Initially Gorilla Permits were given out or allocated according to gorilla families, but from January 2014 Uganda Wildlife Authority & ORNTP in Rwanda considered issuing them out (Gorilla permits) reliant/depending on regions/sections. These sections or regions include: – Ruhija in the East of Bwindi, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south of Bwindi while Buhoma in the North of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. So to buy a permit now you must choose/decide a region and then you will be given one of that region if available.
So what happens then.
Now after the allocation of gorilla permits, on your day of arrival at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for the Gorilla trekking activity, they will then allocate you to a gorilla family depending on your physical fitness and interest. These interests may include, trekking a given Gorilla family of your choice and if there is space, they will fix you in that group, you may also wish to trek with your friends’/ family members whom you could have come with to this tour, this is as well very possible if there is still space. Still you may wish to have a simple, medium or hard trek, depending on availability they will allocate you accordingly.
Knowing the families per Region/Section
In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Buhoma section is the most highly preferred and has Mubare gorilla family (being the first habituated gorilla family), Rushegura family and Habinyanja family inclusive. Nkuringo section in the south of Bwindi with Nkuringo family, Rushaga section also in the south of the National Park with Gorilla families like Nshongi, Mishaya, Busingye, Kahungye and Bweza. Ruhiji section with Gorilla families like Bitukura, Oruzogo & Kyaguriro.