Kyaguliro gorilla family
Kyaguliro family is one of the habituated mountain gorilla groups in Ruhija sector of Bwindi. Ruhija sector is located on the eastern side of Bwindi gorilla park home to mountain gorillas. Bwindi gorilla park is home to more than half of the mountain gorilla population in the world which makes it famous. The park attracts lots of tourists that come from different parts of the world to encounter mountain gorillas that are believed to be closest relatives to human beings with about 98% DNA.
Kyaguliro gorilla family started the process of habituation in 1995 and was at first open for research only until 1999. The gorilla family was later open for trekking and tourists can now be around it for a maximum of 1 hour. At the time of habituation, Kyaguliro gorilla group was led by a silverback called Zeus but he was overthrown by Rukina who later died as a result of electric shock from lightning. After the death of Rukina, an immature silverback called Mukiza took over the leadership of the group and as of today, the family has 10 members.
Trekking Kyaguliro gorilla family
Mountain gorilla trekking starts early in the morning at the sector offices where wardens teach the trekkers about the rules and regulations of the mountain gorilla trekking. Only 8 people are allowed to trek Kyaguliro gorilla family and they are led by armed ranger guides that take them through the jungle protecting them from dangerous wild animals.
Locating Kyaguliro gorilla family can take 2-7 hours of going through different trekking trails meeting different park animals such as antelopes, buffaloes, olive baboons, elephants, and birds. When the trekkers locate Kyaguliro gorilla family, they are given 1 hour to be around the family members learn about their habits, take photos and watch the members do daily activities such as hunting, nesting, and coupling, and eating among others.
How much are trekking permits for Kyaguliro gorilla family?
To trek Kyaguliro gorilla group, you need trekking permits and these are sold at Uganda Wildlife Authority. There are only 8 gorilla trekking permits for Kyaguliro gorilla family and each of the permit costs $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 East African citizens. The trekking permits are sold to persons above the age of 15 years and are used only once.
How to book Kyaguliro gorilla family permits.
Travelers can book Kyaguliro gorilla trekking permits using trusted local tour operators or direct from Uganda Wildlife Authority. The best way to book the permits for any of the families in Bwindi gorilla park is using a local tour operator because they will go ahead and inform the park wardens about the gorilla families they want to trek.
After finding a trusted local tour operator such as Africa Adventure Vacations limited, you will have to send us an email containing Kyaguliro as the gorilla family you want to trek, the dates of the month, and the year you want to travel. We shall use this information to check for the availability of the trekking permits with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and once the permits are available, we shall send you an email containing banking details. After sending the money for the permit, we shall go and book it for you and thereafter send you a scanned copy.
What to pack for Kyaguliro gorilla family trekking?
What to pack for Kyaguliro gorilla family trekking includes long-sleeved pants, long-sleeved shirts, a rain jacket, waterproof shoes, cotton stocks, a pair of gaiters, a light backpack, a sweater, a camera, a pair of binoculars, insect repellents, sanitizer, first aid kit, energy-giving snacks, and a drinking water bottle.
A double room at Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge
Where to stay?
Kyaguliro gorilla family is found in Ruhija sector of Bwindi gorilla park and so travelers must use accommodation facilities in this sector. Accommodation facilities in Ruhija sector range from budget to mid-range to luxury options with where to stay depending on someone’s budget. Some of the accommodation facilities in Ruhija sector include Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Broadbill Forest Camp, Agandi Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Cuckoo Land Tented Lodge, Ecomarvels Gorilla Lodge, and Trekkers Tavern.
The most Best time to trek Kyaguliro gorilla family?
Kyaguliro gorilla group can be trekked at any time of the year but some months are better than others. The dry months that occur from June to September and December to February are the best to trek Kyaguliro gorilla family because there is little or no rainfall that leaves the trekking trails dry, the vegetation is short with good views of the mountain gorillas and the roads leading to the park are passable.
Travelers can still visit Kyaguliro gorilla family in the rainy season of March to May and October to November and those that do so will enjoy huge discounts on accommodation facilities. Travelers should note that during the rainy season, there is a lot of rainfall that makes the roads leading to the park impassable, the trekking trails are wet and slippery affecting the speed of trekkers and the vegetation is thick with bad views of the park animals.
A group of gorilla trekkers receiving briefing before the trekking activity
Rules and regulations of trekking Kyaguliro gorilla family
The gorilla family is trekked by a group of 8 people that must have gorilla permits
Trekkers must sanitize their hands before heading to the jungle
Trekkers that have signs of transmitted diseases such as flu and cough are not allowed to trek
While trekking, you must keep in your group
Trekkers that want to ease themselves should inform their armed ranger guides to dig a hole which will be covered after
Trekkers are supposed to keep their voices low while trekking
Trekkers must be around mountain gorillas for only 1 hour
Trekkers shouldn’t look directly in the eyes of mountain gorillas
Trekkers must use a camera that has no flashlights
Trekkers are not supposed to point at mountain gorillas
Eating around mountain gorillas or smoking is not allowed
Littering in the park is not allowed
After spending time with mountain gorillas, trekkers must keep their voices low till they move far away from the mountain gorilla group.
