Things to do in Ruhija after gorilla trekking

Are you looking for things to do in Ruhija after gorilla trekking? Ruhija is located in the Eastern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Rubanda district. Ruhija sector is a home of 4 habituated mountain Gorilla families that is Bitukura family, Mukiza family, Kyaguriro family and Oruzogo family and all are available for tracking. The Ruhija gorilla trekking region stands at an elevation of over 2350 meters above sea level making it the coldest area in Bwindi. Gorilla trekking is the main activity in Ruhija, however it also offers excellent hiking opportunities and has charming trails for those interested in nature walks like the Rwamunyonyi peak. Other primates to see in Ruhija include monkeys, and mammals include elephants and antelopes.  below are others things to do in Ruhija after gorilla trekking;

Batwa Cultural Experience in Ruhija

This is one of the best activities or things to do after gorilla trekking in Ruhija. On the Batwa cultural experience tour you will be guided by one of the Batwa guides giving you an opportunity to learn about traditional forest life of the Batwa in Bwindi Forest which is historically the home of the Batwa, you will also enjoy the traditional dances of the Batwa and other practices. Batwa cultural experience is possible after your gorilla trekking as it is a 2-3 hour walk/experience.

Nature walk

The Nature walk is one of the things to do in Ruhija after gorilla trekking. This forest walk is done in Bwindi forest and is a very exciting activity to do apart from gorilla trekking which gives you an opportunity to learn more about tree species as well other wildlife species in the forest. In Ruhija you will also visit the Mubwindi swamp great for sighting birds.

Bird Watching in Ruhija

At Ruhija you can do Bird watching after gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest which has over 400 bird species while your stay here you will have a chance to spot some birds, you can as well organize with the lodge for a full day birding activity. The main birding trail in Ruhija is Mubwindi Swamp.

Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park Ishasha and Mweya

Ruhija sector is located close to Queen Elizabeth National park, with your stay here during your gorilla trek you are able to visit both sections of Mweya and Ishasha for wildlife viewing and game safari. Combing ruhija gorilla trekking and game safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park allows you to see what Uganda has to offer when it comes to wildlife.  The southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park commonly referred as Ishasha is popular for tree climbing lions while Mweya offers the best opportunity to see wildlife on the Kazinga channel boat cruise.

Cultural Community Encounters

After gorilla trekking in Ruhija you can enjoy the traditional cultural dances from the local people and Batwa pygmies, visiting the Iron smelters, basket weavers and honey collectors, and storytelling from local elders about the rich history and culture of Bakiga which is done over a camp fire in the evening at your lodge. The community encounter complements your African trip and we shall be glad to organize this for you.

Mountain Bicycle Tours

While at the camp after your gorilla trek we can organize for you guided bicycle tours where your able to visit the communities and villages neighboring the Camp, this can be organized in advance at a small cost.

Local community visits.

Local community visits in Ruhija will take you through local villages which provide insights into the lives of the Bakiga and Batwa pygmy people living beside the Bwindi forest. Other activities that can be done in Ruhija after gorilla trekking include yoga at the Lodge, volunteering which is done in the local community schools and Butterfly watching which is done at night among others.

Where to stay in Ruhija sector

Lodges where to stay during your gorilla trek in Ruhija include Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Trekkers Tavern Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Ruhija Campsite and Agadi Eco Lodge among others. Contact us here for reservation and booking details.

What is the best time to gorilla trekking in Ruhija

The best time to do gorilla trekking in Ruhija in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is during the drier months of January, February, June to early September, this makes it easier to travel to the park and gives a clear view of mountain gorillas given the vegetation cover is not too much. Please note that Uganda Ruhija can be visited all year round including the traditional rainy season but one needs to travel in a 4×4 vehicle and travel with recommended body and foot wear.

How to get to Ruhija for gorilla trekking

By road: You can get to Ruhija sector from Kampala/Entebbe by private and public transport which is approximately 8-9 hours, for public transport you will need to board buses that go to Kanyantorogo or Butogota and Buhoma towns then from here you can hire a motorcycle (boda bodas) to take you to Trekkers Tavern Cottages which costs around USD10. When you book your gorilla trekking tour through Encounter Africa safaris, a private vehicle driven by well trained safari driver guides will be provided for your easy transportation to and from Ruhija. In the era of Covid 19, we strongly advise private rather than public means to minimize contact while on your safari.

By air: You can get to Ruhija sector by flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi or Kisoro, or from Kajjansi airstrip and Garuga airstrip to Kayonza airstrip from here you will transfer to the hotel, the hotel can as well organize for you the transfer. Encounter Africa safaris assists in arranging both scheduled and charter flights on behalf of our clients. We have overtime built a strong working relationship with Kampala Executive Aviation as well as Aerolink Uganda who have proved to be the best providers of domestic flights in Uganda. You can also access Ruhija from Kigali Rwanda via Katuna

How to book a gorilla permit for trekking in Ruhija?

All gorilla permits are sold at Uganda Wildlife Authority, for you to book a gorilla permit for trekking in Ruhija sector of Bwindi, you will need to follow a simple procedure as explained. Once you have your planned dates of travel confirmed we will need you to send us an email here so that we check for availability of gorilla permits online with Uganda Wildlife Authority once we confirmed permits are available for your planned dates we will let you know so that we can send you an invoice for you to make payment for the permits. Once the payment is done and we have received it on our account we will go ahead and purchase your permits immediately and send you a scanned copy of the permits for your records and perusal, this will confirm you are booked for Gorilla Trekking in Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Why book your Gorilla Trekking in Ruhija sector of Bwindi with Encounter Africa Safaris?

Encounter Africa Safaris will help you book your gorilla trek in Ruhija sector Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park contact us and we advice you on the booking process. We as well have different gorilla safari packages to Ruhija sector of Bwindi ranging from budget, mid-range to luxury options that we can book for you including the gorilla trekking permits. Feel free to check out our TripAdvisor and Safari bookings reviews and read from a community of happy satisfied clients. With us, you can be rest assured of a memorable Uganda safari holiday. We are devoted to providing excellent service and customer satisfaction. Our team of excellent tour consultants is always willing to help answer all your safari questions. We guarantee you a great gorilla tour in Bwindi with us.