Bitukura Gorilla Family is an amazing gorilla group to never miss on a safari! Bitukura gorilla family is one of the many habituated gorilla families available for tracking in Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park). The habituation process takes about 2 years. After a series of continuous monitoring, gorillas eventually get used to human presence. Once a family gets used to humans, it is declared open for tracking.
Bitukura gorilla family is one of those families that were habituated and declared open for tracking. This family lives within the Ruhija Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is one of the most visited gorilla families in Uganda. It is among the latest habituated groups in the Ruhija Sector. The name Bitukura originates from the River Bitukura, where the family was first spotted.
Additionally, the Bitukura gorilla group was first made up of 24 members at the time of its habituation. However, the family was reduced to 14 members with about 4 silver backs. The reduction came as a result of many factors, including conflicts among silverbacks and natural factors such as the death of some members. More so, the Bitukura family is popular for having less conflicts compared to the other families in the park.
Currently, the Bitukura group is led by silverback Mugisha, who replaced Ndahura. Ndahura passed away on 18th December 2016 following the accident of falling off the tree. Furthermore, the Bitukura gorilla family likes foraging around the Ruhija sector headquarters. According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, this gorilla group took less time to be habituated compared to other groups. It took about 15 months to get used to humans. By 2008, the family was open for habituation.
About the Ruhija Sector
Ruhija Sector is one of the four sectors or regions of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is the eastern part of the park. The sector has a nice-looking topography and is mostly visited by researchers and photographers. More so, the Ruhija Sector stands at an elevation of about 2500 meters above sea level. It is also made up of several forest ridges and provides unmatched views of the Virunga mountains. This sector has the highest point of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The peak is known as Rwamunyonyi Peak. Rwamunyonyi is a local word meaning “place of many birds.”
A trip to the Ruhija Sector of Bwindi is a rewarding adventure. It is a chance to see many plant, bird, reptile, and animal species. Other than mountain gorillas, the Ruhija Sector is home to animals like forest elephants, antelopes, and monkeys. Lastly, the Ruhija Sector has 3 habituated gorilla families that travelers on their safaris can track. Bitukura gorilla family is one of the best families to track on a safari to this sector.
Where can I stay on a safari to see the Bitukura gorilla family?
If you are planning a safari to see the Bitukura gorilla group, accommodation should be none of your worries. There are several accommodation facilities in the Ruhija Sector. These facilities range from budget to midrange and luxury. They provide necessary amenities for tourists from all corners of the world. Other than staying in the Ruhija Sector, you can spend your night in the Buhoma Sector. You will drive for about 2 hours to reach the park headquarters in the Ruhija region. Some of the accommodation facilities include Buhoma Lodge, Ruhija Community Camp, Ruhija Gorilla Guest House, Gorilla Mist Camp, and Volcanoes Lodge.
How long does it take to track the Bitukura gorilla family?
Like any other gorilla family, the Bitukura gorilla group takes between 2 to 8 hours to be tracked. A typical gorilla trekking or tracking day starts as early as 7:30 am with a briefing at the park headquarters. Briefing is done by expert safari guides. They take guests through the gorilla trekking rules and regulations. Once the briefing is done, trekkers or guests are led into the forest. With the help of an armed ranger, trekkers follow trails and markings until they reach the gorilla group.
Upon meeting a gorilla family, you are allowed to spend at most one hour in their presence. This is where you harvest the fruits of your trip to see the Bitukura family. Seeing mountain gorillas quickly depends on where they spent the night and how fast trekkers move. This is why you must be somehow physically fit to track gorillas.
How much does seeing the Bitukura gorilla family cost?
A gorilla permit is an essential requirement for anyone interested in tracking gorillas in Uganda. Gorilla permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, but they are only sold to tour operators like Native Africa Tours. One gorilla permit to see the Bitukura group costs USD 800 for foreign nonresidents. Foreign residents buy the same permit at USD 700. On the other hand, members of the East African Community buy gorilla permits at Ugx 300,000. It is always important to book gorilla permits in advance (at least 3 months before your trip) to avoid last-minute inconveniences.
How to access Ruhija Sector
Using road transport, it takes about 8 to 9 hours from Entebbe International Airport to Ruhija through the Kampala – Masaka – Mbarara – Kabale Highway. From Kigali International Airport in Rwanda, it takes about 4 to 5 hours to reach the park. This road involves crossing the Uganda–Rwanda border. On the other hand, using air transport, a domestic scheduled flight from either Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips takes less than 3 hours.
