The 4 Gorilla Sectors in Bwindi National Park
Are you planning for the mountain gorilla safari in Uganda – Bwindi National Park but you do not which sector to go and track? Located in southwestern Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park features among the two incredible areas in Uganda where visitors can only track dramatic primates while they are in their natural habitat.
The park covers an area of about 331 square kilometers and offers refuge to over 440 individuals of mountain gorillas which also translate to nearly half of all the individuals that still thrive on earth. Bwindi National Park is credited for its larger number of habituated families totaling to 15 set for visitor experiences, not forgetting one group (Nyakagezi) in Mgahinga National Park.
When it comes to Great ape experiences in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, visitors book a gorilla family depending on the four major trailheads. Each of the 4 regions features unique groups and also they come with distinct terrains and hence varying experiences. They include Buhoma area, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo sector.
1: Buhoma sector
Situated in the northern side of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Buhoma region features as one of the most famous trailheads in Uganda with mainly three fascinating habituated families set for visitors to track these dramatic creatures in the wild. Visitors who are willing to track through this region, the habituated groups include the Mubare which features as the oldest and most famous of all the groups in the Buhoma area, Habinyanja, and Rushegura family.
This region is frequently visited by tourists on gorilla safaris in Uganda mainly because of its strategic location from Queen Elizabeth National Park which makes it easier for visitors to link after game drives or boat cruise at Queen Elizabeth National Park or even from Kampala. Visitors can take the Kampala-Mbarara-Ntungamo-Rukungiri-Kihihi and finally to Butogota.
This area also comes with several lodging and accommodation facilities that have facilitated visitors to stay in the area while tracking these unique apes in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The notable lodges to spend a night in this area include Gorilla Forest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Silverback Lodge, and Buhoma Community Rest Camp. Trekking gorilla families in this area is a bit simpler compared to the rest of the regions.
2: Ruhija region
Located in eastern side of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Ruhija area is another remarkable area that is worth visiting for Great ape tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. This area comes with habituated families like Bitukura and Oruzogo as well as Kyaguriro which is mainly set for research but when there is a high demand for gorilla trekking, visitors can still track this group. For visitor stays in Ruhija area, the notable lodges include the Gorilla Mist Camp, Cuckooland, Ruhija Gorilla Lodge and many more.
3: The Rushaga region
This area is found in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and it features a number of habituated families. Visitors who are interested in tracking this region, the notable groups include Nshongi, Busingye, Kahungye, Mishaya, Bweza, and Busingye. This is also the only region in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park where Gorilla Habituation Experience is conducted in Bushaho and Bikingi families. For visitor stay in the Rushaga and Nkuringo area while tracking gorillas, the notable safari lodges include Clouds Mountain Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort and many more.
4: Nkuringo region
This area lies in the southern side of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and it is famous for its breathtaking adventures. The region comes with only one habituated family-Nkuringo.
In conclusion, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is famous for gorilla trekking and it is credited for its four main tracking areas where treks always start in the park. In case you are planning your trek in Bwindi National Park, note that different areas come with different habituated families which all reward visitors with rare experiences of lifetime.