Nkuringo Gorilla Group.

One of Africa’s largest national parks with mountain gorillas is the Nkuringo Gorilla Group, which is located in the southwest of Uganda in the Nkuringo section of the Bwindi impenetrable forests.

There are ten habituated mountain gorilla families in the park, and the Nkuringo Gorilla Group is the only gorilla family in the Nkuringo sector and one of the ten habituated groups.

The local term “nkuringo” means “rolling hills.” The group was initially observed on undulating hills, hence the name. This group’s habituation began in 2004.

Previously, a silverback named Nkuringo led the Nkuringo Gorilla Group before passing away in 2008. Two silverbacks, Rafiki and Safari, succeeded in seizing control after his passing.

Nevertheless, after seven months, his son Safari succeeded in seizing control and assumed the position of leader. When the female gorilla Kwitonda gave birth to twins Muhoozi and Katungi, the group welcomed a bundle of joy under his leadership. Sadly, Katungi did not live to his second birthday; he passed away from an illness at the age of one and a half.

The group caused a lot of trouble with the locals who lived close to the forests since they were constantly discovered wandering around the villages, eating sweet potatoes, banana plantations, and other people’s crops.

Its actions were the primary factor in the group’s consideration for the habituation process, which involves bringing mountain gorillas into close proximity to people. Following the group’s acclimatization, it became accessible to tourists, which in turn heightened the demands of the local population, who began to gain from both tourism and protection.

Although few people complain of being fatigued after this once-in-a-lifetime, exhilarating experience that they will never forget when they encounter mountain gorillas, the gorilla trek is the most difficult of all the Bwindi National Park’s activities and requires greater stamina and physical endurance.

The three-hour trip to visit the Nkuringo Gorilla Group allows one to spend just one hour with the group, who enjoy the day by playing, feeding, showing off their nests, and much more in the bush.