Gorilla Tourism in Bwindi Forest
Gorilla trekking started two decades ago within the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. A group of researchers habituated a gorilla group before it was opened to viewing by the tourists. In the early years of gorilla tourism, only six tourists were allowed to visit the habituated gorilla family. Please note that humans and gorillas are genetically close and there is risk of a tourist passing on a viral or bacterial infection to the gorillas. This led to restrictions to a number of tourists visiting a gorilla family and strong guidelines were alos put in place to reduce the impact of human – gorilla interactions during the gorilla trek. Currently Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to 15 habituated gorilla groups. These groups are open to only 8 tourists per day.
The gorilla groups are located in different sectors of the park;
- Buhoma Sector
- Nkuringo Sector
- Rushaga
- Ruhija
The mountain gorillas wander through the park though they move in families. On a gorilla trek, you will wander through the forest looking for these great apes.