Ruhija

Visitors using their own cars should consider crossing the middle of the park from Buhoma park HQ through Ruhija (with the use of a four-wheel drive is essential). This ridge-top route provides vistas into deep valleys comprising untroubled Bwindi National Park rainforest.

Lookout for the duiker, primates & both forest and grassland bird species. At Ruhija, birders should take the 3 -hour hike to visit the Mubwindi swamp.Also Visitors may climb through the bamboo zone to find Afromontane vegetation & panoramic views towards Lake Bunyonyi & Mafuga forest.

Nkuringo Bwindi National Park

Mountain Gorilla Tour 5 days

Buhoma is just 10 kilometre from Bwindi’s 2nd gorilla tracking location at Nkuringo, southern edge of the forest. Though this distance is covered up by the Impenetrable Forest, however it has lovely walks between the 2 sites which takes at least 4 hrs.

The Nkuringo trailhead located along the isolated Nteko Ridge which enjoys outstanding views over  towards the Virunga volcanoes in the south and Bwindi forest to the north.

Gorilla tracking is the main activity at Nkuringo. Visitors should be well fit as the park boundary lies in a steep valley 600m beneath the road. This offers excellent physical exercise ahead of and after tracking gorillas in Bwindi National Park

Nkuringo Community
Villagers at Nkuringo perform a community walk that travels to a traditional healer, blacksmith, rural homestead and brewers.

Buhoma

Buhoma is Bwindi’s busiest tourism site on the north of the forest. It’s the trail head for tracking 3 gorges and a big range of accommodation is also available. Although tracking is the main tourist attraction, a range of different relaxed opportunities to spot birds & exploring one of Uganda’s most beautiful  Bwindi National Park . They can be organized to depart in the morning at 09.00 and afternoon at 14.15.

* Munyanga River Trail is found in the valley below Buhoma, an ideal short distance walk to view birds & primates forest edge.
* Waterfall Trail heads through one of Uganda’s main tracts of rainforest, passing below tree ferns and orchids to visit 3 sparkling waterfal
* Rushura Hill Trail offers impressive views (western rift valley plains to the west) Lake Edward & the Rwenzori to the north
* Muzabajiro Loop Trail goes up to the summit  for awe-inspiring views of Bwindi forest, the western rift valley and the Virunga volcanoes.
* River Ivi Trail takes an old road through beaL emerging close to Nkuringo along the southern edge 01 it’s highly recommended for birders.

Buhoma community cultural performance and walking experience. The local society operates a village walk which takes one- three hrs. This immerses visitors in village life. include the traditional healer  a typical homestead, and a beer brewery.Additionally, Local dance groups perform traditional dance & music in the evening time by arrangement. Carries on from these occasions are used for community development plans.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Reserve was set up in 1942 and later on renovated to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in 1992.In 1994, it was acknowledged as the world Heritage site.Rukiga is a language commonly spoke in this area and the word Bwindi in realty means Impenetrable. What makes Bwindi Impenetrable is the fact that it covers an area of about 327km2 of scrambled vegetation draped over an intensively fissured landscape of the steep, draughty ridges as well as the slippery valleys and high. The terrain may be hard for you to manage but remember it’s what makes Africa an exciting continent. The park has a big population of gorillas.Bwindi is well known to be very cold in the morning and at night. The coolest months are usually June and July and the average temperature is about 70c-200c.When it concerns what to pack for a safari please pack warm clothes because Bwindi is so cold and receives about 2390mm of rain. It has two rain seasons, little rains are in the months of March-May and heavy rains are in the months of September as well as Novermber.The rain in Bwindi takes long hours to stop.

Getting There
Bwindi is located in the south-western part of Uganda with approximately 540km from Kampala .The easiliest means of transport to Bwindi is by road.

Queen Elizabeth national Park (Mweya)- Kihihi-Buhoma.
On your way to the park, you will pass through Ishasha and you will enjoy seeing the climbing lions along with monkeys on the road.Bwindi covers an area of about160km from Mweya and about 64km from Ishasha.

Kampala-Kabale-Kanungu-Buhoma.

The route has a tarmac highway to kabala and covers an area of about 414 km and it’s a 5-6 hour’s drive. The next route has a murram road and has about 120km. the route goes through Kanungu as well as Kanyantorogo and it takes about 4-5hours.The most convenient vehicle is A4WD.

Kampala- Ntungamo-Rukungiri-Kihihi-Buhoma.

The easiest and most convenient route is from Kampala direct to the tarmac road Rukungiri and has about 390km in addition to murram road to Buhoma.

Kampala-Kabale-Ruhija-Buhoma.

This route covers an area of about 95km2 on the murram road and its takes about 3-4hrs.The only vehicle that can pass through Ruhija  is a 4WD.

Kampala-Kabale-Nkuringo.

It covers a distance of about 105kms from Kabale town and it takes about 4 hours to get to the mountainous murram road. Many tourists take up nights in Kisoro town and the remaining distance is about 80km from Kabale prior to Nkuringo.Kisoro road is a meandering 35km and takes about 1-1.5 hours. The most suitable car for this area is the 4WD.

By means of public transport, a bus set on everyday from Kampala to Butogota.Thereafter a tax can be got the last 17km to Buhoma.Nkuringo has no public means and the best thing to do is to hire a vehicle from Kisoro.

Another means   of transport can be by Air; Tourits can fly from kajjansi airfield or Entebbe and land off from Kisoro airstrip. Those who may want to visit Buhoma may take on the charter planes and land off from Kayonza airstrip.

Bwindi National Park  a home to tremendous biodiversity because of two factors. First of all, its slopes stretch over a broad altitudinalrange of 1447 meter to create habitats roaming from lowland forest at 1160m to unique Afromontane vegetation above 2600m.

Second, it is extremely old. since most of Africa’s forests were destroyed during the arid conditions of the final ice age(12,000-18,000 years ago), Bwindi was among a few ‘refugia’ that remained.

As a result, as most of nowadays forests are not further than 12,000 years old, Bwindi’s vegetation has been weaving itselfinto tangles over 25,000 years, in the process accumulating an extensive species list. This consist of 310 species ofbutterfly,  200 trees, 88 moths,51 reptiles, and a tremendous 120 varieties of mammal including 10 primates. The latter are red tailed, chimpanzee, L’Hoest’s and blue monkey, black & white colobus, baboon, as well as Bwindi’s most famous resident,
the mountain gorilla.

Bwindi is a prime location for birdwatchers. Its 350 bird species including 7 which are IUCN red data listed & 90% of all
Albertine rift endemics species that are hard or impossible to see in some other part of East Africa. A more experienced bird
watcher can simply identify up to 100 species in a single day!

Local people

The local people near the park are mos’ and Bafumbira. Minor Batwa communities are(Pygmy!) also present. The Bwindi area holds up one of the rural population densities in Uganda with a number of 350 people.

Gorilla tracking is one activity that is worth visiting, its one thing that can force you reach and experience the beauty of Bwindi by trekking through the tropical rain forest.Bwindi has about seven familiarized gorilla groups that are visited by the tourist. Some of them are located in Buhoma as well as Nkuringo.

The Mubare group was officially opened in 1993 for tourism and it comprises of about 6 members along with a sliverback.
The Habinyanja group was set up in1998 and it consists of 18 persons with about 2 sliverbacks.

The Rushegura group has about 19 individuals and was set up for tourism in 2002.

The Nkuringo group has about 19 persons and was opened in 2004 for tourism.

The Nshongi group consists of 36 members with 3 sliverbacks and was ready for tourism in September 2009.

The Bitukura group has 13 members and was opened for tourism in December 2008.

The Kyaguriro group comprise of about 17 members.

Gorilla tracking is acknowledged as Uganda’s most wanted subsequent to tourism activity. It’s better to book in advance so that the permits can be reserved.

Gorilla tracking is a taxing activity and it needs people who are physically fit. Activities such as briefing and registration are done at Buhoma park office and Nkuringo begins at 07.45 and tracking usually starts at 8.30am.This activity may take a full day or few hours depending on where you will get the gorillas.

Gorilla rules
The park has clear rules and regulations that must protect visitors and gorillas at large;

Infectious diseases such as diarrhoes and flue are a problem to gorillas therefore a visitor with such diseases will not be permitted in the park.

It’s always better to view the gorillas at distant and in groups rather than surrounding them.

Its important to leave a distance of about 5m, this is just to leave some space between you and the gorillas. In case they are moving towards you, tend to move backwards.

Digital camera is most suitable and a flash is not allowed.

Take this very important, avoid eating or smoking around the gorillas, its better to leave a distance of about 200m.

In case you want to cough or sneeze, cover your month and move away from the gorillas.

When you get close with the gorillas, get rid of making fun noises or sounds. more still sudden movements are not allowed.

Do not little or spit on the green vegetation or soil once you are in the park.

Be time conscious because visiting the gorillas is strictly one hour

Age is very important; therefore people below the age of 15 are not permitted to track gorillas.

MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING

Gorilla tracking is an attractive and a memorable experience which repays more than the effort needed to reach Bwindi & to trek through the forest. Bwindi has 6 habituated gorilla categories that are tracked by tourists. 3 of the these are in the area of Buhoma & one at Nkuringo.
GORILLA TREKKING IN BWINDI GORILLA PARK

* The Mubare group (‘M’ group)  opened for tourism in 1993 & consists of 10 gorillas with one silverback.
* The Habinyanja group (‘H’ group) opened for tourism in 1998 & is consists of 21 individuals with two silverbacks.
* The Rushegura group (‘R’ group) consists of 10 gorillas & 1 silverback. It was opened for tourism in 2002.
* The Nkuringo group (‘N’ group) opened for tourism in 2004 & is composed of 19 gorillas and one silverback.

Gorilla tracking is Uganda’s most desired tourism activity. You had better book in advance to confirm that permits for your requested dates are present.

Bwindi favors flora and fauna due to its slopes that extend above an expansive altitudinal range of approximately 1447m,the lowland  forest that has a range of 1160m along with afromontane vegetation exceeding 2600m.Another aspect could be of old age. It’s among the few areas that survived during the rid conditions that affected the forest during the 12,000-18,000years age.

Majority of Uganda’s forest is over 12, 00 years, but Bwindi’s vegetation is over 25,00 years with various species such as 200 trees,88 moths,310 different species of butterflies,51 reptiles,120 types of mammal along with 10 primates. Other animals include baboon, L’Hoest’s, colobus monkeys, chimpanzee and the great Mountain gorillas.

This group is mobile and at times crosses to Rwanda & DRC, so you should check for updates from Uganda Wildlife Authority (see contacts). Enrollment as well as briefing for gorilla tracking starts at 07.45 at Ntebeko.
Tracking begins at 08.30 and can take 3 to 8 hrs.