MOUNTAIN GORILLA POPULATION INCREASES BY ONE AS MISHAYA GORILLA GROUP WELCOMES A BABY GORILLA
The good news coming from the Mountain gorilla World is that their World population has increased by one after Mishaya gorilla group welcomed a baby. This development was announced by Uganda Wildlife Authority, the governing body regulating conservation and wildlife in Uganda through their Official Social Media account on 13th March 2020.

Mishaya is one of the 8 habituated gorilla groups in Rushaga sector, in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. There is currently celebration among the mountain gorillas of this outstanding group as it has been long since they last received a new born baby. By the time of posting by Uganda Wildlife Authority, baby mountain gorilla and mother (Biretwa) were in good condition/health.
The birth of the Gorilla brings the number of Mountain gorillas in the Mishaya family to 12 members. The group was started by Mishaya who left Nshongi group in May 2011 with some few females to start a new family and growing it to its current size. It was his furious and warrior/fighter nature that the group has been able to grow amidst the constant attacks from other unhabituated groups as well as wild and solitary silverbacks. Mishaya group is currently led by Mwine after the untimely death of Mishaya on 3rd February 2014 at the age of 28. Mishaya group has more than 5 infants and other members are Rutaro, Miza, Bukunzi and Mwiza among others.

Other habituated Mountain gorilla groups in Rushaga are Busingye, Bweza, Kahungye, Nshongi, Mucunguzi, Kutu, Nshongi and Bishaho. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in south-western Uganda is home to almost half the World’s population of Mountain gorillas and generally a home to over 20 habituated gorilla groups majority of which are in the Rushaga sector
To trek Mishaya and other habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you need to first acquire a gorilla permit at $700 (with effect from July 2020), pack your bags and catch a plane for a chance to spend one hour with the Mountain gorillas.

Best Time to trek the Mishaya gorilla group
Mishaya Gorilla group can be trekked all year round but months of January, February, June, July, August, September and December are perfect for trekking them because these are dry months whereby forest floors and hiking trails are drier, less muddy and slippery.

Where to stay in Rushaga sector
Some of the accommodation facilities in Rushaga sector include Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Wagtail Eco-Safari Camp, Bwindi Jungle Lodge and many others.

How to get to Rushaga sector
Rushaga sector is found in the southern side of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and can be reached through air and road transport. Flights can be chartered from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kisoro airstrip then continue to the Park by road. For road transport, the commonly used route is the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Kisoro to Rushaga.