Buhoma Sector
Buhoma Sector
Buhoma sector is the leading gorilla trekking sector and one of the 4 gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi impenetrable national park located in the northern sector of the park.
Following the gazetting of Bwindi impenetrable national park as a conservation park in 1991, the Uganda Wildlife Authority set up a park’s headquarter in a small Buhoma Village as a base to network conservation services. In 1993, Buhoma sector became the first gorilla sector / trailhead to be open for gorilla trekking in Uganda with one gorilla family.
Gorilla Trekking in Buhoma Sector
Buhoma sector is the most popular sector for gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park offering gorilla trekking experience to 32 tourists in groups of 8 people per day. In Buhoma sector gorilla trekking occurs at lower altitudes of as low as 1,400 meters which makes gorilla trekking in this sector more moderate than other sectors.
What makes Buhoma sector a more favorable sector for gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park is the availability good tourism infrastructures such as accommodation options and alternative activities to do after gorilla trekking.
Buhoma Sector became the flag bearer from gorilla tourism in Uganda in 1993 following the availing of the Mubare Gorilla Group – first gorilla family after a 3 year habituation process. Because off the civil wars in Rwanda and DRC, tourism in the Virunga Mountains greatly suffered a massive blow which in resulted into the opening of Buhoma sector for tourism.
Every day 4 groups of trekkers participate in gorilla trekking in Buhoma sector, like in other sectors, gorilla trekking in Buhoma sector starts at 08:00. After briefing at the park’s headquarters, each group is assigned one gorilla family to trek then head into the forests of Bwindi headed by UWA guide, rangers and lead tracker guide.
The movement of mountain gorillas is very unpredictable thus there is no telling precisely how long it will take the trekkers to find the gorilla family, the approximate time taken to find the gorillas is 30 minutes to 4 hours.
When tourists find the gorilla family, they are allowed to stay only one hour with the mountain gorillas at a distance of 32 ft (10 meters) – a safe distance to avoid spreading human diseases to gorillas.
Trekkers are permitted to stay one hour in the presence of the gorillas, the closest cousins to humans. The one hour spent in the presence of mountain gorillas is one of the life’s most precious moments to trekkers.
Gorilla Groups in Buhoma Sector
Buhoma Sector has a total of 4 habituated gorilla family groups open for gorilla trekking, these groups include
- Mubare
- Habimanya
- Rushegura
- Katwe
NOTE:
- Buhoma offers only 32 gorilla permits per day and this is due to the rule of 8 people per group.
- Gorilla habituation experiences are not offered in Buhoma Sector.
Mubare Gorilla Family
Mubare Gorilla Family is the first gorilla group to be habituated and open for tourism in Uganda and the first time a tourist trekked gorillas in Bwindi was on October, 13, 1993 and the visit was to Mubare gorilla group in Buhoma sector.
Mubare gorilla family gets its name from the gorgeous Mubare Hills around Buhoma, a site where researchers first sighted the group. The family has 6 members that is 1 silverback, 3 adult females and 2 infants and it is under the leadership of Silverback Maraya.
When this gorilla group was open for tourism, the then leader silverback Ruhondeza was an excellent character around visitors, his tenure as the leader of the group was dramatic thus leaving his leadership for a solitary life in the nearby human village where he died of Old age in June 2012.
Ruhondeza left the leadership of Mubare Group in the hands of his oldest son Silverback Kanyonyi, in November 2017 the leadership of Kanyonyi and the Mubare gorilla family was attacked by a formerly silverback “Maraya”. This attack resulted into the death of Kanyonyi from the injuries he sustained from an accidental fall from a huge tree which left him weak to defend his family.
Silver Ruhondeza is decently buried near the UWA main building in Buhoma and his grave can be visited after gorilla trekking.
Habiyanja Gorilla Group
Habinyanja Gorilla Group is the second habituated gorilla family in Bwindi’s Buhoma sector, this group was habituated in 1999 and it gets its name “Habinyanja – a local Rukiga dialect” – from the near swamp. This name is adopted from the swamp ponds in Bwindi where the researchers first sighted this gorilla group.
Currently, Haabiyaja gorilla group has a total of 18 members include 1 silverback, 4 adult females, 4 black backs, 4 sub-adult females, 3 juveniles and 1 infant.
Initially, this group had 30 members under the leadership of a powerful Mugurusi. In February 2002, the group split into 2 to form another troop called the Rushegura group also found in Buhoma sector.
The Habinyanja group is known for ranging further and colonizing new areas away from the initial home range areas beyond the Buhoma sector, this group is also the most odious gorilla group to trek in Buhoma sector.
Rushegura Gorilla Group
Rushegura Gorilla group is a split group from the Habiyanja family under the leadership of Silverback Mwirima, currently the group is under the leadership of dominant silverback Kabukojo and has 15 members that are 1 Silverbacks, 6 Adult females, 3 Blackbacks, 1 Sub-adult female, 3 Juveniles, 1 Infant.
The name Rushegura is adopted from a tree species called “Ebishegura” which is abundant in the Buhoma sector area where the split from the Habiyaja family happened.
Trekking Rushegura group usually takes a short trekking making it a best gorilla group for old aged trekkers and less physically enabled trekkers.
Katwe Gorilla Family
Katwe Gorilla Family is one of the newly habituated gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Buhoma sector as well, monitoring of this group by the UWA started in January 2018 following the death of Silverback Kanyonyi’s death in November 2017 lead by Mubare. The death of Kanyonyi disintegrated the group members to unknown locations, when the researchers discovered that some fully habituated members of Mubare gorilla family such as the adult females “Kashundwe” and Malaika joined the Katwe group, UWA began the habituation process of group as a way of maintaining continuous close monitoring of the habituated individuals and their new mates of the Katwe group.
Katwe Gorilla family has 8 members including 1 Silverbacks, 2 Adult females, 2 Blackbacks and 3 Sub-adult females and one infant under the leadership of the dominant silverback “Mahaane”.
The name Katwe is adopted from the topo – name of the hilltop where researchers started the habituation process of the group in January 2018.
Where to stay in Buhoma Sector
Buhoma Sector has a wide range of accommodation options catering for all types visitors, these accommodations range from luxury lodges, midrange lodges and camps and budget options.
Some of the accommodations in Buhoma sector spread over the park entrance and within 4 square kilometers, Buhoma is the only sector in Bwindi to have a camp and a lodge built within the park that are Sanctuary Gorilla Forest camp and Buhoma Lodge.
Luxury accommodation in Buhoma Sector
- Gorilla Forest
- Buhoma Lodge
- Mahogany Springs
- Bwindi Lodge
- Silverback Lodge
Mid-range Accommodation in Buhoma sector
- Engagi Lodge
- Gorilla Safari
- Lake Kitandara Camp
- Haven Community Lodge
Budget Accommodation in Buhoma sector
- Ride 4 A Woman
- Bwindi View Bandas
- Eco Marvel Gorilla resort
- Gorilla Friends Lodge
Other Safari Activities to do in Buhoma Sector
In addition to gorilla trekking, Buhoma sector offers more other interesting activities including nature hiking, forest walks, and cultural visits to the local community, birding and hiking among others.
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is one of the thrilling safari activities to do in Buhoma sector, this activity starts at 08:00 am and are done following a trail of 13 kilometers on a well maintained trail from the park’s headquarters to the Ivy River through the pristine jungle of Bwindi.
Cycling along this trail offers some of the eye catching inhabitants of Bwindi Forest such as bushbuck, black and white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, forest elephants and red- tailed monkeys.
Mountain biking in Buhoma sector is organized by Buhoma Community Rest Camp under the “Ride for a Woman” community development initiative, the whole trip is approximately 6 – 7 hours. For visitors interested in this activity, they can hire well – maintained mountain bikes, expert guide and ranger from UWA offices, guides and rangers are offered for your security inside the jungle of Bwindi.
An alternative to biking trail to the Ivy trail is the 2 hour village trail passing through local villages, on this trail you will visit a local crafts center, a school, batwa tribes village. This trail is the best way to learn about the cultures and community life of the local people living around Buhoma sector.
Nature Walking
Nature walking in Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park is done using several trails
- Ivy River Trail
The Ivy River trail starts at the park’s headquarters in Buhoma and takes approximately 13 kilometers and 8 hours walk leading to Ivy River and back, this trail follows a seemingly paved road that was abandoned in the 80s for reasons not yet known.
This path is averagely flat with no significant uneven terrain and during the walk you will encounter famous inhabitants of the forest such as primates, various bird species and butterfly species.
This trails continues uphill from the Ivy river to Nteko and then Nkuringo Sector, the locals use this route between Nkuringo and Buhoma Villages.
- Kashasha River Trail
This trail is a famous trail for bird watching and hiking, this trail is challenging taking approximately 10 hours. It branches off in the middle of the Ivy trail to descend downhill to the Kashasha River.
This trail is very famous for tourists leading to Nkuringo sector and is very short if you are not heading back to Buhoma.
Other trails include
- Muzubijiro loop trail – offering stunning views of the Bwindi forest canopy, Virunga mountain ranges and the western rift valley stretch
- Rushura trail – of about 3 hours offering distant views of Lake Edward, Lake George, Rwenzori Mountains range and the Virunga Mountain Rage.
- Munyaga waterfall trail – of 3 hours journey traversing through the unique UNESCO World Heritage Site along a winding trail framed by exotic vegetation leading to Munyaga Waterfall.
- Water fall trail – a very popular trail leading to 3 beautiful waters that are Ruizi, Muzabajirro and Rushura.
Visiting the Batwa (Batwa Cultural Trail)
The Batwa people are hunter – gathers that initially lived in the Bwindi Forest thousand years before the park was gazetted as a national park, the batwa people lived in the communities alongside the boundaries of the park and they are visited on what is referred to as the Batwa Cultural Trail which is a hike through the forest leading to a Batwa settlement.
While in the Batwa Settlement you will observe how the ancient tribal Batwa women prepare cook and serve traditional meals, visit the medicine man where you will engage and learn about medicinal properties of ancient forest flora.
You will also be entertained by local dances and songs which including singing, jumping and dancing, the experience will give you a special connection with the Africa forest people.
Visiting the Batwa offers tourists an opportunity to learn about the Batwa’s fascinating forest life from religion to foraging, demonstration of hunting techniques and have a face to face interaction with old tribesmen, women and children.
HOW TO GET TO BUHOMA
Buhoma sector is located in the northern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park, in south western Uganda at the edge of the Albertine Rift, the sector is situated in a few kilometers from the DR.Congo border in the west and about 65 kilometers from Queen Elizabeth national park.
To get to Buhoma sector, road and air means of transport.
By Road
Entebbe – Mbarara – Ntungamo – Rukungiri – Kihihi Route
This route is about 292 miles (471 kilometers), a 9 hour drive with the last part of the route 89 miles (144 kilometers) to Buhoma on a dirt road. This is the most preferred and quickest route to get to Buhoma sector, it is recommended to use a 4X4 wheel vehicle on this route most especially during wet season.
Entebbe – Kabale – Kanungu – Buhoma Route
This route is a 331 miles (533 kilometers) of drive from the International Airport taking approximately 10 hours to drive, 74 miles (120 kilometers) of this route from Kabale to Buhoma on a dirt road for a 3-hour drive.
Entebbe – Kabale – Ruhija – Buhoma Route
This route is a longer than other routes, this route is 346 miles (558 kilometers) from Entebbe approximately 11 hours drive and about 74 miles (120 kilometers) on a dirt road from Kabale – Kisoro road to Buhoma sector.
Kasese – Ishasha Sector (Queen Elizabeth National Park) – Buhoma Route
Buhoma sector is situated approximately 42 miles (86 kilometers) from Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park and about 81 miles (131 kilometers) drive from Kazinga Channel. This route takes approximately 4 hours to cross Queen Elizabeth national park to Buhoma on a paved dirt road. 4X4 wheel vehicle are suitable for this route.
Kigali – Buhoma Route
For trekkers from Kigali – Rwanda, Buhoma sector is accessed through Gatuna – Kabale or Cyanika – Kisoro route. This route is simpler when compared to other routes as it is a drive of approximately 6 hours (142 miles) . .
By Air
There domestic and chartered flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi Airstrip the nearest access airstrip to Buhoma sector, from Kihihi Airstrip it is a approximately 27 miles (44 kilometers) on a dirt road taking about one hour’s drive.
These flights are operated by Aero link and Bar Aviation
