Mukiza gorilla family is one of the interesting gorilla groups holidaymakers shouldn’t miss to interact with while on gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP), Southwestern Uganda. Mukiza is a newly habituated gorilla group to officially open for gorilla tourism in Ruhija area of BINP. It split from Kyaguriro family which is set for both research and gorilla purposes in Bwindi National Park.
The creation of this gorilla family in May 2016 increased Ruhija sector’s total number of habituated gorilla groups to 4 from the original 3 that included Oruzongo, Bitukura and Kyaguriro. It didn’t only increase on the region’s number of habituated families but also on available gorilla permits to 32.
Mukiza family presently consists of 15 family members. It split from Kyaguriro after Rukara invaded making Mukiza to vacate Kyaguriro and left with 10 gorillas. Breaking away from another gorilla family is a usual behavior among mountain gorillas and a number of factors come to play that result into such. This is why each time, the composition of gorilla groups keeps on fluctuating.
Mukiza group is also well-known as Kyaguriro B group family and it is led by Mukiza silverback gorilla. It is an exceptional gorilla group usually spotted spending most of its time within the park and rarely sighted outside the park boundaries.
Kyaguriro B/Mukiza gorilla group welcomed its new born baby gorilla in October 2020 thanks to Mwijukye mother gorilla. This brought the group composition to 15 members and presently, holidaymakers can be part of mountain gorilla trekking experience in Mukiza gorilla family.
Getting gorilla permits.
A valid gorilla permit must be presented before Bwindi park authorities if you are to have a chance to trek Mukiza group of Ruhija sector. The price of gorilla permits for Mukiza family is the same like the rest of the habituated gorilla groups in Ruhija region and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This means, you should have US $700 as a foreign non-resident to purchase Mukiza gorilla permit, foreign residents US $600 while Citizens of East African Community UG. Shs. 250,000.
Regardless of the visitor category, all Mukiza gorilla permits can easily be booked through a ground tour operator or directly if you contact Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
When to visit Mukiza gorilla family of Ruhija sector?
Trekking Mukiza gorilla group of Ruhija has no specific time. It is open to holidaymakers throughout the year although dry months are considerably the best and they come in 2 phases; the one that always begins from June to September and that starting from December to February.
Where to stay?
Visitors interested in exploring and experiencing the best of this particular gorilla group can spend a night in any of the many lodging options in and around Ruhija sector in the eastern side of Bwindi National Park. They include Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Agandi Uganda Lodges, Trekkers Tavern Lodge and Gorilla Mist Camp among others.
Getting there.
This gorilla family is within Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP). This is found in the Eastern region of BINP and getting here is possible by road or by air. By road, you will spend close to 9 hours to get to Ruhija area from Kampala/Entebbe or 3-5 hours from Kigali capital of Rwanda. By air, flights are possible to be arranged from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi/Kisoro airstrips that are adjacent to Bwindi National Park in Southwestern Uganda.
What to pack?
The must-have for holidaymakers with plans to trek this gorilla family include a valid gorilla permit, snacks, passport, visa, long-sleeved shirt, rain jacket, sweater, medical kit/first aid kit, trousers, camera with no flashlight, bottled water, daypack-waterproof, hiking boots, sun glasses and insect repellents.
