Nkuringo Gorilla Sector

Nkuringo is a gorilla trekking sector found in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a forest that hosts half of the world’s left mountain gorillas which is approximated to be around 400 apes.

Nkuringo was the second sector to be open for gorilla trekking in the year 2004 and lies at an altitude of about 6800 feet.

Bwindi impenetrable national park has four gorilla trekking sector and nkuringo is one of the interesting sector that one should consider to trek the gorillas when they are in the park.

This sector is unique because it is the only place where you are able to find the nkuringo gorilla family that was led by a silverback but died in the year 2008. Another added advantage is that this family is habituated which makes it easy for trekking though, you need to be fit and flexible because it involves a lot of difficulties but it’s worth the time spent and creates lifetime memories.

Nkuringo hosts three gorilla families – Nkuringo, Bushaho and Bikingi family.

Nkuringo gorilla family; this was the first family to be habituated in the year 1997. Nkuringo gorilla family had 17 individuals but due to conflicts, they reduced to 12. The family is famous and known to be the first to give birth to twin gorillas. 

This family is currently led by Rwamutwe with 2 infants, 4 adult females and 4 black backs. Nkuringo was first led by nkuringo who had his colleagues namely Rafiki and Christmas, he later died in 2008 and inherited by Rafiki who also died in 2020 hence Rwamutwe taking over.  

Christmas gorilla family:  Christmas is the new habituated gorilla family is nkuringo sector that is now open for tourists to trek. The family has 9 members, Christmas who was once a member of nkuringo family being their leader.

Bushaho gorilla family: Bushaho was introduced in 2012 becoming the second gorilla group in Bwindi national park. few of the members in Bushaho were former members of nkuringo and others from different groups. Bushaho is composed of 10 members that is 1 dominant silverback known as bahati, 3 adult females, 1 black back, 2 sub adult females and 3 infants.

Posho gorilla family: Posho gorilla family consists of 14 members and it is still under habituation. The family is under the leadership of magara as the lead silverback.

Best Time to Trek Gorillas in Nkuringo Sector.

Gorilla trekking can be done throughout the year but is mostly enjoyed during the months of June, July, August to September. During these months, trekking is easy since trails are usually dry and less slippery.

However, you can also choose to trek gorillas in the short dry months of December, January and February. 

How to Trek Gorillas in Nkuringo Sector?

This is known to be one of the toughest sector to do gorilla trekking in the whole of Bwindi impenetrable national park. Gorilla trekking in nkuringo started in the year 2004 offering only 8 gorilla permits on a daily.

Trekking gorillas in nkuringo occurs in three groups divided in eight tourists. It starts with a short briefing at the park headquarters where tourists are guided on how to behave once they encounter these apes.

You are then required to trail south wards in the jungle on the lookout for the gorillas. This activity can take up to an hour depending on where the gorillas are located. Once you get to find them, you are given one hour at close range to be with them in the jungle as you observe different ways on how they live in their daily lives. Feel free to take some photos for memories because nkuringo is one of the best place that offer perfect views.

Nkuringo sector not only rewards you gorilla trekking, you are able to engage in other interesting activities like nature walks especially for nature lovers where you spot different primates like monkeys, baboons among others, cultural experience where you are able to explore batwa and bakiga community villages, bird watching especially for the bird lovers where you spot different magnificent bird species like African blue fly catcher, black bee eaters, African emeralds, kivu ground throash, white tailed blue fly catchers among others. You can also choose to get an interesting ride on lake mutanda with the help of a dugout wooden canoe stretching to the other side as you enjoy looking at different birds in the forest. This ride also gives you a chance to see stunning scenic views of Virunga volcanoes that lie on Uganda Rwanda boarder. 

One can access Nkuringo via buhoma, kihihi or butogota from Kampala the capital city. You can as well access the sector using the kabale Kisoro road taking up to 12 hours.