Best Gorilla Trekking Sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Gorilla Trekking Sectors In Bwindi National Park: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a home to over half the population of the remaining mountain gorillas in Uganda, located in the southwestern part of the country. The national park is divided into four sectors, which are Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo, and Rushaga, and each of these has different gorilla families that are trekked all year round. The Rushaga sector is considered the best area for gorilla trekking in Bwindi, but the best way to know the best sector is by trekking all four sectors, and you get to decide which sector is best for your safari.

The Buhoma Sector

The Buhoma gorilla sector is located in the north part of Bwindi and is one of the sectors where tourists can trek mountain gorillas. Uganda Tours and Travels discovered that the first habituated gorilla family was introduced in 1993. The Buhoma sector is easily accessible by driving from Kampala or Entebbe, taking 8 to 9 hours, and if a tourist doesn’t wish to drive, he/she can still fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip, which will take 1 or 2 hours to Kihihi Airstrip, and then drive from Kihihi Airstrip to the Buhoma sector. It is the best option if tourists are looking at a combined Uganda safari between Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is the best sector for guided nature walks and birding expeditions where you can explore the park using different routes, and it has a variety of accommodation facilities, which include Silverback Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Bwindi Lodge, and Engagi Lodge, among others. The Buhoma sector is in high demand, and we highly recommend tourists book permits 6 months before their desired trek date. Buhoma is the park headquarters, and most routes used for trekking in Bwindi lead to Buhoma, and the fastest route to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is Kampala-Kabale-Kanungu-Buhoma.

The Ruhija Sector

Located in the eastern part of Bwindi, the Ruhija sector is the closest sector to Buhoma and currently has four habituated gorilla families, including the Mukiza gorilla family and the Oruzongo gorilla family. Uganda Tours and Travel highlights the Ruhija sector as a sector that provides a quiet and private trekking experience among the four Bwindi sectors. It is the only sector where elephants can be found and other wildlife like antelopes, among others. It is elevated to about 2500 meters and provides beautiful scenery around the national park, including the Virunga ranges. It offers the best challenging gorilla trekking hike in Bwindi Park since it is located at a higher point. Ruhija offers activities to the trekkers like bird watching, guided Batwa walks, guided nature walks, and primate tracking. It has less accommodation, and these may include Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, and Broadbill Forest Camp.

The  Rushaga Sector

The Rushaga sector is located in the southern part of Bwindi near Kisoro and is a neighbor to the Nkuringo sector. The Rushaga sector has a total of 8 habituated gorilla families, and these include the Bweza gorilla family, the Mucunguzi gorilla family, the Nshongi gorilla family, the Kahungye gorilla family, the Bikingi gorilla family, and the Mishaya gorilla family. It is a popular sector because it is where research and gorilla habituation take place and the best place for gorilla trekking and the gorilla habituation process. It can easily be accessed from Kampala and Entebbe using both road and air transport. Tourists trekking gorillas in the Rushaga sector can also make a stopover at Lake Mutanda to enjoy a boat ride. It has a wide range of accommodation facilities next to Buhoma, and some of the facilities that you can choose include Rushaga Haven Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Safari Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Resort, and Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge. It is longer to travel to Rushaga from Kampala or Entebbe, as it takes 10 or 11 hours, and it is also difficult to connect to other national parks because of its distance. Due to its rough terrain, it makes trekking difficult.

The Nkuringo Sector

It is located in the southern part of the national park next to the Rushaga sector. Nkuringo is the least visited sector in Bwindi by trekkers, and the first gorilla families to be habituated in this sector are known as the Nkuringo gorilla family, and the other gorilla families here include the Christmas gorilla family and the Bushaho gorilla family. Uganda Tours and Travels recommends it as the best option for more challenging terrain and long hikes and really has the best view of the Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo mountains, which are located in the DRC. It can be easily accessed through the Kyaninga border in Rwanda through Kisoro town, and it will take you 5 hours and is the best option if tourists want to make a stopover at Lake Mutanda and Lake Mulehe for a boat ride. It has limited accommodations as compared to Buhoma and Rushaga, and some of the facilities to check out in Nkuringo include Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Lake Mulehe, Virunga Campsite, and Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, among others.

How Big Are Gorillas Compared To Humans

Gorillas are large, primarily herbivorous great apes that live in the tropical forests of equatorial Africa. The genus Gorilla is divided into two species, the eastern gorilla and western gorilla, or four species. The DNA of gorillas is highly similar to that of humans, from 96% to 99%, and they are the next closest living relatives to humans after the bonobos and chimpanzees. Gorillas are the largest living primates, reaching heights between 1.25 and 1.8 m (4 ft 1 in and 5 ft 11 in), weights between 68 and 227 kg (150 and 500 lb), and arm spans up to 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in), depending on species and sex. They tend to live in troops, with the leader being called Silverback. The eastern gorilla is distinguished from the western by darker fur color and some other minor morphological differences. Gorillas tend to live 35-40 years in the wild.