Gorilla Trekking in Ruhija Sector.
One of the gorilla sectors in the eastern region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is Ruhija Sector. It offers gorilla trekking, an exciting activity that entails walking into the tropical rainforest to find habituated mountain gorillas and spending an hour with them in their natural habitat. In addition to Ruhija, gorilla trekking is practiced in the northern Buhoma region, the southern Nkuringo area, and the southern Rushaga sector.
Four habituated gorilla families—the Bitukura, Oruzogo, Mukiza, and Kyaguriro gorilla families—live in the Ruhija region and are accessible for daily hiking. In the Ruhija area, mountain gorilla trekking begins very early in the morning with a briefing on the guidelines to be followed. Following the briefing, you will be split up into groups of eight, with a knowledgeable park guide and a habituated gorilla family assigned to each group.
Because mountain gorillas like to roam about in quest of food, gorilla trekking in the Ruhija sector may take anywhere from two to six hours, depending on the gorillas’ location. You will be able to see many bird species, insects, trees, and other primates while walking. After the gorillas are located, you will be permitted to spend an hour with them in their natural environment, where you may see them going about their daily lives, discover more about their routines, snap pictures, and create amazing movies.
The price of permits for gorilla trekking in the Ruhija area
In the Ruhija section of Bwindi impenetrable national park, gorilla trekking licenses cost 800 USD per person for non-resident foreigners, 700 USD per person for locals, and 300,000 UGX per person for nationals of East Africa.
The ideal time to go
Although gorilla trekking in the Ruhija sector is possible throughout the year, the ideal time to go is in the dry season, which is also referred to as the peak season and lasts from June to February. Because there is less rainfall in the park during the dry season, access roads and gorilla trekking paths are dry and accessible, making gorilla trekking easier than during the rainy season, when the pathways are muddy and slippery, making walking challenging.
Things to bring
Along with insect repellent, long-sleeved clothing, garden gloves, long socks, facemasks, and hand sanitizer, you should also pack and carry a waterproof rain jacket, hiking shoes, energy snacks and drinking water, a warm sweater, a walking stick, a back pack, a camera and extra batteries, a pair of binoculars, a hat, and sunscreen for your gorilla trekking safari in Ruhija sector.
Additional operations in the Ruhija sector
After gorilla trekking, visitors can enjoy other fascinating activities in the Ruhija sector, such as bird watching, where they can see a variety of bird species, a guided nature walk, where they can get up close and personal with various wildlife species, a cultural tour, where they can interact with locals and Batwa people, and visiting community projects like beekeeping and craft making, among others.
Directions to the Ruhija Sector
Located in the eastern region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Ruhija Sector is accessible by road transportation. It takes around seven to eight hours to get there from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, and Kabale.
A scheduled or charter flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kihihi Airstrip and then on to Ruhija Park Headquarters is another way to get to the Ruhija sector. The drive takes around one to two hours.
Additionally, visitors may reach the Ruhija sector from Kigali, Rwanda, where they will fly to Kigali International Airport and then drive for about four to five hours to reach the Ruhija Park headquarters across the Katuna border.
Accommodations in the Ruhija sector
During your gorilla trekking safari, you may stay at a variety of lodging options in the Ruhija region. Ruhija Safari Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Bakiga Lodge, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Agandi Uganda Eco Lodge, Trekkers Tavern Cottages, Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge, Broadbill Forest Camp, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort and Campsite, and Cuckooland Tented Lodge are just a few of the affordable, midrange, and upscale lodging options available.
