Habituated Gorilla groups in Nkuringo Region
There are three (03) habituated gorilla groups in Nkuringo region. These include; Nkuringo, Bishaho, and Christmas gorilla group.
Gorilla Permits to trek anyone of the three (03) mentioned habituated gorilla family in Nkuringo region cost USD700 per person for foreigners (tourists), USD600 per persons for foreign residents including ex-pats living and working in East Africa, and UGX250,000 per person for East citizens including Ugandans living & working in the diaspora.
The three (03) Gorilla families in Nkuringo Region
Nkuringo Gorilla family
Tracking the Nkuringo Gorilla Group takes a bit more energy and stamina. This is probably the toughest gorilla trek in Bwindi forest National Park. Yet there are not as many complaints about being exhausted. A better word would be exhilarated after the experience of a lifetime. Even a 94-year-old woman did complete this trek and fulfilled her lifelong dream of seeing the gorillas in the wild. She was however carried on a sedan chair by porters into the forest.
The Nkuringo group is a large group in the southern, scenic area of Nkuringo, a perfect region to trek for enthusiastic mountain climbers and fitness freaks – the terrain is steep!
**Minimum fitness levels recommended**
Read more about the Nkuringo Gorilla Family
Bishaho gorilla family
Bishaho was the second group of mountain gorillas in the entire Nkuringo region to be opened for the traditional one (01) hour – 08 persons – gorilla trekking experience.
Members of the Bishaho gorilla group were originally members of the Nkuringo gorilla family who had dispersed from the group. Later it was discovered that one of the former silverbacks (Bahati) of Nkuringo gorilla family led the parallel family to an unknown place. They were later discovered in early 2012 after a search was launched.
Later this group was named Bishaho because this is the name of the place where the family forages most. Bahati is still the dormant silverback of the group that comprises 8 members including 1 silverback, 3 adult females, 1 blackback, 1 sub-adult, 1 juvenile and 1 infant.
Read more about Bishaho gorilla family
Christmas gorilla family
Christmas gorilla family is one of the three families within the Nkuringo sector (southern section of the Park). This gorilla group is headed by Christmas-the dominant silverback. He was born on Christmas day hence the name but other members of the group include three adult females, one blackback and one infant. Much as only 06 members are always sighted during tracking, the family is believed to comprise of up to 9 members.
Nkuringo sector previously had only one (01) habituated gorilla family named Nkuringo before Bishaho and now the recent addition of the Christmas gorilla family. With these additions of gorilla families, there are now 24 gorilla permits from eight (08) are now available for tourists planning to track from this remarkable region/sector.
Read more about the newly commissioned Christmas Gorilla Family
