Can I fly to Ruhija sector and see mountain gorillas?

Are you there asking yourself if you can fly to Ruhija sector and see mountain gorillas Bwindi impenetrable forest national park? Well, the answer is yes, you can fly to Ruhija in Bwindi within 2 hours to Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro airstrip from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airstrip in Kampala. Africa adventure vacations limited does organize fly-in safaris to any of the 4 sectors of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park at an affordable price. Ruhija sector can be visited at any time of the year to encounter mountain gorillas for a maximum of 1 hour.

Ruhija sector is one of the sectors of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park together with Rushaga sector, Nkuringo sector, and Buhoma sector in southwestern Uganda. The park is the home of more than half of the mountain gorilla population left surviving in the world. Ruhija sector alone is home to 4 gorilla families and these are the Orugozo gorilla family with 23 members, the Bitukura gorilla family with 13 members, the Kyaguriro gorilla family, and the Mukiza gorilla family comprised of 10 individuals. These mountain gorilla families are open for trekking at any time of the year and to trek any of these you will need to have a valid gorilla trekking permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Ruhija sector is located in the eastern part of the park and the sector is not as busy as other sectors but it’s the best location to access since it’s located near Kabale town. Encountering mountain gorillas is the most done activity in this region but there are also other activities in the park such as birding, Batwa cultural experience, and nature walks. To trek mountain gorillas and be with them for 1 hour in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi, you will need to have a valid gorilla trekking permit which the Uganda Wildlife Authority sells at a fee of $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 foreign residents, and shs250, 000 East African citizens. These gorilla trekking permits are sold to persons aged 15 years and above.

Spending 1 hour with mountain gorillas in the Ruhija sector

Ruhija sector in the eastern part of Bwindi is one of the places to encounter mountain gorillas in the world. The sector being home to 3 mountain gorilla families implies that there are 24 gorilla trekking permits available in this sector. The permits are issued out by Uganda Wildlife Authority but can be bought from any trusted tour operator. Gorilla trekking in the Ruhija sector starts with a briefing at the sector headquarters with rangers gathering trekkers for a briefing where they are taught about the dos and don’ts of the gorilla trekking activity. After the briefing, the trekkers are grouped not exceeding 8 persons and different ranger guides who are well conversant with the forest trails led the trekkers into the jungle to search for these gentle apes. During the search, the trekkers have opportunities of meeting different park animals like elephants, baboons, monkeys, giant forest hogs, birds, and different tree species. when the trekkers have finally found the mountain gorillas, they are given 1 hour to be around the mountain gorillas as they learn about their habits, ask rangers questions about the gorillas, watch them do daily activities like feeding, making nests, as you take photos.

How to get to Ruhija using scheduled flights?

Flights are the safest and easiest way to reach to Ruhija sector. There are so many airline companies organizing flights to the Ruhija sector and the most common one is AeroLink Uganda that operates daily flights to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. The flights are available 3 times a day and these is morning, mid-morning, and afternoon sessions. The fact that there is no airstrip in the Ruhija sector, you can fly to the Kihihi airstrip in the north of Bwindi and also Kisoro airstrip where a driver-guide will be ready to drive you to your booked accommodation.

When to fly to Ruhija for gorilla trekking?

Ruhija is open for gorilla tourism all year round, however, the best season to fly to this sector is the dry season. The dry season happens from June to September and December to February and is characterized by little or no rainfall since the park is comprised of tropical forests. During the dry season, the vegetation in this sector is thin giving clear views of animals, the trekking trails are dry and not slippery which increases the speed of trekkers, and the roads leading to the park are dry. You can as well visit the park in the rainy season (March to May and October to November) so as to enjoy huge discounts on accommodation facilities but during this time, the rainfall is too much making the trekking trails muddy and slippery, the vegetation thick and the roads leading to the park impassable. Travelers intending to fly to Ruhija in the dry season are advised to book their trekking permits in advance of 3-4 months to avoid inconveniences.

Where to stay if you fly to Ruhija sector and see mountain gorillas?

Travelers to Ruhija have so many accommodation options where they can have comfortable nights while in the Ruhija sector as the accommodation here ranges from budget to mid-range to luxury options. Some of the accommodation facilities a person on w fly-in safari to Ruhija can stay in include Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Ruhija Safari Lodge, Cuckooland Tented Camp, Ruhija campsite, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Broadbill Forest Camp, Gift of nature lodge, Agadi Eco Lodge, and Trekkers Tavern among others.

What to pack for a fly-in safari to the Ruhija sector?

If you are wondering what to pack for your mountain gorilla trekking safari in Ruhija, we are here to give you some of the things you shouldn’t miss out and these include long-sleeved clothes, waterproof hiking shoes, a hat, a pair of binoculars, sunglasses, a pair of gaiters, a pair of rain jackets, insect repellents, sunscreen, camera and extra batteries, enough drinking water, energy-giving snacks, face mask, and sanitizer.

What to do with Africa Adventure Vacations?

Africa adventure vacations is a tour company based in Uganda licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board and a member of the 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 fly to Ruhija sector and see mountain gorillas can be done at any time of the year.