Which gorilla family has many babies in Bwindi?
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has a gorilla family with many babies that travelers look for on a gorilla trekking safari. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda within the Virunga region. The park is forested throughout and it is a home to mountain gorillas. The park has over 24 habituated gorilla families which are available for the gorilla trekking. Travelers usually have over 98% chance to meet the mountain gorillas since Uganda is home to almost half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas.
Bwindi National Park is divided into four sectors that is Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Buhoma. All these sectors have several gorilla families that are available for the gorilla trekking. Additionally, Bwindi has several gorilla families with several babies which travelers can track to see them. The babies within the gorilla families have increased in number within the 2 years.
Gorilla families with babies in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
There are several gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which are available for tracking. These include among others but are not limited to the following.
Mucunguzi gorilla family
This family is within the Rushaga sector of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This family received a newborn baby from the female Ndinkahe. Ndinkahe is a local word meaning “where am I”. This female gorilla is about 16 years old and migrated from the unhabituated gorilla family within the park.
Nshongi family
The family received newborn babies on 20th May 2020 within the Rushaga sector also. This is another gorilla family that travelers on Uganda safaris can track to see the gorilla babies.
Kutu gorilla family
This is one of the gorilla families led by Ndugu available for the gorilla trekking. While in this family, there are babies that travel on their Uganda safaris. When the family sees the gorilla babies, the mother is very protective of her baby. There are other 7 infants which can be seen in this park.
Rushegura gorilla family
Rushegura family is found in the buhoma sector and is one of the old families available for the gorilla trekking. Kibande is one of the females who are famous for giving great leadership. Kibande gave birth to the 5th baby on 27th August 2020. The gorilla baby boom started during the COVID-19 period in 2020 when several gorillas gave birth in different sectors of the park.
How many babies can a mountain gorilla have?
Mountain gorillas can have several babies. Once a female mountain gorilla when it has already sexually matured, she can have one up to three babies. Like human beings, mountain gorillas can give birth to twins. Female gorillas give 1 baby every four to six years. A female gorilla can have 3 to 5 babies in its entire lifetime. There is a low production rate in the mountain gorillas and that’s why the population has failed to increase.
How long do the mountain gorillas take while pregnant?
Mountain gorillas whenever they are pregnant, it is not known because they have large stomachs which is not determined. They usually have knuckles which are for a short time during the pregnancy. Female mountain gorillas take about 8 to 9 months to produce.
Do mountain gorillas make love?
Mountain gorillas share over 98% of their DNA with man and mountain gorillas share some characteristics with man. Like how humans make love, mountain gorillas make love. They have face-to-face sexual intercourse with the females lying on the ground. They use several tactics while mating.
What time does the gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park start?
Gorilla trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park starts in the morning at 0700 hours. It starts with the briefing at the park headquarters. The briefing takes you through the dos and don’ts about the gorilla trekking. The activity takes about 2 to 7 hours of the day. Travelers have 1 hour to view the mountain gorillas maintaining a distance of 7 meters.
How much is a gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
A gorilla trekking permit is one of the key requirements that travelers on their Uganda safaris are supposed to have to see the mountain gorillas. Travelers are also supposed to book the gorilla trekking permits from licensed tour operators. Early booking of the gorilla permits helps travelers to ensure availability. This is because gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi are highly demanded especially during peak seasons.
A gorilla trekking permit costs about 800 dollars for foreign non-residents, 700 dollars for foreign residents, and 300,000 Ugandan shillings for East African citizens. There are over 144 gorilla trekking permits available in the park.
Where to stay during a gorilla trekking safari in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Travelers planning a gorilla trekking safari, there are several hotels, lodges, and hostels which travelers can stay in during a gorilla trekking safari. These facilities are categorized into midrange, luxury, and budget facilities all situated within and around the park. These facilities include; four gorilla lodges, Buhoma Lodge, Gorilla Sanctuary Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven, Nkuringo Lodge, Chameleon Lodge, and many others.
How to access the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
The park is accessed by both road and air transport. while using road transport, travelers can use the Kampala – Kabale highway via Mbarara which is about 8 hours of the day. Alternatively, Bwindi can be accessed via Kigali International Airport through the Katuna or Cyanika border which is about 3 hours of the day.
On the other hand, using air transport, travelers can use chartered flights from either Entebbe International Airport or the Kajjansi Airstrip to either the Kisoro Airstrip or Kihihi Airstrip. Travelers can take 1 to 2 hours to arrive at the park.
What is the best time to visit mountain gorilla babies in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is open for travelers throughout the year. However, the dry season (June to September and December to February) is usually regarded as the best time to visit the park. This is the best time to see the mountain gorillas since the park is dry and clear for gorilla trekking and the trekking routes are dry which eases the trekking.
