Ruhija Sector:
Found in the Eastern section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Ruhija Sector is one of the four gorilla trekking areas. This area is readily reachable from Buhoma in the north of the park to Kibale town in the south. The industry links to access Queen Elizabeth National Park at a distance of 218 square kilometers, so enabling a combination safari with gorilla trekking and tree climbing lions in Ishasha. As the Kisoro road dips and dives over high slopes, the rugged topography presents breathtaking panoramic views of the surroundings.
Ruhija is not any different; all the paths to any area of Bwindi Impenetrable national park call for a four-wheel-drive vehicle since the roads are rugged, dirty, uneven and especially muddy during the rainy season. Charter flights from Entebbe or Kajjansi with Aerolink are set to fly daily to Bwindi, so travellers can opt for a flying safari. After that, your driver-guide will bring you from the airstrip to your lodging roughly in one hour’s journey.
The chilly in the hills and forested Ruhija gorilla area stings that you would want to avoid on your stay. Along with other things, carrying thick clothing to keep you warm is quite important.
Most visitors who want to see the Ruhija area in Bwindi particularly have gorilla treking in mind. Hiking through a forest in pursuit of the threatened mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and spending some time with them when found is the essence of gorilla trekking. Spaced in the several areas of Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Ruhija, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park boasts more than half of the world’s total mountain gorilla count.
Three habituated gorilla populations in Bwindi allow visitors to choose to track. Originally wild gorillas, habituated gorillas are individuals who have spent some time either adopting or tolerating human contact. These are some of the gorilla families from Ruhija:
Comprising fourteen gorilla members living in 2007, Bitukura gorilla family Four silverbacks, four adult females, two young adults, three babies, and one small baby make up the family. Originally with 24 members, the family had been big but family strife caused paths for new groupings to be created to be split.
There are seventeen members of the Oruzogo gorilla family, including one silverback under the name Bakwate. This gang is well-known among visitors who follow and record their activities. The family keeps the visitors delighted with its lively and energetic members. One family you could definitely want to schedule a gorilla safari for is this one.
Comprising twenty individuals, the Kyaguliro gorilla family is Following the death of the main silverback struck by lightning, the group divided into Kyaguliro A and Kyaguliro B. Rukara leads Kyaguliro A; there are ten members here—two blackbacks, three adult females, two juniors, two newborns, and I silverback. Leading silverback Kyaguliro B has four adult females, one young silverback with four infants.
Unlike other areas, Ruhija gorilla sector is free from the traffic of visitors coming to hike these mountain gorillas. Traveler tracking gorillas in Ruhija is expected to have obtained a gorilla trekking permit from either the Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters in Kampala or a reputable tour operator. For foreign non-residents, the permit costs $700; for foreign residents and UGX250,000 for East Africans. Once seen, this gorilla permit lets visitors trek gorillas and spend an hour with them.
Apart from gorilla trekking, there are other activities available in Ruhija;
Ruhija presents a chance to encounter the people that co-existed with the mountain gorillas for such a long period. Hunter-gatherers, they are pygmies who live daily in the forest entirely depending on it for food and other needs. The Batwa with their polished animal skin for clothing, tire sandals and shorts will kindly welcome you inside their houses. They will discuss with you their survival skills or activities including hunting methods, cooking, weaving among others; they will even dance for you.
Among many others, Ruhija promotes of 23 endemics say the white starred robin, yellow streaked Greenbul. The Albertine Rift offers a lot to the birders; they just need to be very alert. Not termed an Important Bird Area (IBA) for nothing is Bwindi Impenetrable woodland. Carry your binoculars and wonder at the abundance of birds you will be able to see.
Other things one can participate in include nature hikes, local community visits and visiting orphanages and schools where one can take time to serve if they choose too-prior planning for this is obviously vital.
From luxury, mid-range to extremely cheap lodging, the industry also boasts a spectrum of accommodation options. One can also find campsites.
A marvel on its own, Ruhija gorilla sector is worth tracking gorillas from this area of Bwindi. You will live to remember the experience if you get your reliable tour operator to drive you to this stunning part of Bwindi.
