Gorilla Families in Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks – Uganda

Gorilla Families in Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks offer visitors the rare opportunity to encounter mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park, located in Uganda, are home to over half of the world’s mountain gorillas, with Bwindi being particularly notable for its diverse gorilla families.

Bwindi National Park is divided into four sectors where visitors can find gorilla families: Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Ruhija. Uganda is home to about 21 habituated gorilla families, including the Bweza, Mishaya, Oruzogo, Bitukura, Nshongi, Kyaguriro, Habiyanja, Nkuringo, Mubare, and Nyakagezi families.

To see these majestic creatures, tourists must obtain permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Permits are required for anyone aged 15 or older. Prices for these permits vary: $800 for foreigners not residing in Uganda, $700 for foreigners living in Uganda, and 300,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens.

For a more immersive experience, tourists can opt for gorilla habituation in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi, spending a full day with the gorillas. This special experience comes at a higher cost: $1500 for foreigners not residing in Uganda, $1000 for those living in Uganda, and 750,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens.

While both Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks provide excellent gorilla viewing opportunities, Bwindi’s larger population offers a broader selection of experiences.

Gorilla families in Bwindi national park

In each of the sectors of Bwindi national park, there are gorilla families which tourists can interact with during their tours.

Rushaga Gorilla Families

In the Rushaga sector, which is in the southern part of Bwindi National Park, there are several gorilla families. This area is special because it’s the only place in the park where tourists can experience gorilla habituation.

• Nshongi Gorilla Family: This family has 36 members.
• Mishaya Gorilla Family: There are 10 gorillas in this family.
• Kahungye Gorilla Family: This family has 17 members.
• Bweza Gorilla Family: There are 11 gorillas in this family.
• Busingye Gorilla Family: This family has 12 members.
• Bikingi Gorilla Family: There are 14 gorillas in this family.

Buhoma Gorilla Families

In the northern part of Bwindi National Park, tourists can visit gorilla families in the Buhoma sector.

• Mubare Gorilla Family: This family has 8 members.
• Habiyanja Gorilla Family: There are 16 gorillas in this family.
• Rushegura Gorilla Family: This family has 19 members.
• Katwe Gorilla Family: There are 7 gorillas in this family.

Ruhija Gorilla Families

The Ruhija sector is in the eastern part of Bwindi National Park. Here, tourists can interact with several gorilla families.

• Bitukura Gorilla Family: This family has 14 members.
• Kyaguriro Gorilla Family: There are 15 gorillas in this family.
• Oruzogo Gorilla Family: This family has 17 members.
• Mukiza Gorilla Family: There are 13 gorillas in this family.

Nkuringo Gorilla Families

Also located in the southern part of Bwindi National Park is the Nkuringo sector. Here, tourists can meet habituated gorilla families.

• Nkuringo Gorilla Family: This family has 19 members.
• Bushaho Gorilla Family: There are 12 gorillas in this family.
• Christmas Gorilla Family: This family has 9 members.

Accessing Bwindi National Park

To get to Bwindi National Park, tourists can take a flight to either Kisoro airstrip or Kihihi airstrip. They can also drive from Kampala, but it takes about 8 to 9 hours. Additionally, tourists can use the Cyanika border or Gatuna border to access the park from Rwanda.

Gorilla Families in Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is another place where people can see gorillas in Uganda. There is one group of gorillas that people can visit. When people visit, they can spend time with the gorillas. This park is special because the gorillas move between Mgahinga National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and Virunga National Park.

Nyakagezi Gorilla Family

The gorilla family in Mgahinga National Park is called Nyakagezi. This family has nine gorillas in it. The leader, or silverback, of this family is named Mark. People started visiting this gorilla family in 1994. The gorillas in this family are special because they move around a lot.

In the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family, there are four silverbacks. Silverbacks are male gorillas who are leaders. There are also female gorillas and baby gorillas, called infants. This family is made up of different types of gorillas.

How to Get to Mgahinga National Park

To visit Mgahinga National Park, people can drive for about 10 hours from Kampala along the Kampala-Mbarara-Kisoro route. Or, they can fly from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airstrip. People can also drive from Rwanda to get to the park.

Other Animals in Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is not just home to gorillas. There are also golden monkeys in the forest. People can see these monkeys during tours in the park.

Best Times to Visit Gorilla Families in Uganda

The best times to visit gorilla families in Uganda are from June to September and from December to February. During these months, the weather is good, and many people visit the gorillas. But people can also visit during the rainy season, from March to May, and in November. During these times, fewer people visit because of the rain.