Reports indicate that two new troops of habituated mountain gorillas are to be available for viewing in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by the middle of 2011. A further 16 permits per day will also be issued by the Ugandan Wildlife Authority.
The introduction of the two new groups, ‘Kahugye’ and ‘Oruzogo’, will bring the total number of habituated gorilla families and clans to 10, although one is set aside for research and monitoring purposes only. The cost of a day’s tracking of gorillas currently stands at US Dollars 500 per person, plus overnight, transport and related expenses; the same costs also apply in Rwanda and DRC, as a result of cooperation agreements operating between the three countries. Gorilla tourism in Uganda is the biggest single tourism earner, though the Uganda Tourist Board is also working hard to promote the country as a general adventure destination offering such things as; white water rafting, quadding, horseback riding, bungee jumping, boating and cross country cycling.