The best way to see Uganda is on foot; especially where there are hardly any roads and the nature is barely touched, that’s why we recommend walking safaris in Nkuringo. Nkuringo section is a perfect example of this, so there are designed hikes which are led by expert guides who are well conversant with the area’s flora, fauna and culture.
It is possible to get a taste of this area with some shorter treks of approximately 2 hours or delve a little deeper with treks of up to a week.
About Nkuringo sector and walking safaris.
Nkuringo sector is located in the southwestern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a forest that protects about 460 mountain gorillas, that is more than 50% of those left in the world. However, the Park has four (4) sectors were gorillas can be trekked and Nkuringo is one of them.
The Park is a tourist destination and a UNESCO world heritage site designated to protect the population of mountain gorillas. Some gorillas are located on the slopes of volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
In the deep thick and high part of Bwindi forest lives the ‘Nkuringo’ gorilla family which was named after the rolling hills where the family was first sighted. The hills are the very first picture one would see when travelling to this sector.
Habituation of Nkuringo family was launched in 2004, and currently has more than 12 members. This group members used to be found in the villages and this became the reason for its habituation since they were seen destroying people’s crops. The group was opened for tourists so that the communities could benefit from the proceeds.
By then, the sector had only one family, the Nkuringo family, and this group was originally by the silverback ‘Nkuringo’ who died in 2008. Later, Safari and Rufiki the silverbacks took over the power to lead the family. In the same year, the family welcomed a set of twins from Kwitonda – the twin mother. The twins were named Muhozii and Katungi, who made the family expand more. Sadly, Katungi died before turning 2 years.