Bwindi Impenetrable national park is located in the southern part of Uganda and famously known for gorilla trekking experience. Bwindi comprise of several sectors of gorilla habituated families from which gorilla trekking takes place. Nkuringo sector is one of the sectors in Bwindi, complementary to the other sectors such as; Rushaga, Ruhija, and Buhoma which make up the Bwindi Impenetrable national park. Nkuringo sector is an incredible sector to visit for gorilla trekking given its magnificent location with daily changing weather with mist in the morning and sunset in the evening. The strategic location of Nkuringo sector offers the travelers with the great views of the Virunga volcanoes with the number of crater lakes which reward visitors with a lifetime experience. Nkuringo sector is the best place to go for the experience is life-changing and memorable safari, for visitors who prefer longer hours of trekking and are physically fit to hike on steep slopes and have interest in adventure, Nkuringo sector is the best place for you.
Nkuringo gorilla trekking sector derived its name from the famous Nkuringo gorilla family which is the most interesting family to visit in this particular sector. This family of gorillas broke off from the existing Nshongi family which is located in the Rushaga sector. After breaking off, Bahati who is the head of the family moved his group members to Nkuringo sector which up to date is their current location. This group comprise of 19 members with Bahati ‘’the head silverback’’, in terms of their movement. Just like any other gorilla family in Bwindi, Nkuringo family is visited by only 8 people per day hence 8 gorilla permits are booked for a particular day. This policy is put in place by the Uganda wild life Authority, a body managing all the national parks in Uganda. The gorilla permit costs $600 per person and per permit. Other than, the Nkuringo gorilla family, Nkuringo sector has 3 more gorilla families created including; Biking gorilla family with about 15 members with 1 Silverback gorilla and was declared free for tracking in 2012. The other family in Nkuringo sector is Bushaho family composed of about 18 gorillas with 1 silverback gorilla.
There are also other two new gorilla habituated families that have been introduced in Nkuringo- including; Christmas and Katwe groups.
Uganda wildlife Authority introduced two new gorilla habituated families ready for tracking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, in order to view the gorillas, one ought to visit them in their natural habitat. The gorilla families have been opened up in Nkuringo and the Buhoma sectors of the southern Bwindi national park.
Christmas Gorilla family group in Nkuringo
Is the newly opened gorilla family in Nkuringo, the family is comprised of 9 members and 6 of them seen to be closer to the visitors who visit the gorillas. With a dominant silverback Christmas known as the head of the family.
In Buhoma, Katwe gorilla group
Katwe gorilla group is also a new gorilla group located in the Buhoma region of Bwindi. This region is accessed from the northern part of Bwindi with three more gorilla families bringing the number to 4 altogether with the newly opened Katwe gorilla family. The first gorilla family to be opened here is Rushengura and Habinyanja in 1993. These therefore has increased the number the number of gorilla permits issued per day by the Uganda wildlife authority to 32 gorilla permits from the former 24 permits for both gorilla families.
Besides Gorilla trekking, Nkuringo sector offers visitors other attractions to complement the popular gorilla trekking activity. Some of these activities include; nature walks. For visitors connecting from the Buhoma sector using the Kabale-Buhoma-Nkuringo route have higher opportunities of enjoying a nature walk to Nkuringo. This nature walk is great experience as you encounter a natural environment with chances of meeting animals such as baboons, black and white colobus monkeys and forest pigs at a closer range.
Birdwatching is another activity to be explored in Nkuringo sector. With the high concentration of birds at the
Bwindi national park, Birding is basically done during the nature walks in the vegetation and different tree species. Some of the commonly sighted birds in this region include; short tailed warbler, white tailed blue flycatcher, garners warbler and African emerald cuckoo and many more. Therefore, it will require a Binoculars for clear of some of the distant birds and many more features.
Cultural encounters, visitors meeting the locals in their communities. In Bwindi, you will meet the Bakiga and
Batwa locals who lived in the forest before they were evicted in order to create the national park. Cultural experiences offer community tours to visitors to learn about the local life, traditions, and norms of the communities, for example, the community trails, tea plantations, coffee plantations offer visitors interesting things to learn and experience. The guides will be provided to offer you first-hand information as you receive entertainment from the local dances, songs and poems as a way of welcoming travelers to the community you can also join the locals during this exercise. Remember that the fee paid for this activity is a form of charity to the local communities, the part of the fee is used in the conservation of the national park and also 20% is transferred to communities to help boost on people’s standards of living.
Getting to Nkuringo gorilla trekking sector-Bwindi national park.
Nkuringo sector can be accessed both by air and road transport, by road, you can reach the sector from Kampala City, through Kabale district then to Kisoro district where the sector is located. Which is approximately 8-9 hours drive on a good road and from Kabale to Kisoro is about 3 hours’ drive. Visitors can also reach Nkuringo via Buhoma using the Kabale-Butogota route. No public means is available to access the sector, so ensure you hire a vehicle to the park. Nkuringo can also be accessed
By Air, domestic flights can be arranged like Aero link Uganda Limited operate flights from Entebbe to Kisoro airstrip daily. From there you can drive to the park for about 2-3 hours to connect to the sector.
Accommodation facilities in Nkuringo sector
When trekking gorillas in Nkuringo sector, visitors are rewarded with excellent accommodation facilities. These facilities range from Luxury, mid-range and budget with comfortable facilities. the lodges also offer excellent food both local and international cuisine and sleeping facilities. Note that the lodges have different prices depending on the quality of service, status of the lodge and services offered by the lodges. The sector does not have many lodges however some of the lodges commonly known for good service for the Luxury option include; Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge and Nkuringo Gorilla lodge. Other lodges include; Nkuringo Gorilla Campsites and others. Visit Nkuringo sector of the Bwindi national park and have your stay in this wonderful lodges with many other activities offered at the lodge.
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