Bwindi is habitat to more than half the world’s population of Mountain Gorillas and there are over 300 mountain gorillas living here. People interested in Gorillas travel to Uganda from different parts of the world to enjoy their Safari in Uganda that is Mountain Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The word “Bwindi” means “darkness” and taking a hike this magnificent forest will certainly unveil to you the reason why the forest was named so. You will as well be in position to fast tell why actually the forest is also regarded as Impenetrable. One requires to be realistically physically fit to take part in this mountain gorilla tracking adventure because it may involve climbing the steep terrain.
In Uganda, it's quite difficult to say which gorilla families are easier or harder to find. Gorillas are wild animals whose actions are unpredictable. The ease of seeing the gorillas depends on the movements of the gorilla family on that particular day. Some say that the Rushegura group in Buhoma is easy to spot though someone cannot guarantee on this. You can find four different areas from which to begin the gorilla tracking in Uganda. They are each between 2 and 5 hours driving from the other. This means that your choice of accommodation also influences much on the options of the gorilla group you can visit.
There are 36 gorilla groups in Uganda and only 12 are habituated to visit. In northern Bwindi, you can track three gorilla groups from the Buhoma area of the park that is Rushegura, Habinyanja and Mubare, on the eastern side you can track two gorilla groups from Ruhija that is Bitukura and Oruzogo, and on the southern side of the park you can track six gorilla groups from Rushaga that is Nkuringo, Mishaya, Nshongi, Kahungye, Busingye and Bweza. In Mgahinga National Park you can track one gorilla group that is Nyakegezi. This gorilla family is often on the move and cannot always be booked.
In the Virunga Mountains, Gorillas’ average length of tenure for a dominant silverback is 4.7 years, 61% of groups are composed of one adult male and a number of females and 36% contain more than one adult male. The remaining gorillas are either lone males or exclusively male groups, usually made up of one mature male and a few younger males. Group sizes vary from five to thirty, with an average of ten individuals. A typical group contains: one silverback, who is the group's undisputed leader; one or two black backs, who act as sentries; three to four sexually mature females, who are ordinarily bonded to the dominant silverback for life; and from three to six juveniles and infants. Most males, and about 60% of females, leave their natal group. Males leave when they are about 11 years old, and often the separation process is slow: they spend more and more time on the edge of the group until they leave altogether.
Choosing the best safari lodge or accommodation will depend on how much you can afford. Some lodges are luxury and charge high while the budget ones charge low for room availability. It’s all about the facilities, location, food and services. Among the luxury include Clouds Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp and Mahogany Springs. Nshongi Gorilla Resort and friends lodge are some of the budget accommodation for travelers.
When you book your tour well in advance, you can give us your preference of Ugandan gorilla group you wish to visit. Gorilla permits are sold out far from the park in advance, so it might be that green world safaris has to choose from the few remaining permits for your dates.