Nkuringo Gorilla Group
Nkuringo is one of the four sectors of the popular Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, this part of the park boasts with the panoramic views of lots of mammals, primates and a birders parasite. Gorilla trekking is the most commonly done activity in this area of the park and you can trek Nkuringo gorilla family / group
Nkuringo gorilla family is one of the 20 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Found with in Nkuringo sector, the group was open for trekking in 2004 after habituation of the group that began in 1997 and was the first gorilla family in Nkuringo sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. The gorilla family derived its name from Nkuringo to mean “round the hill”, this was so because they were sighted around Nkuringo hills in Bwindi, the hill is not peaked but with a rounded crest.
Nkuringo gorilla family was dominated by a silverback called Nkuringo at a time of habituation unfortunately he dies in April 2008 and was succeeded but his two sons; safari and Rafiki. Nkuringo gorilla family was habituated because of endless fights between the gorilla family and the surrounding people who had their gardens often foraged by Nkuringo gorilla family, so Uganda wildlife authority had to habituate this family in order to solve this problem.
Nkuringo gorilla family initially had 17 members but they kept on decreasing up to 13 members; 2 silverbacks of which one Rafiki was killed by poachers in June 2020, 2 blackback adults, 2 sub adults, 3 juveniles and 2 infants. It’s one of the most exciting gorilla families you need to visit and encounter twins and also one of the hardest mountain gorilla families to trek in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Trekking mountain gorillas of in Nkuringo sector takes you about 3 hours and a group of 8 people is allowed to spend a maximum of 1 hour with the group as they learn about their behaviors.
Trekking Nkuringo gorilla family gives you stunning views of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Nkuringo gorilla family used to leave outside the park most of the times and this led to displacement of former local human settlers in the villages near Nkuringo and the displacement was followed by an outbreak of scabies in Nkuringo family in December 2000.
Current Members of the Nkuringo Gorilla Family.
1. Rwamutwe (Dominant blackback) — One with a big ego, the new leader of the group
2. Tabu (Second in command blackback) — One who brings problems to family
3. Kwitonda (Adult Female) — The humble one
4. Furaha (Adult Female, just given birth) — The happy one
5. Kuhirwa (Adult Female, just given birth) — The Lucky one
6. Kiiza (Adult Female) — One who follows the twins
7. Nderema (Adult Female) — One who fails to take care of self
8. Muhoozi (Blackback) — The tax collector
9. Kamara (Blackback) — The dispute settler
10. Guma (Juvenile) — Be strong
11. Owamani (Juvenile) — One with strength
12. Unnamed infant
13. Unnamed infant
Best time to visit Nkuringo Gorilla Family.
Trekking Nkuringo gorilla group in Bwindi impenetrable national park is always done throughout the year but the peak season is always the best time to visit the park. The peak season is actually the dry season and it happens in the months of December, January and February then it happens again in the months of June and august. The wet season is in the months of March to May and October to November and these months are good for gorilla habituation since the visitors in the park are few. Trekking gorillas in the rainy season is very difficult because of overgrown vegetation and the muddy trails.
Gorilla permits to trek Nkuringo gorilla family
Gorilla permits to trek mountain gorillas in Nkuringo gorilla family cost like for any other gorilla family in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and they go for $700 foreign non-residents, $600 foreign residents and shs250,000 East African citizens. Gorilla trekking can only be done by persons above the age of 15 and those with infectious diseases are not allowed to trek such as flu, cough and diarrhea as these can spread to mountain gorillas.
How to get to Nkuringo for gorilla trekking
Nkuringo sector is a very accessible gorilla trekking sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park. Visitors can use road transport directly from Entebbe international airport which takes 8-9hours to drive as you make a stopover at the equator for breakfast and at Igongo cultural center in Mbarara for lunch. The road trip is entertaining and enjoyable with a lot of things to see on the road trip. Visitors can as well drive from Kigali international airport to cross the Katuna or Cyanika borders of Rwanda and Uganda and reach the Nkuringo sector. While accessing the Nkuringo via Rwanda, you will be able to pass through /drive through Kabale town and you will access this sector for about 4-5hours to drive from Kigali Rwanda to Ruhija. You can as well opt to use air transport to connect to the Nkuringo sector by having a scheduled charter flight from Entebbe international airport/Kajjansi Airfield to Kihihi airfield which is located in Kanungu district. Aerolink is the best domestic airline company that operates morning scheduled flights from Entebbe/Kajjansi to Kisoro or Kihihi airstrip and there you connect tin Nkuringo sector.
Nkuringo Gorilla Lodges & Accommodation
There are a lot of accommodation facilities in the Nkuringo sector ranging from camps, hotels, and lodges where visitors can stay for their gorilla trekking activity in this sector. The accommodation facilities in the Nkuringo area in form of budget, midrange accommodation facilities, and upmarket or luxury accommodation facilities. It is us Africa Adventure Vacations that can help you book a comfortable accommodation facility depending on your preference and budget. While in Nkuringo you can stay at Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla lodge and Ryarutagara as the best budget accommodation facility, then clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge as an upmarket lodge Luxury lodge. Visitors can also stay at Four Gorilla Lodge. since Rushaga is close to Nkuringo, then there is a chance that you can as well stay in accommodation facilities near Rushaga. And trek gorilla in Nkuringo Sector. It is only one hour to drive from Rushaga to the Nkuringo gorilla trekking sector. Most of the lodges ensure that there are standardized services including WIFE, en suite bathrooms all providing a three-meal course including breakfast, lunch, and supper.
What to carry for Nkuringo gorilla group trekking?
In order to enjoy your gorilla trekking experience, you need to pack water proof hiking shoes, waterproof back pack, enough drinking water, sunscreen, hat, energy giving snacks, insect repellents and you should wear long sleeved cloths.
