It is yet another great news in the mountain gorilla habitat as a new baby gorilla gets conservationists excited in the Rushegura gorilla group family in Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The new arrival was recorded on 11th November 2020 from an adult female Munyana and this marks her second birth.
The baby mountain gorilla was spotted by tourists who had gone on a gorilla safari in Bwindi. The baby gorillas was seen being groomed and tightly protected by her mother. With the new gorilla births, Rushegura gorilla family group now boasts of about 17 mountain gorillas. This gorilla family is led by Kabukojo silverback gorilla and it comprises of other black backs, juveniles, females. Rushegura group takes its name from the tree species around the place they range from. It is one of the four habituated gorilla families set for gorilla trekking in Buhoma sector and also, among the 21 habituated gorilla groups in Uganda.
Buhoma also a composition of other gorilla families including Katwe which is the newly habituated group to be opened for gorilla trekking, Mubare group the first family to open for gorilla trekking and Habinyanja group. Other gorilla families to expect to track on Uganda gorilla safari include Mukiza, Oruzongo, Bitukura, Kyaguriro, Nkuringo, Busingye, Nshongi, Bweza, Mishaya, Kutu, Rwingi, Mucunguzi, Bikingi, Bushaho, Christmas, Kahungye and these are all in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park then Nyakagezi group which is the only gorilla family group set for gorilla tourism in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Currently, there exist only 1063 mountain gorillas on earth and with the new birth recorded, it is incredible news not only to conservationists but also to visitors who come to trek these rare species. They still remain endangered species thus requiring more efforts to ensure they thrive not only for today but also for the next future generations to come. Uganda is generally affordable gorilla safari destination with gorilla permits costing tourists US Dollars 700 (for foreign non-residents), $600 (foreign resident) and shs. 250000 (citizens in East African Community).
How to get to Buhoma Area to Trek Mountain Gorillas
Buhoma sector is an amazing gorilla trekking region in Northern Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Southwestern Uganda. It can easily be reached by tourists on gorilla safari either by road or by air. By road, take the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Kabale route a journey estimated to cover between 8 and 10 hours.
Or you can drive from Rwanda through border crossing via Katuna border to Kabale then to Bwindi or Chanika border crossing to Kisoro then to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. There is also an option of taking a flight starting from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip where you can easily be transferred to Buhoma region of Bwindi.