Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a signature location for mountain gorillas, of the 1000 species left in a few ecosystems of the wild half of these live in the forest, mountain gorillas despite being strong are generally shy and gentle species. Mountain gorillas are the world’s largest mammals, it is surprising that this size and thickness are brought about only by vegetables as they are herbivores in nature, they feed on forest plants, dead tree backs, mushrooms, and occasionally insects. Bwindi impenetrable national park boats are several gorilla families to be tracked in each of its four sectors, these have undergone the habituation process are continue doing their day-to-day duties in the presence of humans.
Mountain gorillas are surprisingly shy and gentle despite their strong well-built bodies. They feed on forest plants, mushrooms, tree backs, leaves fruits, and it is on rare occasions that they feed on insects like termites, the gorilla family members live in groups of 2- 20 members led by a male silverback, these groups over time tend to split up due to dominancy and hence end up having more gorilla groups, they are a sensitive species which slowly multiplies, this is one of the many reasons they are termed critically endangered.
Gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are trekked by a maximum number of 8 people commencing at 8:00 am East African time, the hike through the forest could be tiring but heart melting at the end of the day, but it is a great experience coming one on one with the mountain gorillas, the young black backs tend to be super playful hoping from one branch to another, baby gorillas are always carling around their mothers and are under their care up to the age of 2 years, the altitude of the park is high stretching to 5,200m above sea level this implies that one has to be physically fit to be able to participate in this activity. The situation of the hike differs daily for example one can get a particular gorilla family closer today and another team the following day find them further, the terrain of the park also changes according to the sector that you will be tracking.
Gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, are distributed in the 4 sectors of Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija, and Rushaga, below are the gorilla families in each sector. Buhoma to the north was the very first place to experience gorilla tracking in 1993 following the gazette of the national park in 1991, Buhoma has got 4habituated gorilla families including the Mubare, Rushegura, Habiyanja, and Katwe, Ruhija currently has 4 gorilla families to track as well, this is Bwindi’s highest point, family names of gorillas here include Oruzogo, Bitukura, Mukiza and Kyagurilo. Rushaga sector is Bwindi’s home to many gorilla families, some of have been set aside for specifically gorilla habituation purposes these include, Shongi, Bweza, Kutu, Kahungye, Busingye,Bikingi, among other, while the southern part of Nkuringo boats Christmas gorilla group, posho gorilla family and the Nkuringo gorilla family, this is a known home to tough hikes, the trails are stiffer and much difficult compared to other sectors.
In conclusion, trekking mountain gorillas will require you to have gorilla permits which are purchased from the Uganda Wildlife Authority team, through your tour operator, gorilla permit fees in Bwindi impenetrable national park are charged $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and 250,000 shillings for east African citizens, to enhance the experience of tracking mountain gorillas it is important to book accommodation in the sector within which you will be tracking for ease access to the tracking point.