Trekking Mishaya gorilla family
Trekking Mishaya gorilla family: Mishaya gorilla group is one of the habituated mountain gorilla families in Bwindi gorilla park. The gorilla family can be trekked from Rushaga sector of the park with the other 7 mountain gorilla families. Bwindi gorilla park which covers 331 sq. km is a place to meet more than half of the mountain gorillas left in the world and it’s located in the southwestern part of Uganda.
The group was originally a splinter of Nshongi gorilla family in 2010 after misunderstandings between the group leader and a silverback Mishaya. When Mishaya was leaving Nshongi gorilla family, he left with 10 members to form his group. As time went on Mishaya gorilla family kept on increasing because Mishaya would fight other groups including the unhabituated ones and grab members into his group. Mishaya was known as a fighter who would fight any other leader and win some of his members.
Mishaya gorilla family was at the beginning led by a silverback called Mishaya who was found dead on the morning of 3rd February 2014 in the jungle. After the death of Mishaya, another silverback called Mwine took over the leadership of the group. As of today, Mishaya gorilla group has about 12 members that can be habituated at any time of the year.
Other mountain gorilla families in Rushaga sector of Bwindi gorilla park include Nshongi gorilla family, Kahungye gorilla family, Busingye gorilla family, Bikingi gorilla family, Bweza gorilla family, Mucunguzi gorilla family, and Rwigi gorilla family.
Mishaya gorilla group
Trekking Mishaya gorilla group starts very early in the morning with driver guides transferring the trekkers to the sector offices where briefing takes place. The sector has different mountain gorilla families so all trekkers meet at the same point to listen to the rules and regulations of the gorilla trekking activity before being grouped.
When it’s time for grouping, those that want to trek Mishaya gorilla group will be grouped together and the armed ranger guides will lead them throughout the whole trek. To find Mishaya gorilla family, you can take 2-7 hours of going through different trails of the park and the time taken depends on the location of the mountain gorilla family and the speed of trekkers.
The moment Mishaya gorilla family is located, the trekkers are given 1 hour to be around the family members and this enables them to learn about their habits, take photos and spot them doing daily activities such as hunting, nesting, coupling, eating, and breastfeeding among others.
How much is trekking Mishaya gorilla family?
The cost of trekking mountain gorillas of Mishaya group family is $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX 250,000 for East African citizens. Trekkers must book the gorilla permits in advance of 3-4 months to avoid being left out. These permits are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority and can be got from a trusted local tour operator at the same price.
Booking gorilla permits for Mishaya gorilla family
To book gorilla trekking permits for Mishaya gorilla group you will need to first look for a trusted local tour operator. After getting a local tour operator, you will send them an email containing Mishaya as the gorilla group you want to trek, the date of the month, and year you want to travel. They will use this information to check for the availability of the permits with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and once the permits are available, they will send you an email containing the banking details where you are to send money. After sending the money they will book the trekking permits for you and send you scanned copies.
When to trek Mishaya gorilla family?
Mishaya gorilla family can be trekked at any time of the year because Bwindi gorilla park is open every day. The dry months are however the best to trek Mishaya gorilla family because they are characterized by little or no rainfall which leaves the trekking trails dry, the vegetation is thin and short with good views of the gorillas, and the roads leading to the sector are in good conditions.
Travelers that want to have discounts on accommodation facilities can trek this gorilla family in the rainy seasons because that is when the lodges are cheap. The rainy season comes with a lot of issues such as heavy rainfall that makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery, the vegetation is tall with unclear views of the park animals, and the roads leading to the park are in poor conditions.
What to pack on for Mishaya gorilla group trekking?
There is a lot to pack when visiting Bwindi gorilla park for Mishaya gorilla group trekking in Rushaga sector but some of the most required things include waterproof hiking shoes, cotton stocks, a pair of gaiters, long-sleeved pants, long-sleeved shirts, rain jacket, sweater, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellents, sanitizer, facemask, a camera, a pair of binoculars, energy-giving snacks and a reusable drinking water bottle.
Accommodation while trekking Mishaya gorilla group
When trekking Mishaya gorilla group tourists have lots of accommodation facilities where they can sleep depending on their budget. These accommodation facilities are located within Rushaga area of the park or near the sector such as Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Nsongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Resort, and Wagtail Eco Safari Lodge.