Tracking Gorillas in The Buhoma Region
Buhoma region, situated within the northern side of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the four sectors that make up the Park and so far the most popular. This sector was the first to be opened for tracking with Mubare being the first habituated family to be visited by tourists in 1993.
Tracking Gorillas in the Buhoma region introduces tourists to some of the oldest habituated families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and for your gorilla trekking safari, you will be introduced to Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, and Katwe gorilla families. With these families, 32 gorilla permits are available for only $600 per person per trek. Mubare group is the oldest group habituated in 1993 and currently has about 9 members. Habinyanja group was habituated in 1997, opened for trekking in 1999, and currently has about 17 members while Rushegura was opened in 2000 and now has 21 members. Katwe is the newest gorilla group in the Buhoma region opened for tracking in 2018.
Why track gorillas in the Buhoma region
Gorilla trekking Experience in Uganda
Buhoma region has always been every tourist’s number one choice for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a number of reasons. This region is popular because it was the first to be opened for trekking, is easily accessible in that you can easily connect to other destinations especially Queen Elizabeth National Park, Buhoma is relatively less hilly and boasts of numerous accommodations facilities.
Best time to track Gorillas in the Buhoma region
Tracking gorillas in the Buhoma region is done all year round but the drier months-June, July, August, September, December, January, and February are perfect because there are fewer rains during these months and forest trails are also less muddy and slippery.
The months of March, April, May, October, and November are considered wet months with misty skies, heavy rains experienced, paths, and forest trails muddy and slippery. Because of these conditions, most tourists shun these months thus some lodges even close. However, these months are also perfect for tourists who enjoy privacy or wish to have the entire jungles to themselves. Also, these months are perfect for bird watching.
What to carry for tracking Gorillas in the Buhoma region
Gorilla Trekking
Tracking gorillas in the Buhoma region require tourists to carry long-sleeved shirts to protect arms from stinging nettles and unpleasant vegetation, long pants to protect the legs, gardening gloves, waterproof backpack for carrying items needed during trekking, cotton socks, toiletries, waterproof backpack, warm sweater, rain jacket and hiking boots among others. These items will make it easier to maneuver through the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Where to stay when tracking gorillas in the Buhoma region
Tourists who track gorillas in the Buhoma region can stay in the different luxury, midrange, and budget safari lodges that include Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs Camp, CTPH Gorilla Conservation Camp, Lake Kitandara Camp, Bwindi View Bandas, Silverback Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Engagi Lodge, Bwindi Guesthouse, Gorilla Friends Lodge and Gorilla Forest Camp among others.
How to get to the Buhoma region
Buhoma in the northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is about 8 hours’ drive from Kampala/Entebbe. It can be accessed by both road and air transport. For road transport, drive through the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Ntungamo-Rukungiri-Buhoma road. The sector is also 4 hours’ drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park through the southern Ishasha sector while for air transport, chartered or scheduled flights can be arranged to Kihihi airstrip then connect to the Buhoma region by road.