Gorilla Families in Buhoma Sector: Comprehensive Guide to Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Buhoma Sector stands as the oldest and most renowned gorilla trekking spot in Uganda. Situated in the northern region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The Buhoma sector was the pioneering area launched for gorilla tourism and still remains among the most popular choices for visitors seeking to see mountain gorillas in the wild. With its rich conservation history, outstanding tourism infrastructure and breathtaking rainforest vistas. The Buhoma sector is a draw for travelers from all over the world. Buhoma, known for its unique blend of a gorilla trek, community experiences, forest walks and pleasant accommodation. Is the perfect choice for first time visitors to Bwindi. This guide will take you through everything you need to know about the gorilla families in Buhoma Sector, permits booking and accommodation options, ease of access and key travel tips.
Where is Buhoma Sector Located?
Buhoma Sector is located in the northern region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Kanungu District in southwestern Uganda. The area is about 520 kilometers from the capital city, Kampala, and is the main tourism gateway to Bwindi. Unlike the southern sectors of the park, Buhoma is embraced by dense tropical forest, local communities and various eco-tourism attractions. Buhoma is well developed with improved roads and visitor facilities and lodges, restaurants, and various community tourism projects involving conservation. Its accessibility and solid tourism infrastructure has caused Buhoma to become an efficient wildlife destination in Uganda.
Why Visit Buhoma for Gorilla Trekking?
Buhoma continues to remain a top choice for many travelers for gorilla trekking for its historical significance and its excellent visitor experience. As the place of birth of gorilla tourism in Uganda, this sector boasts decades of experiences in dealing with international visitors. The trekking routes in the Buhoma sector are frequently reported as the ease of trekking as compared to some regions of southern Bwindi. However, the level of difficulty of trekking varies depending on where the gorillas are in a certain day. The Buhoma sector has a range of other activities such as nature walks, bird watching and sight seeing the famous Munyanga Waterfall Trail. The popularity of the Buhoma area among travelers is in search of full safari experience in which a gorilla trek is combined with community tourism and forest exploring excetps. This, stands out among tourism products available in Bwindi.
Gorilla Families in Buhoma Sector
Buhoma sector has several habituated mountain gorillas families that are available for tourism. Each family has its own unique history and characteristics that makes a visit to these gorilla families unforgettable.
Mubare Gorilla Family
The Mubare Gorilla Family is part of the most distinguished and historic families as the first mountain gorilla family habituated for tourism in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In 1993, the Buhoma sector, made the park available for tourism with the opening of Mubare gorilla family to the tourism. In fact, Mubare gorilla family gave a birth to gorilla tourism and tourism in Uganda in a particular. Although, the size of the family member has changed over years. The Mubare family is one of the most famous gorilla families in Uganda. Usually the Mubare gorilla family provides the visitors opportunities to see close family bonds and social interaction between members of the gorillas family.
Habinyanja Gorilla Family
Habinyanja gorilla family became habituated in 1997 and is the largest and the best-known gorilla family in the Buhoma sector. The word Habinyanja is local word which means water place. It is based on the swamp area, where the gorilla family was first spotted. The name of the family is Habinyanja. It is one of the families that have a complicated social structure and interesting interactions between silver backs, females, and juveniles. The trekkers find it very rewarding to see and observe the complex and interesting behavior of the group’s active behavior.
Rushegura Gorilla Family
The Rushegura gorilla family separated from Habinyanja gorilla family and became one of the most popular gorilla families in the Buhoma sector. This is the best known as gorilla family with calm personality and stable hierarchy. The Rushegura gorilla usually occupy the area near the border of the park. The travel to Rushegura gorilla family is usually like another favorite for visitors because, the gorilla sighting is often excellent and, are a good opportunity to see the relaxed behavior the gorillas have when Human observer watch them.
Katwe Gorilla Family
Katwe gorilla family is one of the relatively new habituated gorilla family in the Buhoma sector. Is named after a hill in the local name of the place in the area. Is given new life to Buhoma sector by adding more permit to the Buhoma sector. The visitors can enjoy again the experience with the gorilla family, in natural environment with pristine conditions in rain forest. The popularity of Katwe gorilla family is based on the ongoing successful gorilla conservation in Bwindi national park.
How Many Gorilla Permits Are Available in Buhoma?
The availability of gorilla permits is dependent on the number of habituated gorilla families open for tourism in the sector. As each gorilla family can be visited by a maximum of eight tourists in a same day, permit availability remains capped. Due to four habituated gorilla families usually available for trekking. Buhoma usually gives around 32 permits per day. Given the popularity of this route, permits usually sell very fast especially during the high travel season. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you book your permits to Buhoma ahead in order to avoid being disappointed.
How to Book Gorilla Permits for Gorilla Families in Buhoma Sector
Booking a gorilla permit is imperative for anyone going to Buhoma sector to take a gorilla trek in mountain gorilla. Permits can be booked directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority or through a licensed tour operator. The majority of the travelers usually select to deal with a tour company because it is easy to plan the schedule. And some tour operators usually include accommodation, transportation, permits, and the guide services in one package. In order to get a permit, the traveler should give the ideal trekking date, passport details, and pay the money to get a permit book. When it is confirmed, the permit is reserved to the particular date and can’t be booked for another persons. As there is a high demand for the permits, it is highly advisable to do the booking early.
When is the Best Time to Book a Gorilla Permit?
The gorilla permits for Buhoma are available year-round though the demand is highest during dry seasons.
The dry season trek is usually between June to September and December to February are the prime trek periods for gorilla trek in Buhoma. During these months the forest trails are usually dry and suitable and comfortable for trek. When the travelers plan to go in peak season, is highly advisable to plan to book the permits 6 months or as early 12 months to avoid no-availability of permits. Especially, this is the main factor to consider when the travelers are traveling in group or have particular travel dates. Although there is a availability for going gorilla trek at any month year round. For an ideal experience, it’s highly recommended to make the booking early in order to get a prefer date for gorilla trek from Buhoma.
Can You Use a Buhoma Gorilla Permit in Another Sector?
No. Gorilla permits are destined to a particular sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. A gorilla permit for Buhoma sector is issued to do Buhoma gorilla trek can’t be normally for trek in other sectors such as Rushaga, Ruhija, and Nkuringo. The visitors need to select their accommodation and trekking sector before make an order for permits. In rare operational circumstances, the park management can change for permits but such things are completely at its own discretion, the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Best Accommodation in Buhoma Sector
Buhoma sector has the best accommodation options in Bwindi, ranging to the prestigious lodges that serve luxury and good comfortable budget accommodation and camps.
Luxury lodges
The travelers seeking an option for premium accommodation should consider the popular and distinguished lodges. Like Buhoma Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Mahogany Springs Lodge. These lodges provide superior comfort with unique and personalized service, and an easy access to the trekking briefing point.
Mid-range accommodation lodges
Mid-range accommodation lodges such as Engagi, Silverback Lodge, Buhoma Haven Camp. Are the choice of the travelers seeking to take a vacation with a wonderful stay with a more reasonable price. And well furnished and have a good facilities and wide choice of available rooms with upscale standards in well conducted and well managed mid-range accommodation. To get an excellent and good accommodation that is fully luxurious services. Engagi, Silverback and Buhoma Haven as the popular and most favored mid-range lodges are the choice and best option for mid-range accommodation in Buhoma sector.
Budget accommodation
Conscious travelers seeking a budget accommodation can consider staying at the popular, friendly and well managed accommodation lodges named as. Ride 4 A Woman Guesthouse, Bwindi view Bandas, and more accommodative community owned accommodation that provides basic but comfortable accommodation. Where you can feel essential elements of a homestay accommodation, which are the choice and best option for budget accommodation in Buhomba sector, for their comfortability and home like hospitality.
How to Get to Buhoma Sector
Buhoma sector can be accessible by both road or air, depending on your travel intention or your travel budget.
By Road from Kampala or Entebbe
The journey by road from Kampala or from Entebbe take approximately 8 to 10 hours. Pass through Mbarara, Ntungamo, and Rukungiri, Kanunga before reaching Buhoma sector. Although the journey is a long distance, travelers enjoy the beautiful views of the country side of Uganda along the tea plantations rolling hills, nature bird, and animals.
By Air
Domestic flights are available from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi Airstrip, which is the nearest airport nearby Buhoma. Its the transfer to Buhoma from this air strip via the road takes approximately one to two hours. Flying reduces much travel times, which is the ideal choice for the visitors with limited time.
What to Expect on Trekking Day
Gorilla trek begins with an early briefing for the visitors, placed at the Buhoma sector visitor center. Which gives information about the gorillas to the visitors during their briefing. Ranger explains about the regulations for trek, conservation and safety issues to the tourists in the briefings. Afterwards the tourists are divided to specific gorilla family and with the better equipped experienced guides and armed rangers will take the tourists to encounter the gorilla family in the forest.
The duration of trekking in forest may take from 1 to more hours according to the position of gorilla family in the Buhoma park. When the gorilla family is located, the time is given to the visitors. To just see and capture the gorilla from one hour. It is a unique wildlife experience to witness a silverback gorilla protecting his family by the mother with their infants and the plays among them. That can be provided in the wilderness few places of the world.
Final Thoughts
Buhoma sector continues to be one of the most iconic gorilla trekking in Africa. Due to its historical importance, well established tourism infrastructure. Its great and different gorilla families and best accommodation options, it makes great option for the travelers seeking to have an once in a life gorilla encounter with the gorilla. Whether visiting Uganda for the first time or again for another safari. It is a wonderful mix of combination factors, with conservation, wildlife, culture, and comfort in one place. A gorilla trek and, the tourism visitors that believe to be part of conservation. A visit to this legendary gorilla trekking spot is not only a one time life experience. But a great contribution towards the conservation of one of the world’s endangered species
