Gorilla Trekking Safari: Places to Visit in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

With almost half of the entire mountain gorilla places population, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is renowned for its gorilla trekking safari as of the places in Uganda. In fact, many people travel to Uganda only to see the awe-inspiring mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. These magnificent creatures live in different groups and there are specific areas within the park where a particular group is most likely to be found. These areas also include several other tourist attractions that make a visit to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park a memorable experience. A brief description of places to visit in this national park is given below.

Buhoma

Situated in the northern western part of the park, Buhoma is home to three gorilla groups. The three-hour long village walks through the area will introduce you to the sublime natural beauty of Uganda safari and give an excellent opportunity to know the culture of the Batwa community. You can buy handicraft made by locals, enjoy dance & songs performed by them, meet the interesting traditional healer, or drink the local beer & gin made from bananas. The three gorilla groups for the Gorilla Trekking Safari places found in the Buhoma area in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include Mubare group, Habinyanja group, and Rushegura group.

Nkuringo

A southern neighbor to Buhoma, Nkuringo has a single gorilla group which is quite large. To admire this riveting group you need to travel approximately 600 metres south of the demanding trailhead at Ntungamo village. North of Nkuringo lies the enchanting Bwindi forest and to its south you can enjoy the picturesque Virunga volcanoes. The village walks through the area will introduce you to the culture of Bakiga people who are part of the Bantu ethnic group. It must be noted that in a day only maximum of 8 people are allowed to track a gorilla group, hence, book a permit as soon as possible.

Ruhija

Situated in the eastern side of the park, Ruhija is the highest tracking trail in Uganda where three gorilla groups could be found namely Oruzoojo, Bitukura, and Kyaguriro. Apart from mountain gorillas, Ruhija is also famous for birding as well as for spotting elephants at such high altitudes. The highest point in the park, Rwamunyoni (2,607m) also lies in this area and it is a great place for bird watching.

Rushaga

Located in the southern eastern part of the park, Rushaga has the highest number of gorilla groups that include Mishaya, Nshongi, Kahungye, and Busingye. Nshongi was originally the largest family, however, over the years many other groups have come into existence that are led by the members of the Nshongi family. You can spot elephants in these parts as well and could visit a captivating waterfall while trekking in the area.