Distance And Time From Rwanda To Buhoma For Gorilla Trekking  

To travel for Uganda gorilla trekking in Buhoma Bwindi from Kigali in Rwanda, the border points to use include Cyanika or Gatuna. The distance from Kigali to Buhoma area of Bwindi impenetrable National park via Kabale is about 223 kilometers lasting approximately 6 hours to 7 hours drive. Time to take on the road from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda is determined by border formalities, weather conditions prevailing and more. Request For A Quotation

The Gatuna border is more convenient when destined for gorilla trekking in Buhoma sector or Ruhija sector from Kigali.

Route to take from Kigali to Buhoma

Kigali to Gatuna to Kabale to Buhoma

The route from Kigali into Uganda is not just a journey but very scenic as land transforms from one feature to another confirming the narrative of Rwanda being the land of a thousand hills. Bwindi impenetrable forest is a thick misty tropical forest with a canopy that seems to stretch as far as the yes can see.

Bwindi forest rises from the edge of the Albertine rift valley with the best of its content lying within its depth almost half the total population of the mountain gorillas there is in the world. Buhoma area in the northern part of Bwindi forest is historical as it is the birth area for gorilla trekking experience in Uganda.

Alternative Routes To Buhoma Area Of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

From Kampala or Entebbe, the distance to cover is about 530 kilometers via different routes

Kampala-Kabale-Kangungu- Buhoma

Entebbe or Kampala to Kabale to Ruhija to Buhoma

Kampala-Ntungamo-Rukungiri-Kihihi-Buhoma

Air transport is available from Entebbe or Kampala to Kihihi airstrip then transfer to Buhoma area a drive that takes about 2 hours.

There are daily domestic flights to Kihihi on which tourists can book to get to Buhoma in Bwindi impenetrable National Park with drive time of about 2 hours and transfer time of approximately 2 hours.

Charter flight arrangements can also be made for more private gorilla safari arrangements.

Gorilla families in Buhoma area of Bwindi

• Mubale gorilla family
• Rushegura gorilla family
• Habinyanja gorilla family
• Katwe gorilla family

Note that the number of gorilla families open to the public in Buhoma area can change anytime as gorilla habituation process is still going on in the sector according to Uganda Wildlife Authority.

On gorilla trekking day, gorilla family allocating is randomly done with no outlined procedure to follow however sometimes its according to physical capability, age brackets, interests and more.

How To Book Gorilla Trekking Families For Buhoma Area In Bwindi.

Even though gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi area randomly allocated to tourists, you may get the chance to request and secure permits for Buhoma area on request.

Procedure For Booking Gorilla trekking Permit

• Have a date either confirmed or tentatively and number of gorilla permits to book
• Check gorilla permit availability per your date of preference. You can also alter the gorilla trekking dates to suit your interests. State your preferred gorilla trekking area at this point just in case chance is still available.
• Book the gorilla trekking permit as soon as you find availability because their status changes any time without warning. No gorilla permit is preserved without payment which you can make in full or instalments according to the policy of Uganda Wildlife Authority.
• Later avail your personal details to be added to the gorilla permit card when issuing including full names as presented on the passport, date of birth, nationality and more.
• If you wish to book accommodation within the Buhoma area, it is best to request for a gorilla permit in this area to avoid getting inconvenienced on gorilla trekking day.

Cost Of Gorilla Permits For Buhoma Area Of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

At the moment, the cost of gorilla trekking permit for Uganda is $800 for international nonresidents, $700 for international residents, $500 for other Africans and 300000shs for East Africans. The cost of the gorilla permits for Buhoma is the same.

Discounted gorilla trekking permits for Uganda especially in the low season ( March to May and November) are sometimes opened to the public however this is not guaranteed every year. Discounted gorilla permits are announced by the Uganda Wildlife Authority administration.

Key Information About Buhoma Area Of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

History: Buhoma area is a historical gorilla trekking area with some of the pioneer gorilla families opened to  he public that is :

Mubare gorilla family opened in 1993

Habinyanja gorilla family opened in 1998

Rushegura gorilla family opened in 2002

It is interesting listening to the lineage of these gorilla families as recorded by researchers because this has a close resemblance to human lineage.

Elevation: Altitude of Buhoma area is about 1500 meters above sea level

Climate: Temperature of Buhoma and Bwindi forest in general varies from 7 degree centigrade to about 23degrees centigrade in the day. Average annual rainfall for Bwindi forest is about 2390 mm per year

Accommodation: Buhoma area of Bwindi has the highest concentration of accommodation options categorized into Luxury, mid-range to basic. Some accommodations for Buhoma area of Bwindi include Gorilla Forest Camp, Engage Lodge, Bwindi Volcanoes Lodge, Gorilla Nest Lodhe, Lake Kitanda Tented Camp and more

Eligibility: 12 and over is the age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda

Best time to visit Buhoma area: The best time to do gorilla trekking in Buhoma area is the dry season (June, July, August, September, December to January) however do not throughout the wet season. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable National Park is open all year no matter the season.

How Long Is Gorilla Trekking in Buhoma area

Finding the mountain gorillas in Buhoma area depends on a number of factors like the pace of trekkers, location of the gorilla family, nature of the silverback as some are adventurous and more.

While searching for the mountain gorillas, shift your focus to enjoying other forest dwellers like other primates, birds, unique features like sparkling water falls, amazing valleys and more. Help with tracing the mountain gorillas using clues they leave behind like fresh broken bamboo, fresh foot prints and more.

Before you know it the ranger guide stops you to prepare for the first glance at the mountain gorillas. Wear a fresh clean face mask as you get up-close to where the gorilla family may be spending the day. During the time allowed with the mountain gorillas watch the juveniles tumble through the dense undergrowth, mothers tend to their infants and more.

One hour of watching the mountain gorillas is allowed because they are habituated to be in the presence of humans for just that time and beyond this time the gorillas may start feeling uncomfortable.

Safety Guidelines During Gorilla Trekking In Buhoma Area Of Bwindi

• Attend briefing at the ranger station in Buhoma where details of the most recent information about the mountain gorillas is communicated.
• Never enter the forest for gorilla trekking without an escorting ranger guide.
• Wear the right gorilla safari gears including safari boots, rain proof gears, garden gloves and more.
• Request for a walking stick to provide extra support while searching for the mountain gorillas and also enable you cross some soggy spots.
• Don’t eat wild fruits or leaves while searching for the mountain gorillas because you are not sure of the hygiene in the forest.
• Drink water from a sealed bottle or your drinking water bottle and not flowing water in a stream or river in the forest.
• Carry a first aid box with items that can be used for emergency during gorilla trekking.
• Well trained and experienced ranger guides from Uganda Wildlife Authority are on ground to provide safety of the forest inhabitants and tourists so stay close to the rest of the trekkers.
• Carry a face mask to wear when close to the mountain gorillas and avoid touching the mountain gorillas because they are wild animals that can transmit an infection to humans too.

Activities To Do In Buhoma Area Of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Gorilla trekking in Buhoma

The main activity of Buhoma area is gorilla trekking and currently about 4 gorilla families are open to the public in this area. You need a gorilla permit to be allowed to be part of the trekkers for the day. Report to the ranger station for briefing.

Birding In Buhoma Area

Bwindi is one of the prime birding destinations in Uganda and Buhoma sector is not excluded. While standing by your lodge window, you get the chance to identify a number of birds. Some of the birds that can be spotted around Buhoma area include Rwenzori Turaco, Shelley’s Crimsonwing and more.

You need a ranger guide in your company to do birding in Bwindi forest.

Buhoma Community Visit And Cultural Performance

Get the chance to experience the life of the people from the local community by engaging in a community visit in Buhoma area. During the community visit in Buhoma area, you participate in banana beer making, visit a traditional healer, homestead and more.

An arranged traditional dance and music performance can be made in Buhoma as one of the ways to give back to the community

The distance from Kigali in Rwanda to Buhoma in Bwindi Uganda is about 223 kilometers by passing meandering highways. Gorilla trekking is the main activity in Buhoma area but you can engage in other activities to like birding.

Guided Nature walk in Buhoma area of Bwindi

With an escorting ranger guide, follow the trail network in the forest where you get to spot several forest inhabitants of Buhoma area including several primates, birds, sparkling water falls, rivers and more.

Botanists can identify some of the 200 tree species recorded as part of the Bwindi forest, plants and more. Do not forget to wear the right gears for the forest walk and carry a camera to take photos or film of these unique features