Safari activities in Ruhija sector after gorilla trekking

What safari activities can be in Ruhija sector after gorilla trekking? Ruhija sector is one of the 4 sectors of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park that is located on the eastern side of the park. Ruhija sector is close to Buhoma sector and it is home to 4 different habituated gorilla families with each gorilla family led by a dominant silverback. The 4 gorilla families of Ruhija sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park are Orugozo gorilla family, Bitukura gorilla family, Kyaguriro gorilla family, and Mukiza gorilla family. To trek mountain gorillas in Ruhija sector, you need to have a valid gorilla trekking permit which is issued out by Uganda Wildlife Authority. The main activity done in Rushaga sector is mountain gorilla trekking but after the activity, there are many other activities you can decide to do such as Batwa cultural experience, nature walk, birding, and much more.

Birding in Ruhija sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

Bird watching is one of the safari activities in Ruhija sector after gorilla trekking. Get your pair of binoculars, birding book, and other requirements and head out to the dense forests of the Ruhija sector of Bwindi. The Bwindi impenetrable forest is home to over 350 bird species among which are endemic to the region. Some of the bird species that a person is likely to see in the Ruhija sector include African green broadbill, handsome francolin, Common Buzzard, Carruther’s Cisticola, African shrike flycatcher, African pygmy Kingfishers, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Dwarf honeyguide, Grey-throated barbets, Red-chested Flufftail, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, short-tailed warblers, short-tailed warblers, Rwenzori batis, Blue-headed sunbirds, African Paradise flycatcher, Black bee-eater, Blue-headed sunbirds, Kivu ground thrush, African sooty Flycatchers, African Goshawk, Ross Turaco, Helmeted guinea fowl, Snowy-crowned Robin-chat, Doherty’s Bush-shrike, Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Brown-capped weavers, Rwenzori batis, Grey-crowned cranes, Mackinnon’s shrike, and many others.

Batwa cultural experience in Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

Batwa cultural experience is one of the most done activities after gorilla trekking in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. The Batwa cultural experience is led by the Batwa people who walk you around the forest and communities showing you how they used to live in the forest, gather fruits, and honey, make fires, hunt animals, and use some of the plants in the park as medicine. The Batwa cultural experience gives you an opportunity to get entertained by the traditional dances, listen to stories of long ago, taste some of the local foods, and get the Batwa to demonstrate how they used bows and arrows to kill animals. The Batwa cultural experience in the Ruhija sector is an exciting activity that will help you learn and get to know their lifestyle and culture making your safari memorable.

Nature walks

Nature walks are the other activities that tourists can do after a successful gorilla trekking activity in the Ruhija sector of the Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. the nature walks in the Rujiha sector give you an opportunity to see different primate species, butterflies, different tree species, mammals, and also clear views of some of the bird species in the park. While doing the nature walks in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park you will be led and guided by a tour guide from Uganda Wildlife authority and this will help you in understanding the nature’s system at work in the Ruhija sector.

Connect to Queen Elizabeth national park

Ruhija sector is near Queen Elizabeth national park which is the second largest and one of the most visited national parks in Uganda. After gorilla trekking Ruhija sector you can have lunch and connect to the Ishasha sector and Mweya of queen Elizabeth national park taking you about 3-4 hours. In queen Elizabeth national park there are so many activities you can do such as game drives in Kasenyi plains, game drives in Ishasha to spot tree-climbing lions, birding as well as boat cruises on the Kazinga channel.

Where to stay in Ruhija sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park for Safari activities

Accommodation in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is something you don’t have to worry about because the sector has different accommodation facilities ranging from budget to mid-range to luxury options. Some of the accommodation facilities in the Ruhija sector include Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Cuckooland Tented Camp, Ruhija campsite, Broadbill Forest Camp, Ruhija Safari Lodge, Gift of nature lodge, Agadi Eco Lodge, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, and Trekkers Tavern among others.

What is the best time to visit the Ruhija sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park for safari activities?

Ruhija sector in the eastern sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can be done at any time of the year but the best time to visit is the dry season. The dry season in Uganda happens from June to September and December to February and in this time, there is little or rainfall in the park which means the trekking trails are less muddy and not slippery which makes the trekking easy. During the dry season, the vegetation in the parks is thin making clear views of animals and good photography, the roads leading to the park are passable and some of the water animals are found on water sources.

Rushaga sector can also be visited in the rainy season but the trekking trails are muddy and slippery, the roads leading to the park are impassable and the vegetation is thick making unclear views of park animals. The advantage of trekking mountain gorillas in the rainy season is that there are huge discounts in the lodges.

Accessing Ruhija sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park for safari

Ruhija sector in the eastern part of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can be accessed by road transport from Kampala/Entebbe via Masaka – Mbarara – Kabale to the park which takes you about 9-10 hours. From Kabale town, it takes you a few hours to the park and accommodation. Travelers from Rwanda can access the Ruhija sector via the Katuna birder border in Kabale or Chanika border in Kisoro and this takes only 4-5 hours.

Travelers with enough money can get to the Ruhija sector using air transport. With this, you will need to inform your tour operator to book for you a chattered flight from Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe airstrip to Kisoro airstrip or Kihihi airstrip inside Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.

How much is a gorilla trekking permit in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

A gorilla trekking permit for the Ruhija sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park costs $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents and East Africans pay shs250, 000. The permits can be booked through a trusted tour operator or can be purchased directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. If you want to trek mountain gorillas in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park you are advised to book your permit in advance of 3-4 months in order to avoid inconveniences.