Ruhija Sector

Ruhija Sector is one of the four gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi others being the Buhoma sector, Rushaga sector, and the Nkuringo sector. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in south western Uganda and is one of the national parks in Uganda with the highest number of endangered mountain gorillas.  Ruhija sector is situated in the Eastern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park where gorilla trekking activity is carried out. Ruhija is located between the Buhoma sector in the north and Kibale town in the south hence can be easily accessible from any of the parts. Ruhija sector is the less-visited sector in Bwindi national park which means that it is not always crowded with visitors during gorilla trekking like other sectors because it habits few habituated gorilla families which include Oruzogo family, Bitukura family, Kyaguriro A family and Kyaguriro B family which is also known as Mukiza. Ruhija sector is known to be less congested compared to other sectors like Buhoma which is the most visited sector in Bwindi national park and Rushaga sector which has the highest number of habituated gorilla families in Bwindi national park.

Gorillas in Ruhija Sector of Bwindi Forest National Park

How to get to Ruhija Sector

Ruhija sector is located in the eastern part of Bwindi national park can be accessed either through the Buhoma sector or Kibale town because it lies between these two areas. Ruhija sector can be accessed by air transport and road transport, by air you can fly from Entebbe airport to Kihihi airstrip which is near Buhoma sector, from there you can connect to Ruhija which takes about 2 to 3 hours’ drive. You can also fly from Kigali airport in Rwanda to Kisoro airstrip and connect to the Ruhija sector for gorilla trekking.

By road, you can drive from Kampala via Mbarara, Kabale to Ndego gate, you can also drive from Kampala via Mbarara, Ntungamo, Rukungiri, Kihihi, Butogota, wherefrom Butogota to Ruhija it takes around 2 hours’ drive to Ruhija sector.

Ruhija sector also acts as a connecting point where you can connect to Queen Elizabeth national park for game drive in the Ishasha sector where you will be able to see the tree-climbing lions. You can also connect to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale from Ruhija sector which takes about 52km where you will engage in a boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi using a canoe.

Where to stay in Ruhija Sector

Ruhija has a number of luxury, mid-range and budget accommodations where visitors on a safari in Bwindi national park can stay including Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Gift of Nature Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Bakiga Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Safaris Lodge, Trekkers Tavern Cottages, Ruhija Gorilla Resort among others which provide comfortable shelter, unique camping sites, quality meals, drinks, wireless internet, reading rooms to visitors on a safari.

Gorilla trekking in Ruhija Sector

Gorilla trekking is an activity in Bwindi national park where visitors move around in the dense tropical rain-forests of Bwindi in search of the mountain gorillas. Ruhija is the best destination for gorilla trekking activity where you will be able to trek the four habituated gorilla families including 

Oruzogo family, this family was opened for gorilla trekking activity in 2011, after habituation Oruzogo family had 25 members with two silverbacks. Currently Oruzogo family is comprised of 17 members with one silverback Tibirikwata who is the leader of the family, 2 black backs, 5 adult females, 2 sub-adults and 5 infants. This is the only family in Ruhija sector with the highest number of gorilla members. Oruzogo family derives its name from certain plant species near its home range where it was first sighted. Oruzogo became famous in 2013 when it had a set of twins by Kankonda female and is also known to be the most playful and joyful family in Bwindi national park which entertains the visitors on a safari hence giving them great memories while in Bwindi national park.

Bitukura gorilla family, this gorilla family was habituated in 2007 and opened for trekking in 2008 which means that it was habituated for one and a half years, unlike other families which are habituated for two years. After the habituation process, the gorilla family was comprised of 24 members but due to fights within the family, some members split to form other Gorilla groups. Bitukura family derives its name from the river in Bwindi forest where it was first sighted. It is comprised of 14 members including 4 silverbacks, 4 adult females, 2 juveniles, 3 infants and one baby. Bitukura family is dominated by Ndahura who is one of the second youngest silverback in the family and the group is known to be the most peaceful gorilla family in Bwindi national park.

Kyaguriro gorilla family, this was the first group to be habituated in Ruhija sector in 1999 but was set aside or reserved for research. After habituation the gorilla family had 20 members with Rukina silverback as the leader of the family who later died because he was struck by lightning in 2015, the family was left under the leadership of an immature silverback Mukiza in 2016. Fights erupted in the group between Mukiza and Rukara an immigrant silverback from Bitukura and the group was split into two Kyaguriro A that is led by Rukara silverback is comprised of 1o members and Kyaguriro B also called Muzika family because it’s under the leader ship of Mukiza silverback and is also comprised of 10 members including 2 black back, 3 adult females, 2 juveniles and 2 infants.

Gorilla trekking in Ruhija sector allows a maximum of 8 people to visit each gorilla family hence there are 24 available gorilla trekking permits daily. A single gorilla trekking permits in Ruhija sector and other sectors in Bwindi national park cost $600 for foreign non-residents, $500 for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 for East African citizens and the permit allows visitors to spend one hour in the presence of the habituated gorilla family in their natural habitat taking pictures, recording videos among others. However, the gorilla trekking permit is offered to adults above the age of 15 years.

Ruhija Sector
Gorilla in Ruhija Sector

Ruhija sector offers other activities apart from gorilla trekking which visitors can engage in while on a safari in Ruhija, Bwindi national park.

Bird watching, Ruhija sector is the best birding destination in Bwindi national park with 23 bird species which are endemic to the area. Bird watching is carried out early in the morning with an experienced guide in birding and a pair of binoculars which is used to view birds in far distances and those up in the trees. Birding is done in Mubwindi swamp and bamboo zone where you will be able to view different bird species including Grey bush shrike, Slender billed greenbul, Brown chested Alethe, Purple breasted sunbird, Dusky crimson wing, Starred Robin, Great blue Turaco, Yellow streaked greenbul, strange weaver, Banded Prinia, African green broadbill, Striking handsome francolin, White tailed crested flycatcher, Ruwenzori Batis, Red-faced woodland warbler, Grey cuckoo shrike among others. Bird lovers can visit the Ruhija sector to have a great experience of the unique and colorful bird watching which can be combined with gorilla trekking.

Forest walks, Ruhija sector offers an opportunity to visitors who want to participate in forest walks which are done in Bwindi forest and Ruhija ridge top where the visitors will be able to have great scenic views of the deep valleys, Mafuga forest, Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale, tree species like bamboo, flowers, reptiles, butterflies like moth, bird species in the forest trees, primate species like L-Hoest monkeys, Blue monkeys, Black and White Colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, baboons among others which make your safari exciting.

Village walks, this is an activity in Ruhija sector where visitors move around the villages in ruhija community, visit the local schools, traditional healers who use herbs to treat different diseases, visit the gardens and farmlands to see how people plant and harvest, visit local businesses for example how local brew is made from bananas among others. During the village walks you can visit the community projects which include bee keeping projects, art and craft projects where the village women weave baskets, mats, hats, bags, sandals among others and visitors are taught how these craft items are made using local materials. The community projects in Ruhija sector are funded by the tourism sector, therefore, they act as a source of employment for the local people in Ruhija hence improving their standards of living.

Batwa encounter in Ruhija sector, the Batwa are the first people who lived in the forest many years ago before it was gazetted into a national park in 1991 to protect and conserve the endangered mountain gorillas. The Batwa were resettled outside the park where they live around the park boundaries in the Ruhija sector. During the Batwa encounter, you will have a pygmy guide who will lead you through the Batwa trail in the forest where they used to live where you will discover how they used to survive in the forest through hunting small animals, gathering fruits and honey, fishing among others. The Batwa will demonstrate their hunting skills where they used bow and arrow, gathering skills among others. They will entertain you through songs, dances, telling stories about their previous life in the forest. The Batwa encounter in Ruhija sector Bwindi national park is an exciting and adventurous activity where you will learn and understand their lifestyle and culture hence gaining great experience which makes you safari memorable.

Best time to visit Ruhija Sector

Ruhija sector in Bwindi national park can be visited any time throughout the year especially during the drier months of June, July, August, December, January and February when Bwindi forest doesn’t receive a lot of rainfall hence making gorilla trekking activity easy because the trails will be passable compared to the wet months when the trails are muddy, wet, slippery and always raining.

Ruhija sector is an ideal destination for gorilla trekking with fewer crowds of people and the gorillas are easily accessible where you don’t need to trek long distances. It also offers other activities like birding, has comfortable lodges and can also be used as a connecting point where you can connect to other destinations like Queen Elizabeth national park for game drive hence making you safari tour in Bwindi national park of Uganda interesting with fascinating and unforgettable moments.

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