Gorilla trekking in Ruhija sector

Gorilla trekking in Ruhija sector; Ruhija sector is one of the gorilla trekking sectors located in eastern park of Bwindi impenetrable national park between Kabale and Buhoma region. Ruhija sector is one of the four sectors that offers the adventurous gorilla trekking experience where visitors move on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated mountain gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Ruhija sector is a home of four habituated gorilla families namely Mukiza family, Kyaguriro, Oruzogo and Bitukura family which are available for trekking daily. Apart from Ruhija sector, gorilla trekking is also done in Rushaga sector in the south, Buhoma sector in the north, Nkuringo sector in the south and Mgahinga gorilla national park.

Gorilla trekking in Ruhija sector starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will be subdivided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and an experienced park guide who is well conversant with gorilla trekking trails. Trekking of mountain gorillas in Ruhija sector takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food.

During trekking, you will be able to view other primate species, different birds, plants among others and once the gorillas are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their behaviors, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, grooming young ones, take photos and record beautiful experiences to show people back home after the safari.

Cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Ruhija sector

A gorilla trekking permit is a legal card that is issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to any visitor above the age of 15 years allowing him or her to visit a habituated gorilla family and spend one hour with the gorillas in their habitat. A gorilla trekking permit in Ruhija sector costs 700 USD per person for foreign non residents, 600 USD per person for foreign residents and 250,000 USD per person for East African citizens.

How to book gorilla trekking permits in Ruhija sector

Gorilla trekking permits in Ruhija sector can either be booked directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority where you will contact the head offices in Kampala via email or telephone calls. Gorilla trekking permits in Ruhija sector can also be booked through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris where you will contact us with the dates, month and year when you wish to visit the mountain gorillas. After contacting us, we will check for permit availability and if there are permits available on your desired dates, you will be asked to make a deposit. Once we receive the money, we will purchase the permits on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation.

Best time to go for gorilla trekking safari in Ruhija sector

Gorilla trekking in Ruhija sector can be done all year round though the best time is during the dry season which is also known as the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During the dry season, there is less rainfall in the national park therefore gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable compared to the wet season when the trails are muddy and slippery.

Where to stay during your gorilla trekking safari in Ruhija sector

Ruhija sector has a number of accommodation facilities ranging from budget, midrange and luxury where you can stay during your gorilla trekking safari including Ruhija gorilla safari lodge, Bakiga lodge, Gorilla Mist camp, Broadbill Forest camp, Trekkers Tavern Cottages, Gift of Nature Lodge, Eco-marvels Gorilla resort, Cuckoo Land Tented lodge, Agandi lodge, Chameleon Hill lodge, Ruhija Friends Resort, Ruhija Community Rest Camp among others.

How to get to Ruhija sector

Ruhija sector is located in the eastern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park and can be accessed by road transport means whereby you will drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and then to Ruhija sector which takes about 8 to 9 hours’ drive.

You can also access Ruhija sector from Kigali Rwanda where you will fly to Kigali international airport and then connect to Ruhija sector via Katuna border in Kabale or Cyanika border in Kisoro which takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive.

Ruhija sector can also be accessed by air transport means whereby you will book scheduled or charter flights with bar aviation or Aero link Uganda from Entebbe international airport to Kihihi airstrip and then connect to Ruhija sector.

Other activities in Ruhija sector

Apart from gorilla trekking, there are other activities that you can engage in during your safari in Ruhija sector including bird watching where you will be able to view variety of bird species, guided nature walks, community tour among others.

Gorilla trekking is an exceptional activity that can be combined with wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth national park. For more information about gorilla trekking experience in Ruhija sector, do not hesitate to contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for various Uganda safari packages.