Bushaho gorilla family

Bushaho gorilla family is one of the mountain gorilla families that have been formed in Bwindi gorilla park. The family is found in the Nkuringo region of Bwindi which is in the southern part of the park. Nkuringo gorilla family now has 3 gorilla families that are open for tourism at any time of the year. Bushaho gorilla group is one of the gorilla families together with Nkuringo gorilla family and Christmas gorilla family.

Bushaho gorilla family started its habituation in 2012 after a few members of Nkuringo gorilla family including Bahati had left the group to join another non habituated family in the region. After some time of searching for the lost members, it was found out that they had joined a semi habituated family which they tried habituation to make mountain gorillas get used to human beings. The new family which members of Nkuringo gorilla family had joined was named Bushaho gorilla family.

When Bahati left Nkuringo gorilla family to join Bushaho gorilla group, he immediately became the silverback. Bushaho gorilla family is currently having 11 members that include 1 silverback, 4 adult females, 1 blackback, 3 infants, and 2 sub-adults. Bushaho gorilla family is open for gorilla habituation purposes and only 4 trekkers are allowed to encounter this gorilla family for 4 hours.

Habituating Bushaho gorilla group

Habituating Bushaho gorilla family is done in Nkuringo sector of Bwindi gorilla park. The activity starts early in the morning at the sector offices where a maximum number of 4 people is briefed by the park wardens about the rules and regulations of the gorilla habituation activity. Armed ranger guides lead the trekkers into the jungle where they take 2-7 hours to find this gorilla group.

During the search, trekkers are able to meet different park animals such as elephants, bush pigs, duikers, buffaloes, giant forest hogs, bats, jackals, birds, and different plants. The moment Bushaho gorilla family is spotted, the 4 hours of habituation start. The trekkers together with researchers and conservationists start on activities that make mountain gorillas get used to human presence. If trekkers are lucky, they can be part of the mountain gorilla naming. Habituating Bushaho gorilla families gives trekkers an opportunity to learn about gorilla behaviors, watch the members do daily activities, take photos and learn about their habits.

Booking gorilla permits for Bushaho gorilla family

How much are gorilla permits for Bushaho gorilla family ?

Bushaho gorilla family is one of the families that are reserved for habituation purposes in Bwindi. Habituating members of Bushaho gorilla group requires one to have a gorilla habituation permit that is issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority. The gorilla permit costs $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 foreign residents, and UGX750,000 citizens of East Africa.

How to buy permits for Bushaho gorilla group?

Direct from Uganda Wildlife Authority: Gorilla permits for Bushaho gorilla family can be bought directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority. Tourists that are interested in habituating Bushaho gorilla group can contact Uganda Wildlife Authority via email. The email should contain the dates of the month and year you want to trek Bushaho gorilla family and this information shall be used to check for the availability of the gorilla permits. Once the permits are available, you will be sent an email containing banking details of how you can send money for the permit. When you send a receipt of payment, your permit shall be booked.

Using a trusted local tour operator: Travelers can use trusted tour operators to buy gorilla permits for Bushaho gorilla family. Africa Adventure Vacations is one of the local tour operators you should contact via email to help you buy gorilla permits. You will tell us the dates of the m0onth and year you want to travel and we shall use this information to check for the availability of the permits with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. When we find the permits available, we shall send you an email containing banking details of how you can send us money. When you send the money and we have received it, we shall book the permit and you will find it with us.

Travelers intending to visit Bushaho gorilla group are advised to book the permits in advance because they are very few compared to the number of people that want to habituate mountain gorillas in the world. Bushaho gorilla family has only 4 gorilla permits available at Uganda Wildlife Authority every day and this is why we advise travelers to book the permits in advance of 3-4 months to avoid inconveniences or last-minute booking disappointments.

A juvenile gorilla in Bushaho gorilla family

When to habituate Bushaho gorilla group

Bushaho gorilla family in Nkuringo sector of Bwindi can be habituated at any time of the year however there are months that are better than the rest. The dry months are the best to habituate Bushaho gorilla group, they happen from June to September and December to February. The dry months are characterized by little or no rainfall that makes the trekking trails dry, the vegetation is short and scattered with good views of the mountain gorillas and the roads leading to the park are in good condition.

Tourists can still habituate Bushaho gorilla group in nkuringo in the rainy months of March to May and October to November to enjoy huge discounts on accommodation facilities. Travelers should however note that in the rainy season the trekking trails are muddy and slippery, the vegetation is talk and thick with unclear views of the gorillas, photography is not good and the roads leading to the park are in bad conditions.

What to pack for Bushaho family trekking?

What to pack for Bushaho gorilla trekking in Bwindi includes waterproof hiking shoes, cotton stocks, a pair of gaiters, a rain jacket, a sweater, long-sleeved pants, long-sleeved shirts, a hat, sunscreen, light backpack, sanitizer, facemask, insect repellents, a camera, a pair of binoculars, drinking water bottle and energy-giving snacks among others.

Where to stay on your Bushaho gorilla group trekking safari

Travelers that are interested in habituated Bushaho gorilla family must book accommodation facilities that are found in Nkuringo region because that is where the gorilla family is found. Nkuringo region has a lot of accommodation facilities that range from budget to mid-range to luxury options and they do include Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Mutanda Eco Community Centre, Nshongi Camp, Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge, and Virunga Campsite