New Gorilla Families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
New Gorilla Families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, located in southwestern Uganda, is the top destination for gorilla tracking. It is home to 459 gorillas, the largest population of mountain gorillas globally, out of the world’s 1008 population of mountain gorillas.
The park allows more than 200 tourists daily to trek with these endangered primates in different sectors. Bwindi alone has 25 mountain gorilla families that are distributed in the four sectors of the park, such as Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Buhoma.
Two additional gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park were reported by the Uganda Wildlife Authority in April 2026. These are now accessible for gorilla trekking, which has resulted in a rise in park gorilla permits. 8 trekkers/individuals hike with each gorilla family each day, and since these families are now exposed to the public, the park now has sixteen permits.
In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, two new mountain gorilla families have been added: Happy in the Buhoma sector and Nsahjare in the Rushaga sector. There are currently six gorilla families with 48 trekking permits in Buhoma and ten families with 80 permits in Rushaga. More visitors will be able to trek mountain gorillas in this park thanks to the rise in gorilla families.
Although more gorilla families are now available for trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, visitors are encouraged to make reservations in advance. Travelers must reserve their permits at least six months in advance of the trekking date. This is done to reassure visitors about the activity and prevent last-minute disappointment.
How many gorilla families are in Bwindi?
As of 2026, there are 25 completely habituated mountain gorilla families and 1 semi-habituated mountain gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Five mountain gorilla families in Ruhija, ten in Rushaga, six in Buhoma, and four in Nkuringo are fully acclimated. The Rushaga sector is home to one mountain gorilla family that is still going through the habituation process.
Number of Gorilla permits in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
There are currently 4 gorilla habituation permits and 200 gorilla trekking permits every day in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. There are 32 hiking permits in the Nkuringo area, 40 in Ruhija, 80 in Rushaga, and 48 in Buhoma. For the one gorilla family that is available for habituation, Rushaga has additional licenses.
How Much Does it Cost to Track Gorillas in Bwindi?
Tourists who want to spend an hour with fully acclimated mountain gorillas can purchase gorilla trekking licenses for $800 for foreign residents, $700 for international residents, $500 for the rest of Africa, and UGX300,000 for inhabitants of East African member states. Gorilla habituation allows UGX750,000 for citizens of East African member states, $1800 for foreign nonresidents, $1600 for foreign residents, and $1000 for the rest of Africa.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority began offering low-season gorilla trekking on March 1st, 2026, so that all visitors could afford to go in April, May, and November. While residents of East African member states continue to pay UGX300,000, foreign residents pay $600 and the rest of Africa $500.
Tracking Bwindi Mountain gorillas
Permission must be obtained from the sector headquarters in order to see the mountain gorillas of Bwindi. Trekkers meet early in the morning for a briefing to learn about the activity’s laws and regulations and to hire porters in case they have too much luggage. A maximum of eight individuals can go on gorilla trekking, while a maximum of four people can embark on gorilla habituation.
Armed ranger guides who are familiar with the best trails and where to find mountain gorillas lead gorilla treks. The search entails following various routes, which offers the chance to see birds, monkeys, and forest creatures. Trekkers have the chance to observe the gorillas performing tasks, learn about their behaviors, and shoot pictures or movies after spending hours looking for and finding them.
For most tourists, seeing mountain gorillas is a dream come true because they are closely related to humans. Following a successful hike, the hikers are recognized for their support of conservation and given trekking certificates for taking part in a difficult sport.
What is the Best Time to See Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park?
In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, mountain gorillas are most visible during the drier months of the year. They are known for having lots of sunshine and little to no rainfall, making them ideal for searching for gorillas.
There will be short vegetation with good views of the mountain gorillas, dry and passable roads leading to the parks, and dry and passable trekking trails from June to September and December to February.
Although there will be a lot of rain and little sunshine, tourists can still visit the mountain gorillas in Bwindi during the low season. Low season permit fees and reduced lodging are available to travelers from March to May and October to November. However, trekking is difficult because of slick paths, tall undergrowth, and hazy views of the gorillas.
