Key attractions in Nkuringo sector of Bwindi

What are the Key attractions in Nkuringo sector of Bwindi? This article is a guide on how to spend some good time in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is home to more than half of the mountain gorilla population and a world heritage site. Nkuringo is one of the sectors of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and is what we are going to look at today. There are so many activities that can be done in the Nkuringo sector with the most done being gorilla trekking, then gorilla habituation, nature walks, birding, and Batwa cultural experience. Nkuringo sector is located in the southern part of the park and is home to the Nkuringo gorilla family, Christmas gorilla family, Bushaho gorilla family, and Bikingi gorilla family. The following are the key attractions in Nkuringo sector of Bwindi;

Gorilla trekking safari in the Nkuringo

Nkuringo is one of the 4 sectors of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park where mountain gorilla trekking is carried out. Gorilla trekking in Nkuringo is the most done activity in the park and it’s done by people with valid gorilla permits and above 15 years of age. The gorilla trekking permits for the Nkuringo sector can be booked directly from the Uganda wildlife authority or can be got from trusted local tour operators at a fee of $700 foreign non-residents, $600 foreign residents while East Africans shs250,000. The gorilla trekking permit allows travelers to be around mountain gorillas for a maximum of 1 hour.

Gorilla trekking in the Nkuringo sector begins with a briefing after which trekkers are group into 8 people basing on interests, age, and physical ability. Trekkers are after led into the jungle by ranger guides who lead them through different trails of the park with opportunities of meeting different park animals such as buffaloes, chimpanzees, duikers, elephants, giant forest hogs, birds, and tree species. After 2-7 hours of trekking, the mountain gorillas are located and trekkers are given a maximum of 1 hour to be around them as they watch them do daily activities, take photos and learn more about their habits. After trekking the trekkers descend back to the starting point and get their gorilla trekking certificates.

Spending more time with gorillas in Nkuringo sector

Nkuringo is one of the 2 sectors of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park blessed to be having mountain gorillas undergoing habituation. Mountain gorilla habituation in Nkuringo is done in 2 mountain gorilla families Bushaho and Bikingi. The gorilla habituation process is done by a maximum of 4 people ages 15 years and above and must possess gorilla habituation permits. Mountain gorilla habituation permits for any of the gorilla families in Nkuringo are sold by Uganda Wildlife Authority or booked from a local tour operator at a fee of $1500 per person per trek. Uganda has only 8 gorilla habituation permits and by this, we strongly advise you to book your permits in advance of 3-4 months to avoid inconvenience.

Mountain gorilla habituation in Nkuringo sectors starts with a briefing at 8 am in the morning after which groups of 4 trekkers are led by trackers, researchers, and rangers into the jungle to search for the mountain gorillas undergoing habituation. The trekking takes you through different trails of the park with opportunities of seeing some of the park animals, birds, and different tree species. After 2-7 hours of searching for the mountain gorilla family, the trekkers will locate the family and will be given a maximum of 4 hours to be around mountain gorillas as they make them used to human presence, learn about their behaviors, and take photos.

Batwa cultural experience in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi

Batwa cultural experiences are one of the most fascinating activities travelers should do while on a safari in the Nkuringo sector. The Batwa cultural experience takes you to Batwa pygmies that live around the park. The Batwa are a group of people who used to live in the park before the government evicted them out of the forest to protect the remaining species of mountain gorillas and forest in 1991. The Batwa cultural experience is done at a fee of $40 for foreign non-residents and foreign residents while East African citizens pay UGX40,000 in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. the activity is led by members of the Batwa people who take tourists around the park showing them how they used to survive in the forest, make fires, used plants as local medicine, gather fruits, honey and use bows and arrows to kill some of the park animals. At the end of the experience, you will get an opportunity to get entertained by the Batwa inform of traditional dances and songs. Taking a visit to the Batwa people means that you have contributed to their well-being.

Birding in the Nkuringo region of Bwindi

Birding is one of the things you shouldn’t miss out when on a safari to the Nkuringo sector because the sector is home to different bird species. Some of the bird species in Nkuringo sector include Neumann’s Warbler, Lagden’s Bush-shrike, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Blue-headed Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Green Crombec, Regal Sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, Grauer’s Warbler, Grey-headed Sparrow, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Collared Apalis, Montane Masked Apalis, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Kivu Ground Thrush, Green Hylia, Dusky Crimson-wing, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Yellow-crested Helmet Shrike, Green-throated Sunbird, Stripe-breasted Tit, Brown Woodland Warbler, Honeyguide Greenbul, Dusky Crested Flycatcher, White-tailed Blue-flycatcher, Red-throated Alethe, Stripe-breasted Tit, Red-headed Malimbe, Crowned Hornbill, Rwenzori Nightjar, Rwenzori Turaco, Handsome Francolin, Wood Warbler, Handsome Francolin, Turner’s Eremomela, Green-headed Sunbird, Evergreen Warbler, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Buff-throated Apalis, African Pitta, Cabanis’s Greenbul, Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle, Cassin’s Honeybird, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Cardinal Woodpecker, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Common Bulbul, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, and Compact Weaver.

Nature walks

Nature walks are one of the interesting things you shouldn’t miss out on while in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. The nature walks are led by well-trained armed guides who have enough knowledge of the different park trails, animals, trees, and birds. Nature walks in the Nkuringo sector give you an opportunity of spotting different bird species in the park such as Red-headed Malimbe, Crowned Hornbill, Rwenzori Nightjar, Grauer’s Warbler, Grey-headed Sparrow, Rwenzori Turaco, and Handsome Francolin, trees, animals like elephants, forest duikers, giant forest hogs, and water sources.

Lodges and Hotels in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi

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

What is the best time to visit the Nkuringo sector to see the Key attractions in Bwindi?

Nkuringo sector in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can be visited at any time of the year for any activity but the best time is the drier season which occurs in June to September and December to February. During the dry months, there is little or no rainfall which means the trekking trails are less muddy and slippery, the vegetation is thin for good views of the animals, and the roads leading to the park are passable.

Nkuringo sector can also be visited in the rainy season but during this time there is plenty of rainfall meaning that the trekking trails are muddy and slippery, the vegetation is thick making unclear views of park animals and the roads leading to the park are impassable.

What to book 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 to see the Key attractions in Nkuringo sector of Bwindi can be done at any time of the year.