Bwindi impenetrable national park in southwest Uganda is popularly known for protecting the world’s largest number of mountain gorillas. The park has got over 20 habituated gorilla families including Bitukura which we happened to visit on our unforgettable trip to Bwindi.
About Bitukura gorilla family
Bitukura is one f the 6 habituated gorilla families found in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park. The family has got 13 members which are led by dominant silverback Mugisha. Other members of the family include 4 adult female, another silverback, 2 blackbacks, 2 infants, 2 juveniles, and 1 sub adult female. Habituation of Bitukura gorilla family started in 2006 and in 2016 Mugisha took over leadership of the group succeeding Ndahura who had passed on. Unlike other gorilla groups, Bitukura has got a unique feature of multi-male tolerance. Sometimes the group has been been observed with up to 5 adult males roaming together with the rest of the members. Bitukura is commonly seen found in the Ruhija sector in the east of the park and loves roaming at the forest edges of the sector.
The magnificent Bwindi forest
Bwindi Impenetrable forest sit on the inter-connecting hills of Bwindi in Kanungu and Rubanda disticts of southwestern Uganda. The park’s elevation ranges from 1,160m to 2,607m above sea level. The montane rainforests of Bwindi provide the perfect conditions for the survival of mountain gorillas. The subspecies can only be found in Bwindi and in the Virunga Mountains that straddle the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. Bamboo, wild fruits and roots in the forest provide a delicious meal to the gorillas. In addition to mountain gorillas, Bwindi forest is also a habitat for other wildlife species including birds, forest elephants, antelopes, baboons, chimpanzees, butterflies, among others.
Preparation to meet Bitukura gorilla family in the wild
Early in the morning we gathered at the head office of Ruhija to be briefed by the park officials. Before the briefing, guests are always entertained by a group of traditional dancers from the Bakiga tribe who showcase their culture through music and dance. The officials choose a gorilla to be assigned to each group of trekkers and for our case we were assigned to track Bitukura group out of the 6 available in the sector. We were briefed about the park in general, wildlife, community and also told about the Bitukura group we were going to meet in the forest. Finally we entered the forest to search for the gorillas led by a park guide and two armed rangers who ensure that visitors are safe from any threat from wild animals. Along the way, the guide provides information about gorillas and other species in the forest as the leading ranger clears the thicket creating way for visitors to pass through. The guide also keeps in touch with the trackers who follow the gorillas throughout the day to know where they can be found the following day. They communicate through radio call and signals in and the guide leads the visitors to exact location where the gorilla group is. Without the work of trackers, it would be very difficult for visitors to find the gorillas in the forest since they are very mobile and tend to eat from new areas each day.
Meeting face-to-face with Bitukura gorilla family
Finally we met the trackers and they led to our long awaited gorilla group and our first gaze met one of the four adult females of the group who was lying on her back facing the sky. She continued in her pause unbothered by our presence which gave us a great opportunity to take her pictures. They led us to other members of the group who were busy foraging on bamboo shoots. Silverback Mugisha the leader of the group was also nearby eating as well as watching over his members. The two youngsters in the group were also busy foraging and could also spare some time to play on their mothers’ backs. All members of the group kept foraging within a close range and this was a great blessing to us to photograph and video them as much as we wanted. We had to admit that Bitukura gorilla family must be one of the best groups to track given the way it entertained our presence with calmness and patience. It is also relatively easy to find the group as it took us less than 2 hrs to meet them in the wild. Some trekkers have taken more than 4 hrs to find their allocated gorilla group. Observing gorillas from a close range is an experience like no other. You get a chance to look into their attractive dark eyes, their thick fur covering the entire body, their behaviour which leaves you with full conviction about their close relationship with man.
Trekking back and concluding the gorilla trekking encounter
It was surprising to find out that the return journey from trekking gorillas was much shorter. The guide and rangers always ensure to find a shorter route back considering the exhaustion faced by trekkers. The time taken to get back is almost half of the one spent looking for gorillas, thanks to the brilliance and creativity of rangers and guides. On return, trekkers are awarded the gorilla tracking certificate to congratulate them upon completing the gorilla trekking exercise successfully. This certificate is prestigious and vital as it keeps your gorilla trekking memories, a unique and rare experience only a few have tested.
