Uganda gorilla trekking permits gradually rise in number - Uganda safari News

Gorilla trekking being the top Africa wildlife safari activity that doesn't miss on most of the tourists must do list, there is a lot of competition on the Uganda gorilla trekking permits especially in the high season which begins in June- September. Uganda is a blessed Africa safari destination for it is home to half of the world’s remaining gorillas; the most sought animal for travelers interested in Africa wildlife safaris especially Uganda safaris, Rwanda safaris, and Congo safaris. Uganda is blessed with two mountain gorilla destinations; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Any one interested in a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda must have a gorilla permit secured prior the tracking date. Visitors on Uganda gorilla safaris are allocated a particular family to track during their gorilla trekking safaris Uganda. Only 8 people are given chance to track a particular gorilla family per day.

Gorillas live in groups also known as families. These usually consist of 6-7 individuals and sometimes a group/family can go up to even 35 members. Just like humans, there is always a leader that heads the family. This is usually a male Silver Back. A family usually consists of usually one leading male, accompanied by several females with their young.

How did Uganda increase its gorilla trekking permits?

The Uganda Wildlife Authority introduced a new habituated gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda called Rwigi and it is open to visitors interested in gorilla safari tours in Uganda. Originally, Bwindi had 17 habituated gorilla trekking families and now one was added onto it making them 18 in number. More are still being habituated so we hope their will be another increase in the gorilla families. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda has one gorilla trekking family called Nyakagezi and it is also blessed with golden monkeys open for golden monkey trekking safaris.

The Rwigi gorilla family

The Uganda wildlife Authority on the 11^th April 2019 created a new gorilla family in the system known as Rwigi in the Rushaga region. Rwigi is a splinter group from the Kasingye group with a silver back called Rwigi and other 5 members. The forest apparently has four regions i.e Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga and Ruhija each habitings its own troop of Mountain Gorillas.

Kahungye is one of the gorilla Families found in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park together with other families including Mishaya, Nshongyi, Bweza, Bikingi and Busingye in Rushaga. Kahungye derives its name from a hill with the same name which is in the home range of this gorilla family. This was a very big family which was made up of 27 members, after a few years of habituation, the family had to split creating yet another new family to be known the “Busingye group (meaning Peace). The group was left with 17 members; 3 Silverbacks with Silverback Rumanzi the leader of the group and followed by Gwigi (meaning ‘Door’) and Ruhamuka, 3 blackbacks, 3 adult females, 3 sub-adult, 3 juveniles and two infants.

Rwigi having splitted off the remaining 17 members of the Kasingye group, this family is now left with 12 members. The Uganda wildlife Authority opened the Rwigi group for Uganda gorilla trekking safaris. 

Depending on the interest of a traveler, we usually tailor Uganda gorilla trekking safaris with short Uganda wildlife safaris, water rafting adventures, boat cruise safaris, horse riding safaris, mountaineering safaris Uganda and many more. Don’t hesitate to include any of these activities on your short Uganda safari or Long Uganda safari.