Different Sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda.
The other half of the mountain gorilla population is found in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Congo.
Mountain gorillas are an endangered species of primates, sharing 98% of their DNA with humans. They live in tropical and subtropical rainforests and feed entirely on vegetation found in the forests.
Mountain gorillas were almost extinct in the 19th century, but conservation efforts have helped their population increase over the years.
Different Sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The different sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are as follows:
Nkuringo Sector
The Nkuringo sector is located in the southern part of the park. It is home to the famous Nkuringo gorilla family, known for their playful behavior due to the presence of many juveniles. The Nkuringo sector offers views of the Virunga volcanoes shared by Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.
This area is recommended for young and energetic travelers because the Nkuringo gorilla family lives at higher elevations, making trekking more challenging. The Bushaho gorilla family sometimes crosses into the Nkuringo sector from the Rushaga sector.
Rushaga Sector
The Rushaga sector is located in the extreme southern part of the park, near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This makes it easily accessible from Rwanda. Rushaga is home to five gorilla families: Bweza, Busingye, Mishaya, Kahungye, and Nshongi families.
Rushaga also offers gorilla habituation experiences with the Bikingi and Bushaho families. It is the most popular sector for tourists trekking from Kigali.
Ruhija Sector
The Ruhija sector is located in the southern part of the park and is home to three gorilla families: Oruzogo, Bitukura, and Kyaguriro families. Ruhija offers adventurous hiking and interesting trails with chances to see a variety of wildlife.
Ruhija can also be reached from Kihihi airstrip. It is close to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for tree-climbing lions, about a four-hour drive away.
Buhoma Sector
The Buhoma sector is located in the northern part of the park and is one of the most visited. The Mubare gorilla family, the first to be habituated in 1992, is found here. Other gorilla families in this sector include Rushegura and Habinyanja families.
Buhoma is close to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kihihi airstrip. It also has many upscale lodges for luxurious tourists. Buhoma offers various hiking and nature trails like the Munyanga Trail, Ivy River Trail, Muzabajiro Loop Trail, and Rushura Trail, which provide views, picnic sites, and opportunities to see wildlife and birds.
About Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to more than mountain gorillas. Other animals include bush pigs, small antelopes, elephants, bushbucks, African giant civets, and primates like black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, and blue monkeys.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has about 348 bird species, with some species unique to this area.
Bird lovers should carry binoculars to spot birds like the blue turaco, Shelley’s crimsonwing, African broadbill, and Chapin’s flycatcher.
There are various accommodation options in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Tourists should choose a lodge in the sector where they have obtained their gorilla permit.
Some lodges include Gorilla Mist Camp, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Bakiga Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, and Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, among others.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be visited year-round, but the best time to visit is from June to September and December to February.