Just after Buhoma, the park’s northern sector was flagged off following establishment of Bwindi national park in 1993, Nkuringo came second in the southern side in 2004 before Rushaga sector. Nkuringo follows Buhoma in being popular because it is home to interesting historical gorilla groups that visitors hear about and cannot wait to meet them, not forgetting the magical scenery of Nkuringo region. Photographers shouldn’t miss out on carrying their cameras for the photogenic environment that is backed by the rays of sun rise and sun set in this cosy wilderness.
Even following the demise of a popular silverback Rafiki, the sector is still shown a great deal of affection as tourists visit it frequently.
Gorilla families in Nkuringo Gorilla Sector.
- Nkuringo gorilla family
The family mediates between being nuclear and extended as it has 11 members, including one silverback, one black back, two adult females, 2 sub-adults, three juveniles and two infants.
This is the very first gorilla family to be habituated in Nkuringo sector. It spends 98% of its time foraging beyond the park areas, therefore a buffer zone was created to prevent their interference from neighboring communities.
A trek to this gorilla family is quite challenging and offers an amazing physical exercise for the day as the Nkuringo sector is situated in the steep valley areas of the southern part of Bwindi.
How to track Nkuringo gorilla group?
This group offers some of the most demanding hikes in the park therefore tourists should prepare ahead of this adventure as it involves trekking through Nteko Ridge but worthwhile as tourists enjoy magnificent views stolen from the distant Virunga massif.
Dominant silverback of this family was the renown Rafiki who died on a saddening note due to poachers in 2020 hence since the group initially had 2 silverbacks, the second succeeded Rafiki after his death.
2. Posho gorilla family.
The background of this family is not so rich as it’s a newly established group that got its name from the founding Silverback called Posh. He broke off from Rafiki leadership – head of Nkuringo family to start his own family that later came to be flourishing and growing with a total of 14 members.
Silverback Magara commands these 14 members and he is responsible for the well-being of all individuals.
How to track Posho Gorilla Group?
As it is said that the early bird catches the worm, trekkers leave for the gorilla adventure as early as 8:00 am after a short briefing with trust in their trackers that they will glance at these creatures after a 2-7 hours’ trek through the jungles and thickets.
3. Christmas gorilla family.
The name of this group was adopted from the dominat silverback called Christmas. The glorious season of love and melodies didn’t just remind people about the birth of Jesus Christ but also overwhelmed both humans and gorillas with joy that grew up into a magnificent ape.
Christmas shares a birthday with Jesus as he was born on 25th December. He broke away from Rafiki to form his family and they didn’t go through any habituation process as all of the members that left with him were fully habituated from Nkuringo.
Christmas gorilla group is quite small in number, made of just 8 members that include one dominat silverback, 2 adult females, one sub-adult called Guma, two juveniles and two infants. Members in this group are fully habituated but a single mother recently joined with her juvenile son whose shyness always keeps him in the bushes or behind his mother’s back.
How to track Christmas gorilla group?
Visitors should endeavor booking their accommodation near Nkuringo trailhead so that they keep time and get to the tracking point as early as 8:00 am as it also helps to sight the creatures soon enough.
Christmas is a tough silverback that hits his hands on his chest and all members in his family bow down to his command.
4. Bushaho Gorilla Family
All the members of Bushaho family trace their origin from Nkuringo and so does the lead silverback. The name of this family means “there is nothing’ which was given after the place they usually forage from.
Death of Rafiki caused various disappearances for some of the silverbacks that were in the group and this also gave a thought for Bahati to take his leave from Nkuringo. Because Bahati is fun and entertaining, there were several gorillas that followed him and the family went on expanding until it settled.
Bahati is the family’s lead silverback, in charge of one blackback, five adult females, one sub-females, two juveniles and two infants.
It’s interesting how gorillas enjoy Showbiz, because Bahati usually displays off his dominancy if he notices an audience by pounding his chest while making a powerful hoot, throwing tree branches and so much more.
How to track Bushaho group?
Probably Bahati is picking a leaf from Rafiki about gaining audience and popularity but visitors who can’t miss the trek hype that is offered by this individual should just follow the necessary guidelines issued by the authority and the close of the trek will be blessed by flaunts done by silverback Bahati.
