March 16, 2025 | Bujo Safaris
Ruhondeza silverback is one of the strongest silverbacks in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, leading one of the park's oldest gorilla families. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the southern part of Uganda. It is one of the four regions where mountain gorillas can be traced in the world, including Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and Virunga National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park consists of over 400 mountain gorillas which is almost half of the total population of mountain gorillas in the world including habituated gorilla families that provide an excellent tourist experience. Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be accessed through Ruhija, Rushaga, Buhoma, and Nkuringo which are the major gorilla trekking regions of the park.
Gorilla Habituation is a process that involves introducing mountain gorillas to the presence of human beings in their natural habitats. The process of gorilla habituation takes about 4 years and is done by professional researchers. When a gorilla family is fully habituated, it is therefore opened for gorilla trekking experiences.
A gorilla family is strictly visited by 8 pax plus 2 park rangers and tourists are allowed a maximum of 1 hour of encounter with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats as they learn more about the mountain gorillas’ behavior and way of life.
Ruhondeza silverback is a dominant silverback of the Ruhondeza gorilla family which is one of the oldest gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The Ruhondeza gorilla family was the first gorilla family to be habituated in 1991 after being spotted in the Mubare Hills.
Ruhondeza Silverback was born and raised in Rubona Village, Bwindi. Ruhondeza is a Rukiga word meaning sleepy fellow where most male gorillas take a chance to steal some of the female members from the family leaving the group solitude. In March 2012, Ruhondeza Silverback was beaten by a wild group which forced him to live the remainder of his life which made him too weak to join other gorilla families. On 27th June, Ruhondeza was found dead in his nest following the March incident that left him too weak. The body of Ruhondeza was buried near the park offices and a monument was constructed including the rich literature and stories about his life.
Gorilla trekking involves the search for mountain gorillas in their natural habitats and spending a maximum of 1 hour as you learn more about them. The gorilla trekking process involves navigating through the impenetrable forests of the park, and wet and slippery trails of the forest.
Tourists go through a briefing about the gorilla trekking process including the rules and guidelines to follow while observing the gorillas in their natural habitats as well as what to carry for gorilla trekking. The briefing is done by park rangers who later assign you a gorilla family with 2-armed park rangers to provide safety and security during the trekking experience.
The actual gorilla trekking begins while navigating through the dense forests in search of mountain gorillas. Along the trekking experience, you will have a chance to spot some bird species such as the Grey crowned crane, White-headed wood hoopoe, Spotted greenbul, Yellow-billed shrike, African green broadbill, White-cheeked hornbill, Mountain buzzard, African emerald cuckoo, Red-faced woodland warbler, Black-throated Apalis, Rwenzori batis, Dusky Crimsonwing, Black-capped Apalis, Blue-headed sunbird, Montane white-eye, Waller's starling, Kivu ground-thrush, Giant kingfisher, African wood owl, Black-and-white-casqued hornbill, Red-billed hornbill, Yellow-spotted nicator, White-tailed blue-flycatcher, White-starred robin, Mountain greenbul, Red-throated alethe and Blue-throated brown sunbird and primates such as baboons, white and black-tailed monkey, red colobus monkey and vervet monkeys.
On finding the gorillas, you will be granted 1 hour of encounter with the gorillas as you watch them eat leaves, play and groom themselves, learn about their behaviours and way of life.
Seeing the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats requires a gorilla trekking permit which is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. However, gorilla trekking permits in Uganda have a general price that is affordable for all tourists planning a gorilla trekking safari.
A gorilla trekking permit costs USD 800 for Foreign Non-residents, USD 700 for Foreign Residents, and UGX 300,000 for East African Citizens.
Preparing for gorilla trekking needs careful preparation including requirements for gorilla trekking such as sturdy hiking shoes, long-sleeved pants, long-sleeved shirts, a rain jacket, a light backpack, a camera, a pair of binoculars, insect repellent, bottled drinking water, a packed lunch, sunglasses, hut, gloves, walking stick, passport and Ids, and other requirements.
The Buhoma sector is a popular base for gorilla trekking offering a variety of accommodation options that range from luxury to more affordable options depending on the choice and preference of the tourists. Some of the lodges include Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Buhoma Gorilla Camp, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Buhoma Homestead, Ride for a Woman, and other lodges that create a perfect stay for visitors during a gorilla trekking safari.
In conclusion, Ruhondeza Silverback is one of the notable gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that offers incredible wildlife encounters to visitors on a gorilla trekking safari. Visiting Bwindi for gorilla trekking is a life-changing experience, and with proper planning regarding permits, packing, and accommodation, you will be set for an unforgettable adventure in one of Africa’s most biodiverse regions.
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