Buhoma Region was the first place in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to be opened for mountain Gorilla trekking in 1993. Then there was only one habituated mountain gorilla group called Mubare. But as we write this article, the Buhoma region now boasts of six (05) Fully habituated mountain gorilla groups. The Malaya Gorilla family is still undergoing habituation which might bring the number of habituated mountain gorilla groups in the Buhoma region to six (06). Buhoma Region is the busiest gorilla trekking region and a favorite for many upmarket travelers seeking to trek Gorillas whilst staying at luxury lodges; Sanctuary’s Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi Lodge, or Buhoma Lodge.
Getting to Buhoma takes approximately 09-hours by road from Entebbe or 2-hours by air from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airfield. All flights from Entebbe or Kajjansi to Buhoma land at Kihihi Airstrip (40 km/25mi to Bwindi ) where you are picked up by a Realm Africa Safaris™ representative. The gorilla families that can be tracked in the Buhoma Region include; Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, Katwe, Binyindo, and the recently commissioned Muyambi Gorilla group. This article was updated: on 19th/06/2022.
The six (06) Fully Habituated Gorilla families In Buhoma Region
#1.Mubare Gorilla Family
The Mubare was the first habituated gorilla group to be commissioned for gorilla trekking on 13th/October/1993. This group of wild gorillas was first encountered at Mubare Hills from which they borrow a name. Habituation Of the mUbare gorilla group started in 1991 and lasted 02 years before they were officially opened to the public to trek in 1993 – this is when Gorilla trekking in Uganda Started!
Mubare Gorilla Family consisted of 12 family members, however, some members left and joined other gorilla groups, and at the time of the death of the lead silverback Ruhondeza, there were only 5 loyal family members.
Some good news: In 2013 four (04) other gorillas joined the Mubare gorilla family and there are now nine (09) family members.
Trekking the Mubare group is very interesting and usually, the trek to see them often lasts just about 5-hours round-trips ( No guarantees).
When the Numbers of Members in the Mubare group dropped from the original 12 to six and then five ( after the death of Ruhondeza the Silverback) most gorilla tour operators and tourists declined to visit the group but this has over the years changed as the numbers have risen from 5 to 9 members due to new leadership from the new Silverback Kanyonyi who has taken charge of the group.
#2.Habinyanja Gorilla Family
The Habinyanja Gorilla Family was one of the earlier habituated groups in the Buhoma area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and over the years has had thousands of visitors from around the world that have spent an hour with them in the ancient forest.
It normally takes a full day – five hours or more to track the Habinyanja Gorilla Group. Nevertheless, there are harder groups to track that take a bit more energy plus longer trekking hours. Habinyanja family is a larger group of about 18 individuals – but such figures change as gorilla babies arrive, old members, die or move to another group, and other factors.
The group was first discovered near a swamp in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The name Habinyanja comes from the local name for water “Nyanja”
Gorilla Families just like Human families split at given times. For instance, the present-day Rushegura family also found in the Buhoma region split from the Habinyanja group some years back. Today these two (02) gorilla families, including the Mubare Gorilla Families cross each others paths and the meetings are mostly peaceful in nature.
If you are interested in tracking the Habinyanja Gorilla Family, you need to plan to book a Buhoma Region Gorilla trekking permit which costs $700 per person. Realm Africa Safaris™ can assist you to book a gorilla permit, and also planning a gorilla safari to Buhoma Region.
Related: Best Places to stay in Buhoma Region.
#3.Rushegura Gorilla family
The Rushegura Gorilla Group is one of the largest habituated gorilla groups In Uganda with approximately sixteen (16) Individuals. Tracking time for this group tends to be shorter in recent times since they have stayed around the park headquarters area. This group at times ventures out of the park and we had a group on safari who had this group outside of their tent during the night until the next morning to their delight. They were simply amazed! to say the least.
Learn more about the Rushegura Gorilla family
#4.Katwe Gorilla family
Katwe gorilla family has a total of 9 members – comprised of 1 silverback, 2 adult females, 2 blackbucks, and 2 infants. The name Katwe was derived from a dominant hill in Bwindi impenetrable forest from where the initial habituation of this particular family took place.
Katwe is among the five (05) fully habituated mountain gorilla families found in Buhoma Region. Buhoma now boasts of having a total of 40 gorilla permits available on a daily – gorilla permits cost $700 per permit.
Learn more about the Katwe Gorilla family
#5.Muyambi Gorilla Family – group is the latest addition to the list of habituated gorilla families in the popular Buhoma Region. The Mumbai gorilla family was birthed from a split of the habinyanja Gorilla family save for the known facts of the group size 4 individuals including 1 silverback – we are still generating information about this group.
#6.Malaya Gorilla family – Group.
This gorilla family is still undergoing habituation and information about the number of members in the family is still scanty. We will update this page as soon as we have some information about the Malaya Gorilla Family in Buhoma Region.
#7.Binyindo Gorilla family (No longer existent – the Family split)
The Binyindo Gorilla family is the latest addition to the group of habituated gorilla families that can be tracked from the Buhoma Region. Binyindo gorilla Family consists of 06 members including one dominant silverback.
For visitors looking to experience trekking a wild gorilla group might consider speaking to your guide to try (no guarantees) and book you on a trek to visit the Binyindo gorilla group – this family has just been opened for gorilla trekking and does exhibit interesting wild habits that you may never be able to find with other gorillas groups in Buhoma Region.
Learn more about How the Binyindo Gorilla family split.
Best time to trek Gorillas in Buhoma Region
Buhoma Region is open for gorilla trekking all year long, but the best times to go are from June to August and December to February. At these times, the forest trails are drier and therefore less challenging to navigate. Also, your chance of a dry gorilla tracking experience is higher during these months. This might result in a better experience and photography will be easier.
Learn more about the Best time to trek gorillas in Buhoma Region ( Northern Bwindi)
Price of a Gorilla Permit in the Buhoma Region
A Gorilla Permits in Buhoma Region cost;
- $700 per person for foreign Non Residents.
- $600 per person for Foreign Residents.
- UGX 250,000 per person for East African Citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania).
Popular Gorilla Safaris & Tours Visiting Buhoma Region in 2022 – 2024
