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3-day Uganda mountain gorilla trekking safari starts in Kampala and ends at Entebbe international airport in Uganda. It involves meeting eye to-eye with the magical mountain gorillas

Bitukura Gorilla Group

Bitukura Gorilla Group

Bitukura Gorilla Group

Bitukura Gorilla Group- Mountain gorilla trekking is every person’s dream come true when they are intending to visit Africa in national parks like Bwindi. Mountain gorillas are endangered species of apes sharing about 98% human DNA with human beings making them close relatives just like bonobos and chimpanzees. In the whole world mountain gorillas can be found in Africa and they can only be found in 3 countries and these are DR Congo in Virunga national park, Rwanda in volcanoes national park and Uganda they are found in two national parks Mgahinga national park as well as Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.

Bitukura Gorilla family

Bitukura gorilla family is one of the gorilla families you can meet eye to eye in the great Bwindi impenetrable forest national park located in the southwestern part of Uganda. Bitukura gorilla family can be trekked from the Ruhija sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. The Ruhija sector is found on the eastern side of Bwindi. Habituating Bitukura gorilla family took only 15 months, unlike other gorilla families that take 2-3 years to get fully habituated. Bitukura gorilla family derives its name from the river Bitukura in Bwindi national park where this gorilla family was first sighted by trekkers.

Bitukura mountain gorilla family is dominated by Ndahura the second youngest silverback which is unusual with gorilla families as the oldest silverback is always the leader of the group and if he deprives of his role his banished to another gorilla family or as a lone male. Ndahura took over leadership from Karamuzi who retired from power at the age of 42 years old. Other gorilla families in Ruhija besides Bitukura gorilla group

Kyaguliro gorilla family

The Kyaguliro gorilla family is one of the gorilla families in the Ruhija sector having been habituated in 1995 and was preserved for research purposes in order to study and learn more about mountain gorillas. It’s unfortunate that in 2015 Rukina the dominating silverback was struck by lightning and he died. After the death of Rukina, the group was taken over by Mukiza.

Mukiza was later on ambushed by an adult silverback from the Bitukura gorilla family known as Rukara and this led the group to split into two groups that are Kyaguliro group A dominated by Rukara and Kyaguliro group B dominated by Mukiza.

Oruzogo gorilla family

Oruzogo gorilla family is one of the habituated gorilla families in the Ruhija sector located in the eastern side of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, the group is dominated by a silverback known as Tibirkwata leading 23 individuals. This group was opened up for tourism in 2011 and in 2012 the gorilla family was lucky to receive a set of twins from Kakoba the female gorilla.

Gorilla permits for Bitukura Gorilla Group

Mountain gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park cost $7000 for foreign nonresidents, $600 for foreign residents, and shs50,000 for East African Citizens while gorilla habituation permits cost $1500 and this is only done in the Rushaga sector. It’s advised always to buy gorilla permits in advance of 3-4 months before coming to the country due to high demand.

Where to sleep in Ruhija

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is made up of four sectors- Ruhija sector, Buhoma sector, Nkuringo sector, and Rushaga sector so tourists planning to visit the park must always book accommodation in the same sector where they have obtained permits from, some of the accommodation found in Ruhija sector include Gorilla Mist Camp, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Bakiga lodge, Trekkers Tavern Cottages and much more.

What to bring for Bitukura gorilla group trek

Trekking mountain gorillas will require tourists to hike to higher elevations and this will require one to be physically fit. Some of the things you will need for trekking include good waterproof hiking shoes, garden gloves, long-sleeved clothes, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, insect repellents, binoculars, a good camera, enough drinking water, energy-giving snacks and so much more.

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

Bitukura gorilla family can be visited at any time of the year but the best time to trek this gorilla family is during the dry season which occurs from June to September and December to January. It’s during these months that the roads are accessible and the trails are dry.

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