There are four mountain gorilla trekking points/regions in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Also known as gorilla sectors, these are the areas in which mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest Park are scattered. In other words, the four gorilla regions make up the famous Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Each region has different gorilla families waiting for you! The choice of which gorilla trekking point to visit depends on the availability of gorilla permits on your desired gorilla trekking date. Whereas you cannot trek in both regions on a single day, you can do multiple gorilla treks in Bwindi Forest National Park to each region for better comparisons and experience. Fortunately, each gorilla trekking point has numerous budget, midrange, and luxury lodges and camps to offer you a comfortable and safe stay on your gorilla safari. More so, each gorilla trekking region has extra activities to add to your gorilla trekking experience for a complete package. Travel with African Apes Holidays and explore the four gorilla trekking regions in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Buhoma sector/Region
Located north of Bwindi Forest National Park, the Buhoma sector is a famous and a favorite gorilla region in Bwindi Forest. Buhoma is home t the oldest gorilla family in the entire Bwindi Forest and it’s the first region, which received the first set of gorilla travelers in 1993 when gorilla tourism in this jungle forest had been introduced. Buhoma iseasily accessed from Kabale town hence the best and easy-to-reach region for travelers traveling from Kampala. You can reach Buhoma by driving of flying to Kihihi airstrip from where you easily connect to this sector. Buhoma is home to 5 habituated gorilla families which guarantee the availability of 40 permits each day. Gorilla group in Buhoma region include Mubare (the oldest gorilla family in Bwindi), the Rushegura family, the Habinyanja family, the Katwe family and Muyambi gorilla group. Regarding where to stay in Buhoma sector, the top lodges in Buhoma include Mahogany springs Lodge, Bwindi Forest Lodge, Buhoma Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma community camp and Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp among others. The other travel activities in Bwindi Forest besides gorilla trekking include Community tour, bird watching, Nature walk, and waterfall hiking. A combination of these makes a complete package making the whole trip more fun and enjoyable.
Rushaga Sector
Rushaga region is yet another interesting gorilla trekking point in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park. Located in the southern part of Bwindi, Rushaga sector is easily accessed from Kisoro town hence the best region for Uganda gorilla safaris starting from Kigali Rwanda. More so, Rushaga sector is home to the highest number of habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Forest, which guarantee the availability of gorilla permits even for last-minute bookings. There are 8 gorilla groups in Rushaga sector, which guarantee 64 gorilla permits available every day. The gorilla families in Rushaga include Bikingi Gorilla Family, Mucunguzi family, Kutu family, Bweza family, Busingye gorilla group, Kahungye gorilla family, Mishaya family and Nshongi gorilla family. Bushaho and Bikingyi gorilla families are undergoing gorilla habituation experience, which is another experience in the Rushaga sector. You can either drive direct from Kampala/Entebbe to Rushaga or fly into Kigali Bwindi and cross to Rushaga. For travelers with limited time, Rushaga sector is the best destination for you. A 1-Day Uganda gorilla trek from Kigali Rwanda starts at 3:00 am. The drive time from Kigali Rwanda to Rushaga sector is roughly 5 hours to reach Rushaga at 7:00 am for pre-gorilla trekking briefing. The top lodges in Rushaga sector include Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp and Nshongi Forest Camp. These lodges and camps offer you excellent food and sleeping services at affordable rates. The other activities to do in Rushaga sector include nature/forest walking, bird watching, local community visits and scenic viewing to make a complete safari.
Ruhija Gorilla Sector
Go gorilla trekking in Ruhija sector located east of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Ruhija is now fond in Rubanda district, which was initially part of Kabale district. The gentle slopes of Ruhija sector compared to the steep slopes in other regions make it a favorite for most travelers especially the aged and the physically unfit. There are four habituated gorilla families in Rushaga sector meaning 32 gorilla permits. The gorilla groups on Ruhija include Mukiza family, Kyagurilo family, Oruzogo gorilla family and Bitukura gorilla group. Each family is different in terms of size and the history of formation. In addition to gorillas, Ruhija sector offers you best community visits for cultural performances, nature walks and bird watching among other interesting activities. Some of the best lodges in Ruhija sector include Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Lodge, Jacana Safari Lodge, Agandi Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Broadbill Forest Camp, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Cuckoo Land Tented Lodge and Gift of Nature Lodge.
Nkuringo Gorilla Sector
Also located in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Nkuringo is known for its strenuous but adventurous gorilla hikes. There are two habituated gorilla families in Nkuringo sector which are Nkuringo family and Christmas gorilla group. This guarantees availability of 16 gorilla permits for first-come travelers interested in trekking Nkuringo gorillas. The high altitude regions of Nkuringo sector make this region the toughest trek best for adventurous travelers who prefer a challenging but memorable experience. Standing on top of Nkuringo hill offers you great views of the Virunga Volcanoes in Congo and Rwanda. Bird watching, nature walks, photography, scenic viewing and community visit are the add-ons on gorilla trekking in Nkuringo gorilla sector. The places to stay in Nkuringo gorilla trekking region include Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge and Mutanda Eco Community Centre.
Can I trek gorillas in more than one gorilla region?
YES, you can trek gorillas in more than 1 region but on different days. African Apes Holidays offers multiple gorilla treks in Bwindi Forest to different regions giving you chance to trek different gorilla families in different regions. A 4 Days Bwindi double gorilla trekking is a suitable package to trek 2 different gorilla families in Bwindi. The first day is for arrival, Day w is 1st gorilla trekking & transfer to another sector, Day 3 is for 2nd gorilla trekking and 4th day is for departure. NOTE: You are allowed to visit only one gorilla family on a particular day.
Can I sleep in one region and trek gorillas in another region?
YES, you can spend a night in one region and trek gorillas in a different region. However, this is highly discouraged to avoid long and tiresome early drives to catch up with gorilla briefing and trekking time.
Explore the gorilla trekking points/regions in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park on your Uganda gorilla safaris to Bwindi with African Apes Holidays.