Gorilla trekking is a distinctive activity that one can do while touring Africa especially on a Congo, Rwanda and Uganda safari tour. Every year many travellers visiting Africa get a chance of seeing these rare gorillas.
The Logistics of Choosing a Tour
The cost of the permit and cost of the tour itself are 2 vital things to put into consideration when booking a gorilla trekking tour. In Uganda a gorilla tracking permit costs 600 USD and Rwanda the permit price is 750 USD and it is only in the months of September and October when it could go for as low as a low season promotion to encourage tourists to come see gorillas.
In searching for a tour, Uganda and Rwanda are the best choices to choose from to track mountain gorillas as compared to Congo due to the political instabilities in the Congo. Alternatively tourists can choose to track lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega Congo which is very safe for low land gorilla trekking.
Habituated Gorilla Groups of Uganda
The groups listed below are those currently available for Gorilla Tracking within Uganda
Buhoma Area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
• Mubare Group: this Mubare group (also called the M-Group) – was the very first group to actually be tamed for tracking by tourists. The taming started in 1991 and this group received its very first tracking visitors in 1993. Mubare group is really named after the dazzling Mubare Hills in which this group was discovered.
• Habinyanja Group: This Habinyanja Group was habituated in 1997 for tracking and welcomed tourists in the year 1999. In the start it was a huge group, however a family was split from it named the Rushegura Group. These two groups crisscross each other now and again and co-exist peacefully.
• Rushegura Group: This Rushegura Group was in 2000 tamed for tracking and received tourists in the year 2002. It is a huge group within the Buhoma area of Bwindi Forest.
Ruhija region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – habitat of the Bitukura Gorilla group
• Bitukura Group: This Bitukura Group is among of the newest groups in Bwindi Forest- it is found and wanders the verdant forest within the Ruhija area. There is constrained lodging in this area – although that available is accessible in moderate plus high-class lodges.
Rushaga region of Bwindi Forest – habitat of the Nshongi Group as well as the Mishaya Gorilla Family
• Mishaya Group: This was formulated after a family split from the biggest Gorilla group in Bwindi forest, the Nshongi Gorilla family which still reside in the Rushaga region in Southern Bwindi Forest.
• Nshongi Group: The biggest tamed gorilla group in Uganda with over 25 members. After taming it contained 25 after which 10 left to form another family called Mishaya Group.
Nkuringo Region of Bwindi Forest – which is among the more physically challenging although rewarding regions in the of forest to enjoy Gorilla Tracking – home to the Nkuringo Gorilla Family
• Nkuringo Group: The accommodation facilities found at Nkuringo – offer a breathtaking worth the cost of the gorilla-permits- this is among of the most challenging hikes in Uganda – although unquestionably worthwhile- as it is the most pleasing. The Group comprises of 19 members and is a favorite to people who have tracked over one group.
