in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Gorilla trekking in the Nkuringo sector means being around mountain gorillas for a maximum of 1 hour while learning about their habits, watching them do daily activities as you take photos. Gorilla trekking in this sector is done by only those above 15 years of age and possess a valid gorilla trekking permit for that very sector. Trekking permits in Bwindi are issued out by Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Gorilla trekking safari in Nkuringo Bwindi starts early in the morning at the sector offices where trekkers are taught about the rules and regulations of the gorilla trekking activity after which the grouping is done and ranger guide lead the trekkers into the jungle to look for these mountain gorillas. During the search, the trekkers get an opportunity of meeting different park animals such as buffaloes, elephants, giant forest hogs, monkeys, different bird species as well as trees. After 2-7 hours of search and locating mountain gorillas, when they are finally found the 1 hour of being around them starts counting, and during this time you have an opportunity of learning about their habits, watching them do daily activities as you take photos for memories. After all this, trekkers can have lunch in the jungle and alter trek back to the starting point where they get their gorilla trekking certificates.

What’s the number of habituated mountain gorilla families in the Nkuringo sector

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has over 19 habituated mountain gorilla families spread all over the 4 sectors of the park among which include Nkuringo. Nkuringo sector harbors only 2 gorilla families which are Nkuringo gorilla family with 12 members including 2 silverbacks, 1 blackback, 2 adults females, and 3 juveniles, Christmas gorilla family made up of 9 members with 6 members mainly seen and these are 1 silverback, 1 black back, 3 females, and 1 infant.

What’s the number of mountain gorilla families undergoing habituation in the Nkuringo sector

2 mountain gorilla families are undergoing habituation experience in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in southwestern Uganda. The 2 gorilla families undergoing habituation are the Bushasho gorilla family composed of 8 members; 1 silverback, 3 adult females, 1 blackback, 1 juvenile, 1 infant, and 1 sub-adult, and Bikingi gorilla family with 15 members including 1 silverback, 2 sub-adults, 5 adult females, 2 juveniles and 5 infants.

How many gorilla permits are available in Nkuringo Sector

With only 2 mountain gorilla families already habituated- Christmas and Nkuringo, the sector has only 16 gorilla trekking permits available for tourists every day. The gorilla trekking permits for the Nkuringo sector can be bought from the Uganda wildlife authority or can be booked using a trusted local tour operator in advance of 3-4 months to avoid inconveniences. The gorilla permits for the Nkuringo sector allow travelers to be around mountain gorillas for a maximum of 1 hour.

What’s the number of gorilla habituation permits in the Nkuringo sector

Since only 4 people are allowed to habituate a mountain gorilla family, the Nkuringo sector in Bwindi has only 8 gorilla habituation permits available at Uganda wildlife authority every day. Since the gorilla habituation permits are few we normally advise our clients to book their permits in advance of 3-4 months most especially if they are planning to trek in the high season to avoid inconveniences.

What is the price of a gorilla permit in the Nkuringo sector?

Just like any other sector or gorilla national park, the permit prices for the Nkuringo sector go for $700 foreign non-residents, $60 foreign residents, and shs250,000 Citizens of East Africa at Uganda wildlife authority. The gorilla trekking permits can be booked directly from the Uganda wildlife authority by yourself or through any trusted tour operator like Africa Adventure vacations. The gorilla trekking permits are sold to people ages 15 years and above and allow travelers to be around mountain gorillas for 1 hour from the time of locating them.

We strongly advise people who want to visit the Nkuringo sector in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park to book their permits in advance to avoid disappointments because the Uganda Wildlife Authority gives them out on a first come first serve basis.

What’s the price of gorilla habituation permits to the Nkuringo sector?

Gorilla habituation permits to Nkuringo sector are sold $1500 at Uganda wildlife authority and a single permit is valid for one day allowing a single traveler to be around mountain gorillas for a maximum of 4 hours while making mountain gorillas get used to human presence.

Where to sleep on Gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi starting from Nkuringo sector

Nkuringo sector has several lodges, hotels, and camps ranging from budget to mid-range to luxury options where travelers can have a comfortable stay while on a safari in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Depending on a travel budget, travelers to the Nkuringo sector in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can stay in Nkuringo Gorilla Safari Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Safari Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Camp, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Back Packer’s Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, and Crested Crane Bwindi lodge among others.

What is the best time to visit the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi?

Nkuringo in the southern side of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can be visited at any time of the year but some months are better than the rest and these are the drier months. The drier months include June, July, August, September, December, January, and February, and these months are characterized by little or no rainfall, thin vegetation cover in the park giving clear photography and views of animals, less muddy and slippery trails, and lastly, the roads leading to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park are dry.

How to get to the Nkuringo sector in Bwindi

Travelers can access the Nkuringo sector by either air transport or road transport. by road transport, the shortest route is coming from Kigali and this takes 4-5 hours using the Katuna border in Kabale. The other option is using Kampala/Entebbe-Masaka-Mbarara-Kabale road to the sector of the park taking 9-10 hours with beautiful views of the countryside, smiling people, stopover at the equator, a distant view of different mountains and hills as well as lakes and rivers.

Luxury travelers to the Nkuringo sector can access the park using air transport from Kajjansi airfield or Entebbe international airport to Kisoro airstrip taking about 2 hours. From the airport, you can be driven to your booked accommodation.

What to do with Africa Adventure Vacations?

Africa adventure vacations is a tour company based in Uganda licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board and a member of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators. Booking with Africa adventure vacations provides you safety and confidence during your safari courtesy of well-trained safari driver guides who are well conversant with all routes and tourism destinations in Africa. You can book with us any of the activities you want to do in Africa such as mountain gorilla trekking, mountain gorilla habituation, birding, game drives, hiking, nature walks, and community tours among others. Booking gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi starting from Nkuringo sector can be done at any time of the year.