Buhoma Section Of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park : Everything to know about gorilla trekking in Buhoma sector in Uganda’s Bwindi: One of the gorilla-tracking zones in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the Buhoma Area, which is in the Kanungu District. Tourists frequently visit the Buhoma Section because it was the first location in Uganda where gorilla trekking began. In 1993, the first tourists to see gorillas did so in the Buhoma region of Bwindi National Park. This suggests that the Mubare group, the oldest habituated gorilla family in the entire Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, lives in the Buhoma region.
There are currently nine individuals in the family, which is largely due to the late Ruhondeza (who passed away in 2013). As Ruhondeza aged, he became less able to protect the family, which caused him to part ways and ultimately weaken the family. The family had only four members at the time of Ruhondeza’s death, but after his passing, the new silverback launched an aggressive campaign that resulted in the group capturing members of other families, bringing the total to nine. The family is anticipated to expand in size due to the new silverback’s ambition.
The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park’s Rushegura gorilla group, which has 16 members, and the Habinyanja group, which has 19 members, are two other gorilla families that can be trekked from the Buhoma area.
WHY DO PEOPLE LIKE GOING GORILLA TREKKING IN THE BUHOMA REGION?
Easy to access from Kampala
In comparison to other parts of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the Buhoma Section is easy to reach from Kampala. It takes 8 to 9 hours to drive from Kampala to Buhoma, which is about 550 kilometers away.
Closer to other national parks
The southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, also known as Ishasha, is more accessible from Buhoma. From the gorillas, one can drive up to four hours to the Mwey section of Queen Elizabeth National Park for the well-known boat cruise on Kazinga Channel, which has been praised for having the best place to see other wildlife as they congregate in the channel. From the gorillas, one can take a two-hour drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha Sector) to have an opportunity to view wildlife, which may include the popular tree-climbing lions. For chimpanzee trekking, the Buhoma region should continue to be the closest to parks like Queen Elizabeth National Park, Rwenzori National Park, and Kibale National Park.
Many Accommodation Choices
In comparison to other areas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the Buhoma region offers a variety of lodging options. You can use Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi Volcano Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, or Mahogany Springs for upscale lodges. Engagi Lode, Silverback Lodge, and Gorilla Resort offer mid-range accommodations, while Buhoma Community Rest Camp offers decent lodging at a reasonable price.
Connecting with other regions
One can connect to Ruhija, which is located in the eastern part of Bwindi, from the Buhoma section of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. As a result, one can stay in Buhoma and go on gorilla treks in Ruhija. Buhoma is a popular tourist destination because it takes about 2 hours to drive from there to Ruhija. You can also walk through the middle of the forest from Buhoma to the southern side of Bwindi (Nkuringo). The Nkuringo Safari Walk is the name of this three-hour-long trail.
So many projects for volunteers and conservation
Buhoma has attracted a number of projects that one can get involved in to support efforts to conserve gorillas because it was the first place where gorilla trekking began. You can work with conservation as a volunteer or conservationist through the Human Gorilla Conflict Organization (HUGO), Bwindi Hospital, schools, or by spending time with the Batwa (Pygmies), who used to live in the forest before it was designated as a National Park.
OTHER ACTIVITIES APART FROM GORILLA TREKKING
Buhoma is the best area, aside from gorilla trekking, to take a nature or forest walk because there are trails that have been carefully constructed that can take you into the forest to see various water falls (up to three of them), identify various butterfly species, birds, trees, and other primates, among other things. If you have time after gorilla trekking, try one of these fully guided nature walks. Alternately, you could participate in the well-liked Buhoma Village stroll.
