Buhoma sector bwindi.
The Buhoma sector of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is situated in the Kanungu district and is part of the park’s northern area. For the record, Buhoma Sector is the most fascinating and straightforward sector to trek gorillas from. It’s also worth noting that the Mubare Gorilla Family, the first gorilla family to be habituated and traveled in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, is found in Buhoma Sector.
Families of gorillas in the Buhoma area
Family of Rushegura Gorillas
Under the leadership of a dominating Alpha Kabukojo, the Rushegura gorilla family is a large gorilla family in the Buhoma sector, with 15 gorilla individuals—four blackbacks, four adult females, three juniors, and four newborns. Trekking with the Rushegura gorilla family, which separated from the Habinyanja gorilla family in 2002, takes around three to five hours. The Rushegura gorilla family was habituated in 2000.
Mubare family of gorillas
With nine gorillas—one silver-back, one black-back, one adult female, and two juveniles—led by the dominant Alpha Ruhondeza, the Mubare family is the oldest and first habituated gorilla family in the Buhoma sector. They are also the most fascinating family in the area. The first hiking group was introduced to the Mubare gorilla family in 1993 after they had been habituated since 1991.
The Habinyanja family of gorillas
The 17-member Habinyanja gorilla family, which includes one silverback, is an incredible family of gorillas. The Mubare gorilla family is led by a dominant Alpha Makara. The Habinyanja gorilla family is named after the local Nyanja, which means water, and refers to a location where its members were initially observed during the habituation process, which started in 1997 and ended in 1999. This group’s walk lasts anything from five hours to a whole day.
Activities in the sector of Buhoma
Trekking with mountain gorillas
The most well-known activity available in the Buhoma region of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is mountain gorilla trekking, which entails hiking along paths in search of the amazing mountain gorillas. You may track for three gorilla families in the Buhoma Sector: the Habinyanja, Rushegura, and Mubare families. You will be amazed by the incredible experience of seeing the gorillas up close. Tourists may only undertake mountain gorilla trekking with a gorilla trekking permit, which costs $700 USD per person per day.
Observing birds
The dense forest that dominates the Buhoma area is the ideal home for many bird species, particularly migratory and forest bird species. On a bird-watching safari, one can see a variety of birds, such as the Chapin’s fly-catcher, handsome francolin, Rwenzori Batis, Tit Hylia, Dusky Twin spot, Montane Oriole, regal sunbird, African wood owl, bar-tailed trogon, Western green tinker bird, black bee-eater, Bwarf honeyguide, grey guckoo-shrike, Kivu ground-thrush, yellow-sreaked greenbul, Shelly’s greenbul, red-throated alethe, collared apalis, handsome francolin, strange weaver, and many more.
March through September and June through July are the greatest times to go on a bird viewing safari in Buhoma Sector since these are the breeding seasons and many migratory birds visit the park during these times, allowing you to see a lot of species.
Nature hikes
The greatest method to see nature in Buhoma Sector is to go on a nature walk, which involves walking along the many paths that wind through the mostly wooded area. Numerous bird species, including antpeckers, pink-footed puffbacks, Waller’s starlings, crested guinea fowls, barred long-tailed cuckoos, grey-crowned cranes, white-headed sawwings, and many more, may be seen while strolling, as can primates, including olive baboons and colobus monkeys.
Walks in the community
You may explore the traditional and cultural aspects of Buhoma Sector by going on community walks, which take you through the neighborhoods that border both Buhoma Sector and the larger Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. These communities include Bakiga communities, where you can take part in and observe events like traditional dances, songs, and dramas; traditional healers who gather local herbs; black smiting; and socializing with the locals, all of which teach you more about the village and its past.
Trails for trekking in the Buhoma sector
The Munyaga River Trail
The simplest walk in the park is the Munyaga River walk, which winds down the valley and joins the Munyaga River near Biyenga Creek. Hiking along the Munyaga River Trail allows you to see a variety of monkeys and birds.
The Rushura Hill Trail
One of the more daring trails in the Buhoma sector is the Rushura Hill Trail, which leads from the Buhoma Park Office to Rushura Hill, the park’s highest point. Along the way, you’ll pass terraced fields and forests, and once you reach the top of the park, you’ll be able to take in the breathtaking views of the Virunga Mountains and Western Rift Valley. It takes three to four hours to complete this path.
The waterfall trail
The waterfall route is regarded as the most well-traveled path in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and it leads to a waterfall inside the park. Along the way, hikers may see a variety of plants, butterflies, and birds. It takes three hours to complete this path.
The River Ivy Trail
The 14-kilometer River Ivy route, which passes through the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and leads to MUKEMPUNU, a well-known location for a large population of wild pigs, is said to be the longest route in the Buhoma sector of the park. You may see a variety of birds, primates including chimpanzees, white and black colobus monkeys, duikers, and other gorgeous butterflies while hiking the River Ivy Trail, which takes around eight hours to complete.
Trail Muzabajiro Loop
The 6-kilometer Muzabajiro Loop Trail winds through the Buhoma hills and offers breathtaking views of the Virunga mountains as well as a variety of flora types and primates, including golden monkeys.
Accommodations in the Buhoma Sector
Bwindi View Bandas, Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Guest House, top-notch Gorilla Forest Camp, luxury Buhoma Lodge, Silverback Lodge, and Buhoma Community Rest Camp are just a few of the lodging options available to tourists on safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park trekking in the Buhoma sector.
Directions to Buhoma Sector
Buhoma sector is easily accessible by road and air. It is 95 kilometers from Kampala, a 3- to 4-hour journey, and can be accessed by road via the Kampala-masaka-mbarara-ntugamo-rukungiri-buhoma route. By air: A chartered domestic aircraft from Kajjansi Airport or Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi Airport is used to go to the Buhoma Sector. It takes two hours to go from Kabele Town to Buhoma Sector, and four hours to drive from Ishasha Southern Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
