Why you should combine gorilla trekking in the Ruhija and Buhoma sectors of Bwindi

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is a breathtaking activity that takes tourists through the dense forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, in the south-western part of Uganda. The Ruhija sector, which is found in the eastern part of the park, and the Buhoma sector, in the northern part of Bwindi, are close to each other, which makes combining gorilla trekking in both sectors easy.

The Ruhija sector is considered the best as it offers some of the best relaxing places after a tiring gorilla trek. It is closer to Lake Bunyonyi and is located at a higher altitude giving tourists the best thrilling adventure through Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The Buhoma is the oldest trek sector in Bwindi and has the first habituated gorilla family in the park. It is also the easiest sector to access from Kampala. Buhoma has numerous trek trails, some of which include the Muzabajro Loop trail, Munyaga River trail and Rushura trail, among others.

Reasons why you should combine gorilla trekking in Ruhija and the Buhoma sector of Bwindi

Below are some of the reasons why you should combine gorilla trekking in Ruhija and the Buhoma Sector of Bwindi.

1. There are increased chances of seeing Mountain gorillas

The Ruhija and Buhoma sectors both have numerous habituated gorilla families that increase the chances of spotting the mountain gorillas and also have a large pool of families to trek from.

The Ruhija sector is also home to four habituated gorilla families and these include the Bitukura gorilla family, Mukiza gorilla family, Oruzongo gorilla family and Kyaguliro gorilla family. The Buhoma sector, on the other hand, is home to four habituated gorilla families, and these include Habinyanja gorilla family, Mubare gorilla family, Katwe gorilla family and the Rushegura gorilla family.

Each of these gorilla families has unique characteristics and behaviour which gives tourists a chance to experience what each of the gorilla families in each sector has to offer.

Tourists also get to experience other activities that are offered in Ruhija and Buhoma after gorilla trekking, and these include guided nature walks, bird watching and enjoying the Batwa walk, among others.

2. Accessibility of the two sectors

It is easy to access both Buhoma and Ruhija sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and this is one of the many reasons why tourists should combine the two sectors for gorilla trekking. Buhoma is known to be the easiest to get to from Kampala and you can either use road or air transport.

Tourists should combine the two sectors because it takes roughly 1 to 2 hours driving between Ruhija and Buhoma which makes transportation easy.

Tourists can also trek mountain gorillas in Ruhija while sleeping in Buhoma due to the many accommodation facilities that are found in Buhoma, making it the perfect combined safari for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

3. The wide range of accommodation

Both Ruhija and Buhoma have a wide range of accommodation facilities that you can choose from and these range from budget, mid-range and luxury accommodation facilities. When booking accommodation, you have to make sure that the accommodation booked is found within the sector where you are trekking, that is, Ruhija and Buhoma.

Ruhija accommodation: Some of the accommodation facilities you can use in the Ruhija sector include the Bakiga Lodge, Agandi Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Broadbill Forest Camp, Bwindi Trekkers Tavern Cottages, Bwindi Panorama Resort, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ecomarvels Gorilla Resort, Cuckooland Tented Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Lodge and Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort among others.

Buhoma accommodation: Accommodation facilities within the Buhoma sector that you can use include Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Buhoma Community Haven Lodge, Bwindi Community Guest House, Bwindi Community Homestay, Bwindi Forest Farm, Buhoma Lodge, CPTH Gorilla Conservation Camp, Bwindi Forest Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Bwindi Guest House, Kanungu Resort Hotel, Gorilla Bluff Lodge, and Kigezi Forest Cottages among others.

Note that the Buhoma sector has the best and most luxurious lodges you can ever use during a gorilla trek in Bwindi.

What you need to plan the combined gorilla trek safari in Ruhija and Buhoma

To be able to combine gorilla trekking in Ruhija and Buhoma, you need to plan for the trekking permits, transport between the two sectors, get appropriate trekking gear and plan for accommodation.

The gorilla trek permits: A gorilla trekking permit is extremely important when planning for the combined trek safari and this can be purchased with the help of Encounter Africa Safaris. You will, however, need separate gorilla trekking permits for Ruhija and Buhoma, and this can be requested during the booking and purchase process. Note that a gorilla permit issued for Ruhija cannot be used in Buhoma and hence the separate permits.

Permits have to be booked in advance at least 3 to 6 months before the trek date for proper planning.

The cost of the trek permit in Ruhija and Buhoma is the same and it is $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents and UGX300,000 for East African citizens. There are no permit discounts in Uganda and no scammers should tell you otherwise.

Organise transport: Organising transport starts from Kampala or Entebbe to Ruhija or Buhoma sector, depending on which sector you are going to trek first, and this can take 8 to 9 hours to get to the sectors. The drive is usually carried out using 4x4 safari vehicles, and these are the best since they can easily navigate the roads leading to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and between the two sectors.

The drive between Ruhija and Buhoma can take 1 to 2 hours depending on the weather and road conditions on the trek of the trek. When travelling between the two sectors, you have to wake up early so as not to miss out on the trekking exercise.

The fastest way to get to Ruhija and Buhoma is by chartering flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi Airstrip, which is closer to Bwindi. The flight takes 1 to 2 hours and you get to connect to the park by road from the airstrip.

Other factors to consider: There are other considerations that you need to look at when planning a combined gorilla safari between the Ruhija and Buhoma sectors and these are:

• You need to be ready for the hike through Ruhija and Buhoma because of the terrain that is made up of rocks, steep slopes and valleys, among others.
• Get acclimatised because Bwindi is located at a high altitude, to be able to enjoy the gorilla trek in Ruhija and Buhoma.
• Always follow all the rules and regulations that are given for trekking.
• If possible, hire a porter to help you with the luggage.

The gorilla trekking experience in Ruhija and Buhoma

The combined gorilla trekking in Ruhija and Buhoma starts early morning with a briefing at the park headquarters where the lead guides will take you through the trekking rules and regulations, and thereafter assign habituated gorilla families to groups of 8 trekkers.

The trek starts officially after the assignment of the gorilla family, and it can take 1 to 6 hours, depending on the speed at which the trek is conducted and the location of the mountain gorillas on the day of the trek.

The trek will take you through the different trek trails within the Ruhija sector and the Buhoma sector, and after locating the gorilla family, you have an hour with the gorillas, watching them as they care for the young ones, protect, search for food and go on about their day.

After spending time with the mountain gorillas, you will head back to the lodge or park headquarters.

The gorilla trekking rules in Ruhija and Buhoma

The trekking rules and regulations that were put in place to protect the mountain gorillas and the trekkers at the same time are to be followed by all tourists visiting the national park for gorilla trekking. The rules that have to be followed by trekkers during a gorilla trek in Ruhija and Buhoma sectors include the following:

• All trekkers have to attend the briefing which is led by the park rangers and guides.
• Trekkers have to be at least 12 years old to be able to participate in gorilla trekking in Ruhija and Buhoma
• You have an hour with the mountain gorillas after locating them
• Only 8 trekkers are to visit an assigned gorilla family per day.
• No one will be allowed to access the mountain gorillas without a trekking permit
• Littering in Ruhija and Buhoma is prohibited to protect the natural habitat of the mountain gorillas.
• Human waste in both sectors has to be buried in a hole 30cm deep, and it should be covered well so that the gorillas do not dig it up.
• Keep a distance of 7 meters from the gorillas at all times to protect yourself and the mountain gorillas.
• Volunteer to stay away from the trek if you are sick especially if you have viral infections. This is to protect the mountain gorillas who are highly susceptible to diseases.
• Follow all the guidelines from the lead guides and rangers.
• Do not wander off from the group because other wild animals live within the national park.
• Avoid spitting on the vegetation within the sectors, as it is food for the mountain gorillas.

When to travel for gorilla trekking in Ruhija and Buhoma

The Buhoma and Ruhija sectors can be visited throughout the year but the most preferred and recommended time is the dry season when the weather conditions are favourable. The dry months usually are June to September and December to February, and they are characterised by little or no rainfall, and the forest trek trails are easier to use since they tend to be less slippery and not muddy. It is also easier to access both Ruhija and Buhoma during the dry season, but you should expect weather changes from time to time because the park is a rainforest, and the rains can come in at any time of the day. The downside of visiting during the dry season is the large crowds of tourists, which leads to an increase in the cost of the safari because of the increased cost of tourist services like accommodation and transport.

The wet season offers an opportunity for trekkers to explore both Ruhija and Buhoma sectors at a budget-friendly cost because of the discounts that are offered especially on accommodation. The wet season receives few tourists because of the heavy rains, and it is from October to November and March to May, which is the longest rainy season.

What to pack for the combined gorilla trek safari in Ruhija and Buhoma sectors

When you think about a combined gorilla trek safari in Ruhija and Buhoma, the first thing you need is to secure a valid gorilla trek permit through a trusted tour operator. A valid gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is $800 for foreign non-residents per visitor, $700 for foreign residents per visitor and UGX300,000 for East African citizens. The permits have to be booked in advance at least 3 to 6 months before you can make the actual trip to trek gorillas in the Ruhija and Buhoma sectors.

Other essential items that you can pack for the combined safari include the following.

• Clothes that should be in neutral colours, and these include long-sleeved shirts and light-weight trousers.
• Warm clothes like sweaters, scarves, and ponchos
• Waterproof rain jacket for the rains that come in all year round
• Waterproof knee-length comfortable hiking boots
• Gardening gloves to protect your hands
• Socks, are used to keep warm and you can tuck your trousers into the socks to avoid insects from crawling up your legs
• A camera and it should come with extra batteries, lenses, memory cards and a waterproof camera bag to keep your equipment safe and dry.
• A pair of binoculars
• Waterproof rain jacket and coat to keep dry
• Insect repellent and sunscreen
• A sunhat and sunglasses
• A first aid kit
• Waterproof backpack.

Contact us for more information.