Gorilla Trekking Sectors of Bwindi

The 4 Gorilla Trekking Sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Uganda

There are four Gorilla Trekking Sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the home to mountain gorillas in Uganda. Any visitor to Bwindi for gorilla trekking has to enjoy the adventure at any of the 4 gorilla trekking regions of the Impenetrable forest. The gorilla sectors accessible from various directions include the following:-

  • Buhoma Gorilla Sector in the north of Bwindi 
  • Nkuringo Southern Sector of Bwindi Forest
  • Rushaga Sector in the South of Bwindi
  • Ruhija Gorilla Sector in the East of Bwindi National Park.

The Gorilla Tracking Regions of Bwindi with their Gorilla Families:-

Buhoma Sector

This gorilla trekking sector is found in the north of Bwindi National Park and has only 4 gorilla families which include:-

  • Mubare Gorilla Family
  • Habinyanja Gorilla Group
  • Rushegura Gorilla Family
  • Katwe Gorilla Family

Nkuringo Sector

Nkuringo Sector in the south of the park also has four gorilla trekking groups and they include:-

  • Nkuringo Gorilla Family 
  • Bushaho Gorilla Family
  • Bweza Gorilla Group
  • Christmas Gorilla Family

Ruhija Sector

Ruhija Sector is found in the east of the park and also boasts of four gorilla groups as indicated below:-

  • Oruzogo Gorilla Group
  • Bitukura Gorilla Family
  • Kyaguliro Gorilla Group
  • Mukiza Gorilla Family

Rushaga Sector 

Rushaga gorilla trekking region of Bwindi forest has the biggest number of the gorilla families. The gorilla groups in this southern region comprise of:-

  • Nshonji Gorilla Group
  • Mishaya Gorilla Group
  • Kahungye Gorilla Family
  • Busingye Gorilla Group
  • Bweza Gorilla Group

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

Gorilla tourism in Uganda mainly thrives around the four regions. Mountain gorillas at these sectors are further divided into gorilla trekking families or groups for easy tracking. Out Uganda at present boasts of about 20 gorilla families spread across Bwindi forest except one Nyakagezi family found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This means that out the 20 gorilla families, 19 groups are found in Bwindi forest. This makes Bwindi, a park of greater significance in the tourism sector of Uganda. Bwindi is a home to about 500 mountain gorillas which is half the number of the 1000 estimated gorillas remaining in the world today. Other parks in the region with mountain gorillas include Mgahinga in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in Congo.

The gorilla trekking areas of Bwindi have got accommodation facilities ideal for gorilla safaris. The gorilla lodges in Uganda are closer or a reasonable distance away from such areas and they remain accessible by the visitors. To visit Bwindi forest, you are supposed to have a gorilla permit which is booked prior to the tour. Gorilla permits in Uganda secured from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), a government body in charge of wildlife attractions in the country. The Uganda Wildlife Authority Gorilla Permits are issued according to the regions of Bwindi. On the day of tracking, tourists gather at the designated park offices for briefing followed by the trekking encounter into the forest.

Getting to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

To get to Bwindi forest, one may fly into Kigali in Rwanda and trek gorillas in Bwindi using road transport. Alternatively, you can reach Bwindi by starting the safari from Entebbe or Kampala city and transfer by road to the park. Gorilla trekking safaris by road transfers either from Kigali or Entebbe/Kampala to Bwindi constitute the biggest percentage of the gorilla trips. The third option of is by flying from Entebbe to Bwindi landing either at Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrips and then connect to the park. All gorilla trips from Entebbe by both road and flying take three days minimum. Whereas the gorilla trekking adventures in Uganda from Kigali may be for 1 day, 2 days or 3 days to be accomplished.

Scroll to Top