Updated List Of Habituated Gorilla Families In Ruhija And Available Permits Per Day 

Ruhija area lies in the eastern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This area is part of the Northern sector with the Buhoma area of the Bwindi forest. Currently, the Ruhija area has four gorilla families open to public booking, including the Oruzogo family, the Bitukura family, the Kyaguriro family, and the Mukisa family. 

To book gorilla permits for the Ruhija area, there are 32 gorilla permits open for public booking per day.

Note that the list of gorilla families and permits keeps changing because new births and deaths in different families are received.

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Ruhija area is also the birding haven for the Bwindi forest, so keen birders on gorilla trekking adventures in the Ruhija area have this double opportunity. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park hosts an array of birds, including Albertine rift endemics. Taking the Mubwindi swamp gives you a chance to identify a variety of birds.

During your stay in the Ruhija area, you can also hike through the bamboo zone to find Afromontane vegetation. Enjoy the panoramic view of Lake Bunyonyi and the Mafuga forest.

While having a gorilla permit for the Ruhija area, you can also overnight in the Buhoma area, which is about 2 hours drive to the briefing point of the Ruhija area. Due to the poor road network from the Buhoma area to Ruhija, you need to rise earlier to catch up with the briefing if you book your nights in the Buhoma area.

What Are The Gorilla Families In Ruhija Area?

Bitukura Gorilla Family

Oruzogo Gorilla Family

Mukisa Gorilla Family

Kyaguriro Gorilla Family

How To Book Gorilla Permits For the Ruhija Area?

You need a date and number of gorilla permits you hope to book for your gorilla safari in the Ruhija area. This is to avoid moving back and forth with checking the availability of the gorilla permits.

Send an inquiry to an accredited tour operator like Encounter Africa Safari about gorilla permit availability per your preferred date. You can check for gorilla permit availability from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, although you need patience because their phone lines are always busy.

Our safari consultant checks availability per your date from the gorilla permit list of the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Encounter Africa Safaris is one of the few accredited companies with access to the gorilla permit list.

We advise our clients to purchase their gorilla permits immediately upon finding availability. This is because gorilla permits sell out fast, especially those for the peak season: June, July, August, September, December, and January.

Forward some personal details for identification, like your full name. Nationality, date of birth, passport expiry date. These details are included on the gorilla permit card you present on the day of trekking.

NOTE:

Gorilla trekking is Uganda’s most sought-after tourism activity. It would be best to secure your gorilla permit in advance as a first come, first served basis is used to purchase the gorilla permits. None of the gorilla permits is reserved without payment.

You need to book the gorilla permit in advance to ensure that permits for your requested dates are available.

How To Get To the Ruhija Area?

By Road

The route to the Ruhija area is renowned for being shaggy, so you must have a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle. This is because the road through Ruhija also receives less public visits.

You drive From Kampala or Entebbe to Kabale, which is 414 kilometers for approximately 5 to 6 hours. On a bumpy, dusty road, carry on to the Ruhija area for about 42 kilometers.

 You can also go through the Buhoma area and Ruhija since they are about 2 hours apart.

By air

Daily, domestic flights depart Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe airport to Kihihi airstrip. You have to hire a transfer vehicle to the Ruhija area.

You can also charter from Kajjansi airstrip to Kihihi airstrip and then use a transfer vehicle.

When Can I Book A Gorilla Safari To Ruhija Area?

Gorilla safaris to the Ruhija area are open any time of the year; however, you must reserve the gorilla permit in advance for the peak season. The peak Uganda tourism season usually is June, July, August, September, December and January.

Secure the gorilla permit at least 6 months to a year upfront to be safe. Last-minute gorilla permit availability for the peak season is challenging, even with choices of accommodation to use while on safari.

Mountain gorillas are more active in the forest during the dry season, which also acts as the peak season. The primates in the forest make a lot in the dry season, and trails are more passable. Since the dense forest canopy allows more sunray penetration to the ground, even the soggy trails are easier to navigate.

For the wet season, which normally serves as the low season that runs March, April, May, and November, chances of having a solo gorilla safari are high because fewer people are booking. Chances of getting discounted services are high as some service providers like accommodations, vehicle hire, driver guides, and others try to break even.

Can I Reschedule The Gorilla Trekking Permit?

When you secure the gorilla permit, you hope to participate in gorilla trekking; however, due to unforeseen circumstances, this may be impossible. In case you plan to travel in the future, you can request to reschedule your gorilla permit.

Write to Uganda Wildlife Authority requesting to move your gorilla permit to a future date. State your reason for wishing to change the date in case you have any. This can also be your backup reason.

Once approved, your gorilla permit is moved per your request, depending on prevailing availability.

Note

Uganda Wildlife Authority accepts two free gorilla permit reschedules, but the executive director is the only one to approve the third time.

Which Is The Easiest Gorilla Family To Trek In Ruhija Area?

Finding the easiest gorilla family to trek is challenging as the gorilla family found the closest the previous day can be the furthest the next day. The mountain gorillas’ change of location depends on factors like the proximity of their food, in case of a serious fight with a wild gorilla family, the death of a family member, the pace of trekkers, and others.

You need to also focus on other interesting features in the forest while you trek to find the mountain gorillas. Within the forest is a plethora of birds, troops of primates, great flora, and so much more. You can fix your eyes on these to avoid getting bored during the long hours of searching for the mountain gorillas.

How Difficult Is Gorilla Trekking In the Ruhija Area?

The topography of the Ruhija area is generally volcanic, with ridges, plateaus, and deep valleys where mountain gorillas love to spend part of their time. You may be required to hike to get to the gorilla family. Most of the highlands are tangled in vegetation that drapes over the slopes. A ranger guide must carry a machete to trim some of these vines. 

Having some level of fitness before gorilla trekking saves you from getting muscle pulls while doing the gorilla trek. Wearing the proper safari boots that are comfortable while you walk in the forest saves your legs from getting hurt. Just carry the right gorilla trekking gear to support your trek to find the mountain gorillas.

If you get altitude sickness, you may have to swallow some pills before gorilla trekking.

Can I Do Gorilla Trekking In Another Area With A Ruhija Gorilla Permit?

When allocated a gorilla permit for the Ruhija area, you are expected to report at the ranger station for briefing in the Ruhija area. The gorilla families in this area are limited, and a maximum of 8 gorilla trekkers are allowed to accompany each family of these gorillas daily.

You must do something other than gorilla trekking, barring a gorilla permit for another area. Even when you spend your night in the Buhoma area but possess a Ruhija permit, you have to drive to the ranger station for Ruhija to catch up with the briefing in the early morning.

How Long Is Gorilla Trekking In the Ruhija Area?

The time it takes to go gorilla trekking in the Buhoma area is hard to predict. Some tourists have located the mountain gorillas in two hours while others have spent more time. The mountain gorillas are mobile primates with no limitations of where not to go.

Their movements are triggered by factors like the hobby of the silverback that may be adventurous, the proximity of their food, in case of a fight amongst the family or other intruders, the pace of the trekkers, the death of a family member, and others.

It would be best to be patient while you seek to find the mountain gorillas, not to lose hope. The ranger guide leads the gorilla party under his guidance on the path where the mountain gorillas were last seen the previous day or where the early trackers last saw the mountain gorillas.

This ensures that tourists take less time in the forest because gorilla trekking is tedious but a fun experience.

How Aggressive Are Mountain Gorillas?

Mountain gorillas are first habituated to human presence before being opened for public viewing. During the habituation process, a wild gorilla family is regularly visited by a team of trackers and researchers until they are fully used to human presence without altering their nature. 

Mountain gorillas are calm and serene in nature, so do not expect them to pounce on you. When agitated, mountain gorillas retreat into hiding. Some of the signs of anger they display are thumping their chests, hooting, pulling grass around them, and others,

It is not always that when they show these signs, they are angry with their visitors. When you notice this behavior, it would be best to wait for advice from the ranger guides. Sometimes, it is a family feud, or you have seen a troublesome wild gorilla that may try to attack the family.

What Else Can I Do In the Ruhija Area Apart From Gorilla Trekking

Birding In the Ruhija Area

 While on a gorilla safari in Bwindi or a Uganda birding expedition, the Ruhija area is the birder’s haven. The three-hour’shour hike through the Mubwindi swamp may give you a chance to spot a wide range of birds, including Rwenzori Turaco, Red-Faced Woodland Warbler, Western Green Tinkerbird, African Hill Babbler, and others.

Scenic Viewing In Ruhija Area

You can enjoy the beautiful Afromontane vegetation when you climb through the bamboo zone. Look over to the stunning views of Lake Bunyonyi with some of its beautiful islands. Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest lake in Uganda, and its mysterious history makes it unique. The lakes have an island where girls who get pregnant out of wed-locks are abandoned to die of hunger or drown while trying to swim. This barbaric act no longer happens, but it was tragic.

Lake Bunyonyi is home to a number of small birds from which its name is derived.

Enjoy great views of the Mafuga forest, too.

Even when driving to Ruhija, enjoy the ridge-top route with deep valleys covered with undisturbed rain forests where you may spot duikers, a variety of primates, both forest and grassland birds, and so much more.

What Not To Do While In Ruhija Area

• Refrain from throwing rubbish while trekking to find the mountain gorillas in Ruhija. You alter the nature of the forest where mountain gorillas feed and live.
• Hire a 4x4 vehicle because the road to Ruhija is in a poor condition. 
• Please do not feed the animals in Ruhija because they are wild animals that must fend for themselves and not depend on human support.
• Keep a distance from the mountain gorillas when you locate them. Leave a gap of at least 8 meters from them.
• Do not shout while in the forest trekking to find the mountain gorillas. You may scare the mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers.
•  Do not spit on vegetation or the ground; you may pass human infection to the highly susceptible mountain gorillas.

The Ruhija sector is a great sector for gorilla trekking. Contact us if you are interested in trekking in this sector.