Rwamunyonyi Peak in Ruhija Sector
Are you an ardent hiker? Are you planning to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a hiking tour and you aren’t certain of the trail to conquer? Bwindi National Park offers more than unforgettable mountain gorilla trekking adventures. Hiking is one of the must-do activities you should expect to take part in a Uganda tour in Bwindi Park. There are plenty of hiking opportunities in Bwindi, and the Rwamunyonyi peak in the Ruhija sector should be a must-hike.
Located in the Ruhija sector, the Rwamunyonyi peak is Bwind’s highest point. This makes Ruhija an ideal location to enjoy more than gorilla trekking experiences. The Rwamunyonyi peak is 2607 meters high, also referred to as the hill of many birds. This is where the highest point of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies and it is also the coldest point. It is located in the Ruhija sector, the Eastern gorilla tracking region of Bwindi and there is an extensive swamp.
Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei) silverback in Susa group, Rwanda
Hiking to Rwamunyonyi peak is possible on the Bamboo trail. The Bamboo trail takes 7 hours for hikers to explore and offers incredible views of the Rwamunyonyi hills at 2607m and Lake Bunyonyi. Trekking through the bamboo trail also presents hikers with a chance to encounter mammal species, birds, and floral species.
Other trails in Bwindi include the Muzubijiro loop 3-4 hours leading you via the Rukubira hill; Ivy River trail, Rushura hill trail, Munyanga waterfall, Habinyanja trail, Ruizi River, Buhoma-Nkuringo trail, Mubwindi, and Kashara River trail.
About Ruhija
Ruhija is a gorilla trekking region in Eastern Bwindi, home to 4 gorilla families- Mukiza, Oruzongo, Bitukura, and Kyaguriro. It is Bwindi’s calmest gorilla sector thus guaranteeing guests the most secluded experience. On the top of Rwamunyonyi, visitors can enjoy excellent views of the surrounding hills and the Virunga Volcanoes.
From Ruhija, it is possible to connect to Queen Elizabeth National Park for the Uganda wildlife tour. Combing the Ruhija gorilla tour and Queen Elizabeth Park wildlife safari lets you enjoy up close with mountain gorillas and the big game. It takes 3 hours to drive Ishasha sector the Southern region in Queen Elizabeth National Park where the tree-climbing lions can be spotted.
There are plenty of exciting experiences awaiting you on Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth NP including a game drive, launch cruise, birding, nature walks, chimpanzee tracking, etc.
Gorilla trekking in Ruhija
Ruhija is gifted with 4 habituated gorilla families; Kyaguriro, Oruzongo, Bitukura, and Mukiza gorilla families. These translate to 32 gorilla permits and each permit is issued at USD700 per person. Trekking with Ruhija gorillas takes 2-6 hours and guests are guaranteed one hour of face-to-face interaction and photography.
Gorilla trekking Bwindi
Birding in Ruhija
Besides trekking gorillas, Ruhija is a blessed region when it comes to bird species. It is a preferred birding location by tourists on bird-watching tour in Bwindi and the area of interest is the Mubwindi swap trail. This birding trail is endowed with many endemic birds and localized bird species including the cinnamon-chested bee-eaters, common buzzard, Caruthers cisticolas, red-chested fluff tail, grey-throated barbets,
Shelley’s crimson wings, brown-capped weaver bird, African goshawk, ross turacos, African pygmy kingfishers, Doherty’s bush shrike, African paradise flycatchers, handsome francolins, MacKinnon’s shrike, Shelley’s greenbul and more.
The Bamboo Forest and afro-montane area of Ruhija support mostly Albertine rift endemic birds; Archer’s robin chat, Kivu ground thrush, mountain masked apalis, strange weaver birds, Kivu ground thrush, strip breasted tit, etc.
Guided nature walks
Nature walks in Ruhija come with incredible sightings of primates and birds. The common primates to keep an eye on here include the L’hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and colobus monkeys.
When to visit Ruhija for a safari
Ruhija is open to tourists at any time of the year although the ideal time to consider taking a trip is during the dry season. The dry months of the year to mark on your travel calendar if you are visiting Ruhija for gorilla trekking or hiking are; June, July, August, September, and December, and January to February.
Places to stay while on a trip in Ruhija
Myriad accommodation options exist in and around Ruhija for a visitor’s overnight stay. There are budget, midrange, and luxury lodges, and the main ones to consider booking on your Uganda tour include Agandi Uganda Eco-Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Ichumbi Lodge, Broadbill Forest, Gorilla Mist Camp, Ruhija Safari Lodge, Cuckoo Land Tented Lodge, and more.
How to reach the Ruhija sector of Bwindi
By road: travel in a 4×4 tourist car from Kampala or Entebbe via the Mbarara-Kabale-Kisoro route, 8-9 hours. Or begin your trip from Kigali by crossing via Katuna or Kihihi to Ruhija, about 4-5 hours. By air: take a flight departing from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip.