Gorilla trekking in Nkuringo from Kigali, Rwanda

The Nkuringo sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers a tapestry of alluring encounters with mountain gorillas, even for visitors coming from Kigali in Rwanda. Encountering and spending an hour in the presence of mountain gorillas in their natural surrounding is known as gorilla trekking. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where the Nkuringo gorilla sector is found, has generated a lot of respect from the world, being a top gorilla destination and best for gorilla trekking. This is evident with the number of visitors that flock to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park every year. The park seconds none to the number of mountain gorillas it harbors, with about 459 individuals. On a wider platform of the entire world, about 1,063 mountain gorillas are left in the wild. Thus, Bwindi ranks best, having about half of the remaining population of mountain gorillas in the wild. Their numbers in the wild are attributed to many factors, like habitat loss, diseases, poaching, and human conflict, among others. The Virunga Conservation Area that engulfs Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks of Uganda, Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda, and Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo holds the other end of the line in hosting these endangered primates.

The Nkuringo gorilla sector is among the four sectors that make up Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The other sectors are Buhoma, Rushaga, and Ruhija. Gorilla trekking has never been this easy anywhere in the world but in Bwindi, since these gorilla sectors like Nkuringo make the location of the primates easy, as the families of gorillas in each sector are known. Trekking gorillas in the Nkuringo gorilla sector from Kigali, Rwanda, adds a touch of adventure to the experience through the journey from Rwanda. Traveling from Kigali, Rwanda, to Bwindi’s Nkuringo gorilla sector for gorilla trekking takes approximately 3-4 hours. Years after the establishment of the first gorilla sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the Nkuringo gorilla sector was established next in 2004, making the second gorilla sector in the park. Its establishment followed the trekking of the first gorilla family in this sector after 2 years of habituation. Nkuringo gorilla sector offers one of the best gorilla trekking experiences in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, as it hosts some of the many gorilla families in the park. Nkuringo’s hilly terrain provides visitors with a gorilla trekking experience and epic scenic views of the Virunga ranges of Mountain Nyiragongo and Mountain Nyamuragira of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Nkuringo gorilla sector is located in the southern region of the park, making its accessibility from Kigali, Rwanda, an easy ride. The improved road network system that stretches from Kigali through the border at Katuna to the Nkuringo gorilla sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park shortens the distance. Nkuringo gorilla sector is a dominating gorilla sector in terms of gorilla trekking adventure, with several gorilla families it hosts. Mountain gorillas are social beings that live together in groups called gorilla families. These families can have individual gorillas from 5-30. Each gorilla family is trekked by 8 visitors on a daily and this is done to avoid stressing the primates with too many numbers of visitors, although they are habituated and friendly to humans. Some of these gorilla families in the Nkuringo gorilla sector include the Nkuringo gorilla family ranks as the first group in the sector, the Bushaho gorilla family, and the Christmas gorilla family, among others.

What are the other activities to do in the Nkuringo gorilla sector?

The Nkuringo gorilla sector is not limited to gorilla trekking alone, as it has other activities that visitors can engage in. These activities include the following.

Birding

Birding is undoubtedly a favorite tourist activity for many visitors, especially nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. Birding comes second to gorilla trekking in the Nkuringo gorilla sector due to the vast number of bird species this sector hosts. Bird species like African blue flycatcher, Kivu ground thrush, white-tailed blue flycatcher, black bee-eaters, African emerald cuckoo, and garnet warblers, among others, are some of the 350 bird species in this sector.

Nature walks

Nature walks or hikes, as some may call them, are very common in this sector due to its incredible environment. The Nkuringo gorilla sector is strategically located close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. It has an elevated terrain that gives visitors a glimpse into the Virunga Mountains, especially on a clear day. Several flora species are also present in this sector, with some aging as far as 100 years back. Therefore, a nature walk is a great way to explore this sector and get the details of its inhabitants of both flora and fauna.

Batwa cultural experience

The Batwa community is part of the many experiences of this sector, as these people survived in the forest for several years. A tale of the Batwa people’s stories during their time in the forest is an interesting one for visitors. A show of culture through entertainment, showcased by the Batwa, tells an ancient tale of events that shaped their livelihood. All these visitors can enjoy a cultural experience of the Batwa people.

How to acquire a gorilla trekking permit to Nkuringo from Kigali?

A gorilla trekking permit is a recognized document issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority through a tour company like Standard Safaris that grants access to visitors to trek gorillas. A gorilla permit goes for USD 800, USD 700, and UGX 300,000 for foreign non-residents, foreign residents, and East African nationals, respectively. This is how these permits are solely priced in ranges of nationality and region of the visitors.

Why is the dry season always the best for gorilla trekking in Nkuringo from Kigali?

The dry season is the best season for gorilla trekking in Nkuringo from Kigali, Rwanda, because it provides conducive climatic conditions for gorilla trekking. The dry season in the tropical climate where Nkuringo falls is a period of prolonged sunny and dry weather with a hot atmosphere due to the low levels of rainfall received. Add this to the terrain of the Nkuringo gorilla sector, and the gorilla trekking experience will be a seamless one. Unlike the dry season, the wet season is the opposite, with relatively everyday showers that soak the sector and make navigation almost impossible.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.

I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.

If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.

The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.

The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.

The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.

The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.

I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.

We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.

Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.
The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.
Game drive security is assured.
Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.
Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.
The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.
It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.
I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.
My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.
I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.