Attractions In Buhoma sector in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

There are so many attractions in Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park which travelers can engage in while in the park. Buhoma sector is located on the northern side of the park and is one of the most visited sectors famous for hosting the oldest habituated mountain gorilla family in the park. The main activities done in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park include gorilla trekking, Batwa cultural visit, birding, and nature walks. Among the above activities, gorilla trekking is the most done activity done by persons above the age of 15 years and must all be having permits issued out by the Uganda wildlife authority. To fully enjoy Buhoma sector you will need to spend a number of days in order to engage in most of the park activities.

The following are the main attractions in Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park Uganda;

Gorilla trekking in Buhoma

Buhoma is one of the 4 sectors in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park where travelers do go for gorilla trekking activities. The sector was the first to have a fully habituated gorilla family in the whole of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. the first gorilla family to be habituated in Uganda was Mubare gorilla family in 1992 and it was open for trekking in 1993. Mubare is not the only mountain gorilla family in the Bwindi impenetrable forest national park but also Rushengura gorilla family, Katwe gorilla family, Muyambi gorilla family, and Habinyanja gorilla family. All these mountain gorilla families are open for trekking at any time of the year with trekking done by children above 15 years of age.

Gorilla trekking in the Buhoma sector begins at 8 am with a briefing at the sector offices where trekkers are briefed and taught about the rules and regulations of the gorilla trekking activity. After the briefing, the rangers start grouping the trekkers into 8 people basing on interests age, and physical ability, and from there the ranger guides lead the trekkers into the thick forests in search of the assigned mountain gorilla family. Trekking in the Buhoma sector takes 2-7 hours going through different trails of the park with opportunities of meeting different park animals, birds, and different tree species. On finding the assigned mountain gorilla family, the trekkers are given a maximum of 1 hour to be around mountain gorillas as they watch them do daily activities, take photos as they learn about their habits.

There are 5 habituated mountain gorilla families that are open for trekking in Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park which means there are only 40 are only 40 trekking permits for Buhoma sector and these permits are issued out on a first come first serve basis by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The trekking permits cost $700 foreign non-residents, $600 foreign residents, and shs250,000 East African citizens. The trekking permits allow a person to be around mountain gorillas for a maximum of 1 hour.

Birding in the Buhoma sector

There are birding activities carried out in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and the activities are led by Uganda Wildlife Authority guides. Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is home to over 350 birds which means you are likely to see most of these in Buhoma during your birding safari. The bird species likely to be see n in Buhoma sector include Handsome Francolin, Turner’s Eremomela, Green-headed Sunbird, Evergreen Warbler, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Grey-headed Sparrow, Crowned Hornbill, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Wood Warbler, Buff-throated Apalis, Grey-headed Negrofinch, African Pitta, Cabanis’s Greenbul, Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle, Cassin’s Honeybird, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Cardinal Woodpecker, Green Crombec, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Green Hylia, Grey-throated Barbet, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Common Bulbul, Compact Weaver, White-tailed Blue-flycatcher, Coppery Sunbird, Dark-backed Weaver, Dusky Crested Flycatcher, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Dusky Tit, Stripe-breasted Tit, Fan-tailed Widowbird, White-browed Crombec, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Red-headed Malimbe, Great Blue Turaco, Grey Apalis, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Brown Woodland Warbler, Tiny Sunbird, Green-throated Sunbird, Grey-backed/Green-backed Camaroptera, White-breasted Negrofinch, Honeyguide Greenbul, Klass’ Cuckoo, Fork-tailed Drongo, Collared Sunbird, and many more forest species.

Nature and forest walks in Buhoma sector

Done at a fee of $20 foreign non-residents, $15 foreign residents, and shs10,000 East African citizens, the nature walks in Buhoma are led by UWA guides who led the tourists in different sides of the sector using different trails. During the nature walks you are likely to see most of the park animals, different bird species, water sources, swamps, and different tree species. The nature walks can be done after gorilla trekking and is done by people from 6 years and above.

Cultural encounters in Buhoma sector

Tourists in Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park should include visiting Batwa group of people on their itineraries. The Batwa cultural experience was started by the Batwa people to raise money to have a good life and also to introduce their culture to the world. The experience in Buhoma sector is led by the Batwa people themselves who move you around the forest showing you how they used bows and arrows to hunt small animals in the park, how they used to gather fruits, and how they used to use different plants in the forest as medicine. The Batwa cultural experience will give you an opportunity to see the way of living if the Batwa, style of their houses, way of dressing and at the end of the day, you will get entertained by the traditional dancers and also listen to their stories of long ago. The Batwa women have got craft shops where you can buy some of their art and help them earn a living.

Best time to visit Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

If your are planning to see a number of attractions in Buhoma sector, you have to choose the best time to visit this beautiful Bwindi sector. Buhoma sector situated in the northern side of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can be visited at any time of the year for any activity but the best time to visit this sector is the dry season. The dry season in Bwindi impenetrable forest happens in June to September and December to February and during this season there is little or no rainfall, the vegetation in the sector is thin for clear views of animals and birds, the trails are less muddy and slippery, and also the roads leading to the region are passable.

Travelers can also visit Buhoma sector in the rainy season which happens in October to November and March to May but during these months there is a lot of rainfall making the trails slippery and muddy leading to slow trekking and hiking. The roads leading to the parks are also impassable but the advantage of visiting the Buhoma sector in this period is that travelers get huge discounts on lodges.

Getting to Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

Travelers can get to Buhoma sector using road transport from Kampala via Masaka – Mbarara – Kabale or Kisoro taking about 8- 9 hours. From Kabale, it takes a few hours to get to Buhoma sector of the park. The journey from Kampala to Buhoma is a bit long but it’s rewarding with beautiful views of the countryside, different mountains, equator, smiling people, and hills. Travelers can also access Buhoma sector from Kigali city using Katuna border in Kabale or Cyanika border in Kisoro taking only 4-5 hours.

Travelers who want to get to Buhoma sector fast can use air transport by booking in advance with their tour operators. There are chartered flights from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi airstrip inside Bwindi impenetrable forest national park taking you only 2 hours. From Kihihi airstrip, your driver guide can pick you up and transfer you to the lodge talking for a few hours.

Accommodation in Buhoma sector if you are planning to see different attractions n Bwindi

Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has several accommodation facilities where travels can stay while on a safari in Bwindi. The accommodation facilities range from budget to mid-range to luxury options and there are also campsites in the park. some of the accommodation facilities in Buhoma sector of Bwindi include Buhoma Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Silverback Lodge, Trekkers Tavern, Engagi lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Lake Kitandara Bwindi Camp, Jungle View Lodge, Bwindi View Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Jungle View Lodge, Gorilla Conservation Camp, Gorilla resort, and Volcanoes Safaris Bwindi Lodge among others.

What to book with Africa Adventure Vacations?

Africa adventure vacations is a tour company based in Uganda licensed by Uganda Tourism Board and a member of Association of Uganda Tour Operators. Booking with Africa adventure vacations provides you safety and confidence during your safari courtesy of well-trained safari driver guides who are well conversant with all routes and tourism destinations in Africa. You can book with us any of the activities you want to do in Africa such as mountain gorilla trekking, mountain gorilla habituation, birding, game drives, hiking, nature walks and community tours among others. Booking to see the main attractions In Buhoma sector in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can be done at any time of the year.