Bushaho Gorilla Family: Nkuringo Sector’s Comeback Group in Bwindi

The Bushaho gorilla family treks in Bwindi’s Nkuringo sector under silverback Bahati. See size, history, difficulty, cost, and how to book this permit

The Bushaho gorilla family is a habituated mountain gorilla group of around 10 to 12 members, trekked in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda, and led by the silverback Bahati. Bahati was originally a silverback in the neighboring Nkuringo family, but he left that group in July 2011. In early 2012, conservation trackers found him leading a separate splinter group of former Nkuringo dispersers. In 2016, conservationists habituated this group and opened it to visitors, naming it Bushaho after the area where the group forages. A standard USD 800 Uganda Wildlife Authority permit covers the one-hour trek, and Bushaho is widely considered one of the more accessible and rewarding families in a sector otherwise known for its punishing terrain.

Quick Facts: The Bushaho Gorilla Family

Fact	Detail
Family name	Bushaho
Park & sector	Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Nkuringo sector
Dominant silverback	Bahati
Group size (approx., 2026)	10–12 members, including sub-adults and infants
Formation history	Formed in 2012 by silverback Bahati after leaving the Nkuringo family in July 2011
Opened to trekkers	2016
Standard permit price	USD 800 per person (Uganda Wildlife Authority)
Daily permits for this family	8 (standard trekking group size)
Trek difficulty	Moderate generally rated easier than the neighboring Nkuringo family
Nearest town	Kisoro (approx. 30–40 min drive)
Notable nearby lodges	Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge
Drive time from Kigali	Approx. 4.5–5 hours via the Cyanika border

The Story Behind the Bushaho Gorilla Family

Bushaho is one of the more dramatic origin stories among Bwindi’s habituated families, born directly out of a leadership dispute inside the neighboring Nkuringo group. Understanding that history is what makes a Bushaho trek genuinely different from any other family briefing, the park rangers here are narrating a still-unfolding family saga, not reciting a standard fact sheet.

Silverback Bahati’s Departure From the Nkuringo Family

Bahati was one of several silverbacks within the original Nkuringo gorilla family, Bwindi’s oldest southern-sector group, before leaving in July 2011 to establish dominance of his own. Conservation trackers, working with the International Gorilla Conservation Program, launched a search in early 2012 for gorillas that had dispersed from Nkuringo and discovered Bahati leading a parallel group made up of former Nkuringo members and other previously unhabituated individuals. That group was monitored and gradually habituated over the following years, then named Bushaho after the specific locality where it forages most, and was formally opened to trekkers in 2016.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Silverback Safari

After founding the Silverback, Nkuringo died in 2008; leadership of the Nkuringo family passed to his son, Safari. Safari led the group successfully for several years until he vanished following an aggressive encounter with the newly formed Bushaho group. Rangers have never located him since, and his fate remains officially unknown. Leadership of the Nkuringo family then passed to another of Nkuringo’s sons, Rafiki, who was tragically killed by poachers on 1 June 2020, an event that triggered major anti-poaching operations across Bwindi. The two families’ territories still overlap in places today, and rangers occasionally track signs of contact between them.

Where to Trek the Bushaho Family: Nkuringo Sector Explained

The Bushaho family is trekked exclusively from the Nkuringo park headquarters, which is part of the southern Bwindi trekking sector network and perched on a ridge with views across the Kashasha River valley toward the Virunga volcanoes of DR Congo.

Getting to Nkuringo Sector

Nkuringo sits roughly 30–40 minutes from Kisoro town and about 17km from the Rushaga sector headquarters, making it easy to pair with a Rushaga-based itinerary if lodging availability requires it. From Kigali, Rwanda, it’s roughly 4.5–5 hours by road via the Cyanika border, which is why most Bushaho bookings are routed through a Kigali-based gorilla trek rather than the longer 8–9 hour road transfer from Entebbe.

Nkuringo Sector’s Four Gorilla Families

• Nkuringo family, the sector’s founding group, habituated in 2004, now around 13–19 members and considered the most physically demanding trek in Bwindi.
• Bushaho family, this profile’s subject, formed 2012, opened 2016, roughly 10–12 members, moderate difficulty.
• Christmas family split from Nkuringo, named for its Christmas Day habituation milestone, around 8–9 members.
• Posho family the sector’s newest group, fully habituated by June 2023, led by silverback Magara.

Bushaho Family Composition and Behavior Today

Bahati remains the sole silverback and undisputed leader of the group, which today numbers around 10 to 12 individuals including several adult females, sub-adults, and infants. The gorilla family count shifts regularly as births, deaths, and dispersals occur, so treat any published figure as approximate rather than fixed.

What Makes Bahati’s Group Distinctive

Trekkers who visit Bushaho consistently note Bahati’s confident, showy temperament. He is known among Nkuringo-sector guides for dramatic chest-thumping displays during ranger approach, a behavior that makes for particularly memorable photography compared to the more withdrawn demeanor of some neighboring families. Multiple independent trekker accounts also describe Bushaho as noticeably easier and faster to locate than the Nkuringo family on a typical morning, since the group tends to range closer to the Nteko ridge trailhead rather than deep into the Kashasha valley.

How Difficult Is the Bushaho Gorilla Trek?

Bushaho is rated a moderately physical trek, but it is consistently described as more manageable than the Nkuringo sector’s namesake family, which is frequently cited as the single hardest gorilla trek in Uganda.

Terrain and Elevation

The Nkuringo sector sits at Bwindi’s higher, cooler southern edge, and treks typically involve a steep initial descent from the Nteko ridge into forested valleys, with a correspondingly steep climb back out at the end the return leg is what most trekkers remember. Bushaho’s home range is generally closer to the ridge, which is why guides often direct moderately fit but not highly experienced hikers to this family rather than the Nkuringo group.

Fitness Level Needed

A reasonable baseline level of fitness, comfortable with 2 to 5 hours of hiking on uneven, sometimes muddy terrain at altitudes above 2,000 m, is enough for most visitors assigned to Bushaho. As with every Bwindi family, actual trek duration depends entirely on where the group is ranging that morning and cannot be guaranteed in advance.

Booking a Bushaho Gorilla Trekking Permit

Trekking Bushaho requires the same standard USD 800 Uganda gorilla trekking permit as every other Bwindi family there is no premium for a specific group. See our full walkthrough of the gorilla permit booking process for the exact reservation steps.

Cost and What’s Included

The USD 800 fee covers park entry, ranger guides, trackers, and armed security for your trekking day and contributes directly to UWA’s conservation and community revenue-sharing programs. It does not include transport, lodging, or a porter, all of which should be booked separately alongside your permit.

Can you specifically request the Bushaho family?

Request Bushaho when booking, and while UWA considers preferences, final family assignments occur each morning at the Nkuringo ranger briefing based on the guide’s assessment of fitness and family location. Requesting Bushaho in advance is worth doing but should be treated as a strong preference rather than a guarantee.

Where to Stay Near the Bushaho Gorilla Family

Lodging near the Nkuringo park headquarters ranges from luxury to budget, and choosing well matters more here than in most sectors because of the early ranger check-in and the steep terrain immediately around the trailhead. Check out our luxury gorilla trekking and budget gorilla trekking guides for broader Bwindi options.

Luxury and Midrange

Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge sits directly above the Nkuringo trailhead with panoramic views into the Kashasha valley, while Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge offers comfortable midrange rooms within a short drive of the ranger station.

Budget

Chameleon Hill Lodge, overlooking Lake Mutanda, provides a scenic and more affordable base roughly 30–40 minutes from Nkuringo and pairs well if you’re also considering a Rushaga-sector trek on the same trip.

Bushaho vs. Other Small, Intimate Gorilla Families in Bwindi.

Bushaho’s moderate size and confident silverback make it a good match for travellers who specifically want a smaller, more intimate family rather than one of Bwindi’s larger groups of 15 to 25 members. Here’s how it compares to similarly sized families across the park’s other sectors.

Family	Sector	Approx. Size	Best For
Bushaho	Nkuringo	10–12	Dramatic silverback displays, moderate terrain
Christmas	Nkuringo	8–9	Very intimate encounters, steep trek
Katwe	Buhoma	7	Easiest access, first-time trekkers
Kutu	Rushaga	8	Kigali-routed trips, good permit availability
Mishaya	Rushaga	7–12	Active, wide-ranging group of photographers

Practical Logistics for Trekking the Bushaho Family

Beyond the permit itself, a Bushaho trekking day runs on a fixed schedule that’s worth planning your lodge and transport around.

What to Confirm	Detail
Ranger briefing time	7:00–8:00 AM daily at Nkuringo Park headquarters
Typical trek duration	2–5 hours to locate the family, plus the return climb
Time with gorillas	1 hour once located, at a minimum safe distance
Porter cost	$15–$20 per day, bookable on arrival or via your operator
Minimum age	15 years, strictly enforced

What to Pack

• Waterproof hiking boots with strong ankle support for the ridge descent
• Long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt in dark, natural colors
• Gardening gloves for gripping vegetation on steep sections
• Rain jacket, 2 liters of water, and a walking stick (often provided free at the trailhead)

What Nkuringo Rangers Won’t Always Tell You About the Bushaho Family

• Bushaho is often the sector’s best-kept secret for moderate fitness levels. Guides frequently steer capable-but-not-elite hikers here specifically because it avoids the Nkuringo family’s punishing valley descent.
• The Nkuringo–Bushaho rivalry isn’t ancient history. Territories still overlap, and the circumstances around Safari’s disappearance mean rangers sometimes track fresh evidence of contact between the two families even now.
• Family size figures you’ll read online are often years out of date. Published counts for Bushaho range from 8 to 12 members depending on the source’s publish date. Always ask your operator for the most recent UWA count before travel.
• Requesting Bushaho works best paired with a fitness disclosure. Operators and rangers are more likely to honor a family request when they know your actual hiking fitness, since assignment ultimately balances preference against physical ability.
• Nkuringo’s views are arguably the best in Bwindi but only on a clear morning. The Congo-facing ridge views that make this sector famous are frequently obscured by mist before 9 AM, so don’t count on the postcard photo until later in the trek.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Bushaho Gorilla Family.

What sector is the Bushaho gorilla family in?

The Bushaho gorilla family is trekked in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, in Uganda’s Kisoro District, alongside the Nkuringo, Christmas, and Posho families.

Who is the silverback of the Bushaho gorilla family?

The Bushaho family is led by silverback Bahati, who was originally a silverback within the neighboring Nkuringo family before leaving that group in July 2011 to eventually form his own family. Bahati is known among Nkuringo-sector guides for his confident, showy chest-thumping displays.

How many gorillas are in the Bushaho family?

The Bushaho family currently numbers approximately 10 to 12 members, including silverback Bahati, several adult females, sub-adults, and infants. Family size fluctuates over time as gorillas are born, disperse to form new groups, or occasionally die, so exact counts vary between sources

When was the Bushaho gorilla family habituated?

The group formed around 2012, when trackers located Bahati leading a splinter group of former Nkuringo family members after his July 2011 departure. Following several years of habituation, Bushaho was officially opened to trekkers in 2016.

How much does it cost to trek the Bushaho gorilla family?

Trekking Bushaho costs the standard USD 800 fee for a gorilla trekking permit set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, identical to every other habituated family in Bwindi. This fee covers park entry, ranger guides, trackers, and security, but not transport, lodging, or a porter.

Is the Bushaho gorilla trek difficult?

Bushaho is rated a moderate trek, generally considered more manageable than the neighboring Nkuringo family, which is frequently cited as Bwindi’s single most strenuous trek. Expect 2 to 5 hours of hiking on uneven, sometimes muddy terrain above 2,000m altitude, with a steep climb back out of the valley.

Can I request to trek the Bushaho family specifically?

You can state a preference for Bushaho when booking your permit, and the Uganda Wildlife Authority does consider stated preferences, but final family assignment happens at the Nkuringo ranger briefing each morning based on your fitness level and each family’s location that day. Please consider a Bushaho request as likely rather than guaranteed.

How do I get to the Nkuringo sector to trek Bushaho?

Nkuringo Park headquarters sits roughly 30 to 40 minutes from Kisoro town and about 4.5 to 5 hours by road from Kigali, Rwanda, via the Cyanika border crossing. Travellers coming from Entebbe or Kampala typically fly into the Kisoro or Kihihi airstrip rather than face the 8- to 9-hour road transfer.

What happened to Nkuringo family silverback Safari?

Safari, who took over Nkuringo family leadership after his father’s death in 2008, disappeared following an aggressive encounter with the newly formed Bushaho group and has never been located since. Leadership of the Nkuringo family later passed to his brother Rafiki, who was killed by poachers in June 2020.

Where can I stay near the Bushaho gorilla family?

Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge sits directly above the Nkuringo trailhead for a luxury option, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge offers comfortable midrange rooms nearby, and Chameleon Hill Lodge on Lake Mutanda provides a scenic budget-friendly base around 30 to 40 minutes away.

What is the difference between the Bushaho and Nkuringo gorilla families?

Both families trek from the same Nkuringo park headquarters, but the Nkuringo family is larger and older, habituated in 2004, and rated the most physically demanding trek in Bwindi, while Bushaho is smaller, formed in 2012 from former Nkuringo members under silverback Bahati, and is generally considered an easier, more accessible trek.

How many gorilla families are in the Nkuringo sector?

The Nkuringo sector has four habituated gorilla families available for trekking: Nkuringo, Bushaho, Christmas, and Posho, which became fully habituated and opened to visitors by June 2023. Each family requires its own USD 800 permit and is assigned to a maximum of eight trekkers per day.

What is the best time to trek the Bushaho gorilla family?

The Bushaho family can be trekked year-round, but the June-to-September and December-to-February dry seasons offer the most reliable trail conditions in Nkuringo’s steep terrain. The March-to-May and October-to-November green season is quieter, and permits are easier to secure, though trails are muddier.

Book Your Bushaho Gorilla Trek

If Bahati’s story and Nkuringo’s ridge-top scenery have you set on this family, let us check real availability before you commit. Tell us your dates and we’ll check permit availability within a few minutes. Message us on WhatsApp, email info@trekgorillas.com, or use our contact page; we’ll confirm real Nkuringo sector permit availability, not a generic quote.