Buhoma gorilla trekking Sector

Buhoma gorilla trekking Sector  : Buhoma sector is Uganda’s Premier Gorilla destination and one of the 4 gorilla trekking sectors making up Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Buhoma sector is located in the northern sector of Bwindi in Kanungu district.

Buhoma Sector was the first region in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park as well as Uganda to be visited by tourists for gorilla trekking and harbors the oldest gorilla family in Bwindi

Gorilla Groups/Families in Buhoma Gorilla Trekking Sector

 Buhoma Sector has 4 habituated gorilla family groups open to all tourists for gorilla trekking excursions. These gorilla groups include

Mubare Gorilla Family

Mubare gorilla family has 6 members with 1 silverback, 3 adult females and 2 infants. Mubare gorilla family is the first gorilla group to be habituated in Uganda as well as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and availed for gorilla tourism in Uganda.

The first time tourists trekked gorillas in Bwindi was on October 13,1993, they visited the Mubare gorilla group. This gorilla group’s name “Mubare” was adopted from the gorgeous Mubare hills around Buhoma where researchers first sighted the group.

When the group was availed for gorilla tourism, it was led by Silverback “Ruhondeza” and was an excellent character around visitors, he had a dramatic tenure leaving his leadership prematurely to live a solitary life in the nearby human village until he died of old age at 50 (fifty) in June 2012. He left Mubara Family leadership in the hands of his surviving oldest son Silverback Kanyonyi.

Silverback Ruhondeza is a historical leader well known for practicing infanticide as away to eliminate the would- be-future competitors until his old age kicked, in his older age

In November, the Mubara group was attacked by a formerly solitary silverback Maraya and killed Kanyonyi – the lead Silverback taking over the leadership of the group. Silverback Kanyonyi sustained injuries from an accidental fall from a high tree which left him too weak to defend his group/family.

Most of the members who could not stand Silverback Maraya’s harsh leadership emigrated and a couple of infants fell victim to his wrath, infanticide became a common practice in this group and practiced by Maraya just like other silverbacks.

Currently Mubara gorilla family headed by Silverback Maraya has 6 individuals with 3 Adult females, 2 infants and 1 silverback.

Mubare gorilla group is known for its unique single male leadership and strong male intolerance to intra-male competition.

Mubare gorilla group is one of the simpler gorilla groups to trek in Buhoma Sector, the troop normally stays closers to Buhoma Park’s headquarters.

Habimanya Gorilla Family

Habinyaja Gorilla Family is a group of 18 members that is 1 silverback, 4 adult females, 4 blackbacks, 4 sub-adult females, 3 juveniles and 1 infant under the leadership of dominant silverback Makara.

This is the second gorilla family to be made available for gorilla trekking in 1999 in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable national park, the name “Habinyanja” means near the swamp in the local Rukiga dialect which is adopted from the swamp ponds in the area where researchers first sighted this gorilla troop.

Initially, Habinyanja gorilla family had 30 members under the leadership of “Mugurusi”. However, in February of 2002, it split into two to form another gorilla family called Rushegura group which is also found in Buhoma Sector.

The Habinyanja group is uniquely known for ranging further and colonizing new areas away from its initially known home range areas beyond Buhoma Sector.

Habinyanja gorilla is the most odious gorilla group to trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Rushegura Gorilla Family

Rushegura gorilla family is a group of 15 members with 1 Silverbacks, 6 Adult females, 3 Blackbacks, 1 Sub-adult female, 3 Juveniles, 1 Infant under the leadership of dominant Silverback Kabukojo.

The Rushegura Gorilla Family is a split gorilla group from Habinyanja family in February 2002 led by Silverback Mwirima, the name Rushegura is adopted from the tree species called “Ebishegura” which is available in the Buhoma area where the fission of the Habinyaja family happened.

Rushegura group is famous to both tourists and locals for foraging closer to the park headquarters of Buhoma Sector and visiting the local community gardens around its home range areas, the group commonly makes surprise visits to lodges leaving tourists with unforgettable memories of beautiful encounters with the jungle giants.

Trekking Rushegura Gorilla Family usually takes a short walking distance to start the trek, however it can take a longer than that as the gorillas free-range and where to find them is unpredictable.

Rushegura gorilla group is the best group for seniors and less physically enabled tourists in Buhoma Sector.

Katwe Gorilla Family

Katwe Gorilla Family is a group of 8 members with 1 Silverbacks, 2 Adult females, 2 Blackbacks, 3 Sub-adult females under the leadership of dominant Silverback “Mahaane”.

Katwe is the latest and fourth habituated gorilla group in Buhoma Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, close monitoring of the group started in January 2018 following the death of Silverback Kanyonyi in November 2017. His death disintegrated the group members to unknown locations.

 When researchers discovered that some fully habituated members of the Mubare Gorilla Family for example adult female “Kashundwe” and “Malaika” joined the Katwe group. UWA began the habituation process of the group as a way to maintain continuous close monitoring of the habituated individuals and their new mates in the Katwe Group.

 The group’s name “Katwe” is adopted from the topo-name of the hilltop where researchers started the habituation process of the group in January 2018.

Where to Stay in Buhoma Sector

Of all the sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Buhoma Sector has the widest accommodation options ranging from budget, midrange to luxury. Buhoma Sector is the only sector in Bwindi with accommodations built within the park that is Buhoma Lodge and Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp.

Luxury Accommodation in Buhoma Sector

• Gorilla Forest Camp
• Buhoma Lodge
• Mahogany Springs Lodge
• Bwindi Lodge
• Silverback Lodge

Midrange Accommodation in Buhoma Sector

• Engagi Lodge
• Gorilla Safari Lodge
• Lake Kitandara Camp
• Haven Community Lodge

Budget Accommodation in Buhoma Sector

• Ride 4 A Woman
• Bwindi View Bandas
• Eco Marvel Gorilla resort
• Gorilla Friends Lodge

How To Get to Buhoma Sector

Buhoma Sector is located in the Northern region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Southwestern Uganda along the edge of the Albertine Rift, the sector is situated a few kilometers from the Democratic Republic of Congo border in the west and approximately 65 kilometers from Queen Elizabeth National Park.

By Road

Buhoma Sector can be accessed from Kampala – the capital of Uganda and from Kigali City – Rwanda.

From Kampala the following routes are used to get to Buhoma Sector

• Entebbe – Mbarara – Ntungamo – Rukungiri – Kihihi Route (471 kilometers)
• Entebbe – Kabale – Kanungu – Buhoma Route (533 kilometers)
• Entebbe – Kabale – Ruhija – Buhoma Route (558 kilometers)
• Kasese – Ishasha Sector (QENP) – Buhoma Route (68 kilometers)

From Kigali City – Gatuna – Kabale or Cyanika – Kisoro Border are used, this route is simpler taking about 6-hour driver for approximately 230 kilometers using both routes.

 By Air

Buhoma Sector is served by Kihihi Airstrip and connect to the park – up north about 44 kilometers by dirt road, these flights are operated by Aerolink and Bar Aviation.