Revised listings of gorilla families and accessible permits in Bwindi’s Nkuringo area. Gorilla safaris in the southern portion of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park have long history with Nkuringo. Comprising 19 individuals and one dominant silverback, the Nkuringo gorilla family was released to public viewing in 3004. The most of the gorilla families in this region are Nkuringo family breakaways.

Currently consisting of three gorilla trekking families—the Nkuringo gorilla family, the Christmas gorilla family, and the Muhozi gorilla family—the Nkuringo area boasts Currently accessible for public booking in the Nkuringo region, 24 gorilla permits are opened daily; more will be added while the habituation process is still under progress. Researchers observe a wild gorilla family under the Gorilla Public Project to adapt them to human presence without changing their character.

One area for gorilla habituation experience is also the southern section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The gorilla habituation experience is an expedition wherein a maximum of four visitors accompany a team of researchers and habituation to follow the semi-habituated gorilla family and spend four hours among them. Though they still exhibit unusual behavior as scurrying into hiding, shying away, and hooting, do as advised by the ranger guide and research to finish the whole experience.

Under Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the four gorilla safari areas— Rushaga in the south, Buhoma in the North, and Ruhija in the East—include Nkuringo region.

As the process of gorilla habituation develops, the count of gorilla families in the Nkuringo region may fluctuate sometimes.

The gorilla families of the Nkuringo section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

gorilla family Nkuringo
Christmas Goracle Family
Family of Muhoza Gorillas
Two gorilla habituation experience families are also accessible from the Nkuringo region. Every day public booking is accessible for four permits per gorilla habituation family.

Booking Gorilla Permits For the Nkuringo Area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Choose a date for the gorilla safari and the required permit count. This lets one avoid returning to investigate availability of gorilla permits. Tell them from the beginning that you would want Nkuringo’s gorilla permits.

Our safari adviser investigates gorilla permit availability from the Uganda Wildlife Authority list when you book with Katland safaris. Among the few businesses registered to be allowed to access the gorilla permission list is ours.

After learning that gorilla permits are available, we advise customers to get their permits right away as their status changes anytime without notice. Since few gorilla permits are offered to the public every day, they are exclusively booked with payment. Gorilla trekking is possible with eight licenses for each gorilla family.

We need certain personal information to be entered on the gorilla permit card: your complete name as shown on the passport, date of birth, nationality, and passport expiry date. These serve for identifying and statistical needs.

A Gorilla Trekking permit for the Nkuringo section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park costs what?

For international nonresidents, the gorilla trekking permit is $800; for foreign residents, it costs $700; and for East Africans, it runs 300 000shs. Only the Uganda Wildlife Authority is in business selling and controlling mountain gorilla licenses. Still, you may also arrange the permission via a trip operator such as Katland Safaris.

Within the cost of gorilla treking permits are the park admission costs, security, government tax, one hour with the mountain gorillas, local community assistance, mountain gorilla conservation, ranger guide fees, and others.

Exclusions from the gorilla trekking permit include porter hiring, lodging, transportation to the safari location, and others.

How expensive is the experience in gorilla habituation?

Gorilla habituation experience now costs $1500 for international nonresidents, $1000 for foreign residents, and 750000shs for East Africans. Open for public booking are four gorilla licenses from the two gorilla families.

Including and excluding in the expense of gorilla habituation experience
Four hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family, ranger guide fees, mountain gorilla conservation, security, park entrance fees on trekking day, local community support, government tax, certificate after the gorilla safari, and others define the cost of a gorilla habituation experience permit.

Exclusions of gorilla habituation experience allow gratuities, food, transportation, and other personal expenditures including charges.

When should one schedule a gorilla safari to the Nkuringo area?

Although the Nkuringo region is suitable for gorilla safaris any time, the dry season is the most sought after. The mountain gorillas are in great spirits; other forest dwellers are also more easily seen. Though Bwindi forest gets erratic precipitation, the dry season offers more moderate possibilities of getting unexpected showers. Usually lasting June, July, August, September, December, and January is the dry season.

Uganda safaris’ peak season is here, hence demand for gorilla permits is excessive and chances of discovering availability are low as the seasons draw to end. To be on the safe side, we advise customers to buy these gorilla permits ahead—at least six months to a year ahead.

Demand for gorilla permits is lower during the rainy season, hence there is more likelihood of last-minute discovering of them. Usually spanning March, April, May, and November, the rainy season also marks the low season of travel. If your gorilla safari budget is restricted, you may take advantage of the low season as lower logistics might be possible. Sometimes the service providers break even with lower rates.

For gorilla walk in the Nkuringo region, what lodging do you arrange?

Budget, mid-range, and luxury facilities define the Nkuringo area’s accommodations. Apart from the lodging in the Nkuringo region, you might spend overnight at the Rushaga area. Confirming the gorilla permit will help you to schedule lodging for the gorilla safari at the ideal moment. This is so because, as the season becomes stronger, there are very few choices for lodging for the gorilla safari.

To avoid having to travel in the dark from another location to catch up with a briefing in the Nkuringo region, arrange lodging either within or near the Nkuringo area. Obstacles such blocked roads, slick roads, and logs falling across the road are very likely to arise on the route. Should you be late for the briefing, you can be kicked off the gorilla walk.

Nkuringo lodging includes Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Backpacker’s Camp, Nshongi Camp, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Clouds Lodge.

How to get the To Nkuringo section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

From Kampala or Entebbe Airport, you may reach the Nkuringo district via Road from Kabale. This hilly location features twisting roads, hence you require a 4×4 wheel drive car in excellent shape and a skilled and experienced driver guide.

approximately 414 kilometers separate Kampala or Entebbe from Kabale to Nkuringo region, and it links to Nkuringo for approximately 105 kilometers. About 80 kilometers from Kabale and 35 kilometers from the Nkuringo region, Kisoro is also a place for overnight stays.

Every day, Air Daily domestic flights from Kajjansi or Entebbe airport go for Kisoro airstrip. The Kisoro airfield is about one hour and fifteen minutes from the Nkuringo region, so you require a transfer car.

Kajjansi Airstrip or Entebbe Airport allows charter aircraft for a more personalized gorilla safari experience. An advance clearance requires a reservation.

During gorilla treking in the Nkuringo region, are mountain gorillas aggressive?

Mountain gorillas lack aggression. Usually timid, they prefer to hide when disturbed. Looking at the mountain gorillas, their big bodies give one an alarming impression. A fully developed male gorilla may weigh about three hundred kg, whereas the female would weigh approximately half this amount. Their dark brown sunken eyes, black fur covers their body, and they walk by knuckle fashion.

Though they are quiet, the mountain gorillas do not inspire patience as they may charge. Agitated, the mountain gorillas hoot, pound their chests hard, walk on one foot, and so much more drama occurs. When you see such behavior, go carefully but wait for the ranger guide to determine the underlying reason.

The mountain gorillas sometimes engage in family strife; other times, it is an assault by another gorilla family. Use the directions the ranger guide provides to finish the whole period you are spending with these monkeys.

When is the Nkuringo area gorilla trekking return time?

While some visitors have returned after two-hour gorilla treks, others have spent over three-quarters of their day in the woods. The period of discovering the mountain gorillas depends on elements in the forest such as the closeness of the mountain gorilla feeding place, daily temperature, in case the gorilla family is adventurous, the speed of other visitors, and others.

You have four hours during gorilla habituation experience and one hour with the mountain gorillas for gorilla trekking once you locate them. The time to spend with the mountain gorillas is limited for conservation purposes as human activity disturbs their everyday existence.

One hour later, gently leave the gorilla family so as not to seem suspicious before the already wary mountain gorillas.

Before you discover the mountain gorillas and risk becoming bored, let your thoughts open to other fascinating aspects of the forest. With possibilities of witnessing over 10 monkey species, more than 350 bird species, 88 butterfly species, 51 reptiles, and so much more, Bwindi forest is a biosphere reserve At various points, you could find chances to take in the breathtaking view of the thick Bwindi forest canopy.

What rules apply for gorilla safaris in the Nkuringo region?

Once you see mountain gorillas, keep around eight meters away from them. This is to avoid giving these very sensitive to infectious illnesses such flu, cough, COVID-19, and others possibilities of spreading an infection to them.

Offer to remain behind if you have an infectious illness so as not to transmit it on the endangered mountain gorillas.
Eat or drink at least 300 meters away from the mountain gorillas if you like before they arrive. Wild creatures like them have to find their own food.

Gorilla safaris have an age restriction of fifteen years and beyond. This is so because the geography of the mountain gorillas is difficult and sometimes you must trek to discover them.
Enter the jungle with an accompanied ranger guide only.

While the mountain gorillas are totally acclimated to human presence, other forest residents are not and might endanger you alone.
Ask the ranger guide to dig a hole at least 30 cm deep and hide far beyond recognition when you have to defecate.

Keep close to the mountain gorillas; crowding them might lead to ambushed feelings.
Since the mountain gorillas are wild creatures used to human presence, kindly avoid trying to incite them. They still act in strange ways.
Using a flash-less camera can help you n

ot frighten the mountain gorillas while photographing. Unfamiliar events in their presence might cause them great fear.
Keep your voice quiet when following the mountain gorillas to avoid frightening other forest residents and other animals. This may be fascinating to include into your nature picture collection.

Never trash in the outdoors as it changes the environment of the forest mountain gorillas inhabit.
See our safari advisors to arrange your gorilla trekking safari to Njuringo.