Gorilla Sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Gorilla Sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park : Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has got four sectors Ruhija, Rushaga, Buhoma, and Nkuringo and each sector offers a different difficulty level for trekking the gorillas. The easiest sector to track the Gorillas in Bwindi is the Buhoma sector.

The Gorilla trekking activity is completely handled by the park officials and you will be accompanied by the main park guides, rangers, armed military rangers, and a limited number of tourists to engage in the activity. Gorilla trekking is limited to only eight people in a group.

Below is detailed information about the Bwindi gorilla sectors as explained below;

Buhoma sector;

The Buhoma sector is one of the four gorilla sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This sector is located in the northern part of the park and locates close to the Kihihi airstrip which makes it accessible for those who hate long traveling journeys and then would opt to use flight as their mode of transport. It is a 2-hour drive from Kabale town which is a town close to the park and takes a 4 hours drive from Ishasha sector thus making it easily accessible to travelers who had Queen Elizabeth as part of their tour package.

This sector is renowned because it harbors the first habituation family of the Gorilla called the Mubare making it a traveler destination. The Buhoma sector is the easiest to trek and also convenient for older people. Activities carried out in the Park; Bird watching, nature walks, visiting and learning about the local communities like Batwa and Bakiga, and the waterfall trails.

Rushaga sector

The Rushaga sector lies in the southern part of the park and it harbors a wide range of habituated gorilla families. In the park, Rushaga is one of the sectors where habituation takes place.

It is easily accessible to tourists coming from Kigali through the Cyanika border in Kisoro which estimates 3-hour drive. Apart from the Gorilla habituation experience, their other activities done at the park includes; boat cruising at Lake Mutanda, bird watching, cultural tours in the Batwa community as well as learning how gorilla habituation is done.

Nkuringo Sector

The Nkuringo sector is located in the southern region of the park and this sector is home to 3 fully habituated gorilla groups.  The sector stuns with a spectacular view of Mount Nyiragongo and Mount Nyamuragira. Although, the sector is one of the hardest sectors to trek because of the terrain but has one of the best views.

This sector sits at a high altitude and can easily be accessed from the Kabale districts which are 3 hour’s drive on the Kabale –Kisoro highway.

Some of the activities carried out in this sector include; nature walks, birding, wildlife viewing like forest elephants and baboons, and cultural visit to Batwa and Bakiga.

Ruhija sector

The Ruhija sector is located in the Eastern part of the park and it is suitable for those tourists who have  Queen Elizabeth National Park as part of their itineraries using the Ishasha sector.  It is home to four habituated gorilla families and it is one of the coldest. Other animals to see at the park include elephants and monkeys.

Some of the activities to do in this sector include; Mountain biking, birding, cultural encounter, and nature walk among others.

Getting there; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern region of Uganda which can be estimated either by road or air transport.

By Road transport

From Kampala to Bwindi National Park driving through Masaka road with a stopover at the Equators continue to drive via Mbarara to the main destination estimates 8 to 9-hour drive.

By Air transport

You can decide to use a domestic flight of Aerolink Uganda or Bar Aviation from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to fly you to Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro airstrip to land in 1:30 hours which takes around a 40-minute’ drive from airstrip to the park