Overview
Ruhija sector is located in the south western part of Uganda and positioned in the eastern part of the famous gorilla inhabited park “Bwindi impenetrable national park” Rubanda district which has an elevation of over 2350 meters above sea level and harbors about 500 gorillas out of the 880 gorillas in the world. The fact that its elevation is 2350 meters above sea level, it makes it the coldest area in Bwindi national park. The park is just 8-9 hours’ drive away from the capital city of Uganda and approximately 1:30 hours from Entebbe airport if you decided to fly to the park.
Gorilla families
Ruhija is a home of 4 habituated mountain gorilla families that is Bitukura, Mukiza, Kyaguriro and Oruzogo family which are available for trekking with Kyaguriro gorilla family which has only 24 gorilla permits an reserved for research only. This therefore leaves only 3 gorilla families available for trekkers making Ruhija more attractive due to lots of locations it has unlike other sectors.
Below are some of the actives that can be organized after your gorilla trekking experience in Ruhija area.
Hiking
Gorilla trekking is the main activity in Ruhija region however, there are other activities the area offers like hiking because it has beautiful trails for the hikers along Rwamunyonyi peak.
Game drives.
The sector is located between Buhoma sector north of the park and Kibale town to the south which makes it accessible and suitable for game drives through the other sectors after trekking. The game drives can be mixed with trekking which is done in the Ishasha sector a place you could spot the rare tree climbing lions and other animals.
Visit Lake Bunyonyi.
Visiting Lake Bunyonyi can be fun here where you can enjoy canoe rides, cruises and perfect place to see different hills and islands. The lake has got about 29 islands some of which you can decide to go seeing and enjoy the fresh waters around them.
Natural primate walks.
This is good for the different visitors in the area who love the green lush of nature and discovering. Get to see different tree species of very old trees, spot small primates such as white and black colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys a truly exiting activity. These primate walks are usually mixed with forest walks done in Bwindi forest where you will be able to sightsee beautiful waterfalls, caves and abundant plant life.
Bird watching
Ruhija sector is famous for bird watching. More to that, birders get to enjoy a watching number of bird species. There are over 400 birds like hornbills and dusky crimson wing. You should carry your birding equipment and guide book. Under a professional guide, you will watch all different kinds of birds on this adventure. You can also have a full day birding trip along Bwindi’s famous birding trail in Ruhija called “Mubwindi”.
Batwa tribe visit
This unique cultural group of people have got amazing traditional songs, dance and drama which you might enjoy. Get to collect wild honey and cook with them. Also, listen to their stories of how they survived in their forest life style. Researchers and film makers can also enjoy and film these amazing kind of people.
Mountain bicycle tours.
We can organize a bicycle tours for you at a small cost when you book in advance. While on these trails, you may visit the local communities and villages. This will give you insights into the lives of the natives-the Batwa and the Bakiga.
Best time to go trekking in Ruhija
You can visit Ruhija all year around. However, the drier months of Uganda give the best experience in Bwindi Impenetrable forest. It is easier to travel through the park, spot animals and gorillas when the vegetation cover is not too much.
Recommendation
When you book with Pamoja tours and Travel Company, you should have no worries. In fact, we can help you acquire all the permits and access the national park easily in our comfortable vehicles.
We can further help you book accommodation in the best hotels and lodges in Ruhija area at an affordable cost. You can also contact us for any inquiries.
