Nkuringo Sector
Nkuringo is one of the 4 sectors or mountain gorilla trail heads of Bwindi impenetrable national park. Nkuringo is mainly hosting the Nkuringo gorilla family. The other group is the Bushaho gorilla family; however, it crosses from Rushaga Sector to the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park. Another mountain gorilla family near the Nkuringo sector is the Bikingi gorilla family. However, bushaho and bikingi are still under habituation, but they are allowed to be trekked by 8 visitors per day, plus the health status, and the age of the trekkers are a very considerable factor for the visitors to Nkuringo sector, just like other sectors of Bwindi impenetrable national park.
The location of Nkuringo, located at a higher altitude, requires the trekkers to be physically fit if at all they book for the Nkuringo gorilla family. For the reason of being on a higher altitude, the Nkuringo sector majorly recommendable to the physically fit travelers like the young in age and the youth full who can afford trekking for long hikes in the thick forest of Bwindi impenetrable national park.
The Nkuringo mountain gorilla family got its name after the ‘rolling hills’ of the area. The Nkuringo gorilla family consists of about 19 members which are led by a male mountain gorilla called the silverback, whose name is Rafiki. He created a family called Nkuringo after breaking up from the nshongi family in rushaga and formed his own crew. Nkuringo gorilla family was among the first mountain gorilla groups to be habituated within Bwindi impenetrable national park, in 1997.
The Nkuringo mountain gorilla family, after being habituated, in 2009 received its first visitors. Nkuringo is also the first family of mountain gorillas to be habituated in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park; there are two mountain gorilla sectors in the south of Bwindi including Nkuringo and rushaga sector. Nkuringo family is also the first, among all the mountain gorilla families of Bwindi impenetrable national park, from which the twin mountain gorilla babies were given birth in December 2004.
A visit to the Nkuringo sector of the Bwindi impenetrable national park is so rewarding to the visitors who enjoy the spectacular views of the magnificent scenery and landscapes of Kabale. From Nkuringo you can also have a pip at the Nyiragongo volcano and Nyamuragira of congo. You can as well enjoy the forest nature walks which are normally done in the morning hours; the forest nature walks are conducted to and from the Nkuringo plus buhoma sectors of the Bwindi impenetrable forest. The nature walks will take you through the forest of Bwindi impenetrable forest via the ivy and Kashasha Rivers; thereafter you can meet at the Buhoma Sector area and take a break by lunchtime.
Besides the marvelous view of the landscape around Bwindi impenetrable national park, trekking the mountain gorillas from Nkuringo offers you a chance to visit the batwa people of south western Uganda, also known as the pygmies. The visit to the batwa community opens doors for you to discover more about their forest ways of life; you can as well learn a lot about their diverse cultural practices like hunting, making bush fire, fishing and alcohol brewing among others; all these are done within the forest.
At Nkuringo sector, with in the southern part of Bwindi forest, you can enjoy the best scenic features of the area like the undulating hills. Nkuringo is also a fantastic sight for birding, plus a ride on Lake Mutanda to the other side, will give you a chance of enjoying the beautiful sights of the colorful singing bird species along the forest edge to the lake. The boat ride at Lake Mutanda is time of viewing the scenic Virunga volcanoes on the side of Uganda – Rwanda border.
Getting there
If you are moving from Kampala City, you can reach Nkuringo sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest via kampala – Kabale highway. Then from Kabale, you can take a turn to kisoro road. This journey can last for about 11 to 12 hours if at all you are using a bus. Nkuringo is about 45 kilometers from the junction on Kabale -kisoro road, and you will drive for about 3 hours from Kabale to Bwindi impenetrable national park. When you reach kisoro, you can use a private special hire vehicles which will take you up to the Nkuringo sector of the forest.
Alternatively, the Nkuringo sector can also be reached when you pass via the buhoma; the daily bus from kampala will pass via kihihi, from there you can take special hire taxi to buhoma. When you use air transport, you can book for a flight from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield. The chartered flights to different national parks in Uganda are conducted using the chartered air crafts such as aero link and eagle airlines. The chartered flights from Entebbe are always two to kihihi airfields in south western Uganda. Therefore, your flight will land in kihihi and then your lodge will pick you up or hire a special vehicle to Nkuringo sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Accommodation in Nkuringo sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park
Nkuringo mountain gorilla trekking sector has many accommodation facilities scattered in the area and within the nearest neighborhood. The accommodation in the Nkuringo sector includes; Nkuringo gorilla camp where you can reside for midrange mountain gorilla trekking safari, clouds mountain gorilla lodge is a luxury or upmarket accommodation, Nkuringo safari lodge for you budget mountain gorilla safari, among others. All these accommodation in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park provides spacious rooms with the magnificent view of the verdant impenetrable forest of Bwindi and the undulating hills of Kabale, the lodges are also well equipped with modern restaurants to offer you delicious cuisines for every meal.
In a synopsis, the Nkuringo sector of bwindi impenetrable national park is an exceptional part of the whole forest for you visit during your mountain gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi impenetrable national park. Visit bwindi impenetrable national park any time of the year and Trek mountain gorillas, enjoy nature walks in the forests, watch birds and visit local communities including the pygmies of south western uganda; it is a life-changing experience in Nkuringo sector.
