Christmas gorilla family is remarkably one of the amazing groups to explore on Uganda safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is a newly launched gorilla group for gorilla trekking in Nkuringo region which is set along the southern side of Bwindi.
Initially, Nkuringo comprised of 2 habituated gorilla families; Nkuringo and Bushaho groups. Christmas makes a new addition and offers more opportunities for tourists to explore Bwindi while on gorilla trekking safari. The 3 gorilla groups mean Nkuringo has 24 gorilla permits available for booking by visitors on Uganda safari.
Christmas group has a composition of 9 mountain gorillas to be explored on a gorilla trek in Bwindi. The group is led by Christmas silverback and the group has a range of females, plus blackback, infant. Originally, Christmas was part of Nkuringo group before it split. Because they were already habituated while still in Nkuringo group, when the group was formed, there was no need for more monitoring.
Christmas group was opened for gorilla tourism following the high demand for gorilla permits in Nkuringo. Today, 24 tourists can explore the 3 habituated gorilla groups in Nkuringo sector unlike before when only 16 could trek the 2 groups. The prices for permits for trekking Christmas gorilla family are the same across other habituated families in Bwindi or Mgahinga. You need $700 to book a gorilla permit in Uganda if you are a foreign non-resident, $600 for foreign residents and shs. 250,000 if you travel as East Africa community citizen.
Lodging options around Nkuringo region
Here is a list of accommodation choices you can have overnight stay after or before trekking Christmas gorilla family. They include Gorilla Heights Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Camp and Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge.
Access to Nkuringo region of Bwindi
Nkuringo sector is where Christmas gorilla family is found and it is reachable by road about 8-10 hours’ drive. This is if you are driving from Kampala/Entebbe via Mbarara, Kabale then to Nkuringo or 3-4 hours’ drive from Kigali via Katuna/Chanika border to Kabale/Kisoro then to Nkuringo region in the southern Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.