Top safari activities in the Buhoma sector

What are the top safari activities done in the Buhoma sector? Buhoma sector is one of the 4 sectors in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Buhoma sector is located in the northern side of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and it’s one of the most amazing and easiest sectors to trek mountain gorillas. Buhoma sector is famous for being the first sector to have a fully habituated gorilla family called Mubare which was habituated in 1993. Other mountain gorillas in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park include the Rushengura gorilla family, Katwe gorilla family, Muyambi gorilla family, and Habinyanja gorilla family. There are so many top safari activities that tourists can engage in after gorilla trekking in the Buhoma sector and these include the following;

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

Tourists in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can take a visit to Batwa pygmies after gorilla trekking. The Batwa cultural experience in Bwindi is led by the Batwa people themselves who take you around the forest as they show you their hunting skills using bows and arrows, fruiting gathering skills, how they used to make fire, and how different plants in the park were used as local medicine. The Batwa experience will introduce you to huts where the Batwa live, their way of dressing, different foods and at the end of the day, you will get entertained by the traditional dancers and also listen to their stories of long ago.

Birding in Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is one of the best birding spots that Uganda has got with over 350 bird species. Birding is one of the most done activities by tourists after gorillas trekking and this is best done in the Buhoma waterfall trail and at the bamboo zone. There are many bird species that one can spot while doing birding activities in the Buhoma sector and these include red-billed dwarf hornbill, African broadbill, white-crested hornbill, piping hornbill, black-faced warbler, yellow-throated nicator, lemon billed crombec,  cinnamon-chested bee-eater, red-billed malimbe, blue-billed malimbe, mountain masked Apalis,  leaf love, collared Apalis, Maxwell’s black swallow, Neumann’s warbler, swamp palm bulbul, white-throated blue swallow, olive-breasted greenbul, dwarf hornbill, Rwenzori batis, western green tinkerbird, yellow-throated nicator, blue-billed, crested and red-bellied malimbe, regal sun bird, yellow-streaked greenbul, red-eyed puff back, mountain masked apalis, black-winged starling, long-tailed hawk, and stripe-breasted tit among others.

Nature walks in Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park offers nature walks which are normally done under the guidance of armed rangers. The nature walks in the Buhoma sector are interesting as tourists get an opportunity of seeing some of the park’s primates, mammals like buffaloes, duikers, elephants, giant forest hogs, butterflies, birds, and different tree species. Tourists who want to do nature walks in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park must pay $30 foreign nonresidents, $15 foreign residents, and shs10,000 East African citizens.

A visit to Ride 4 a woman

After gorilla trekking, the tourists can take a visit to Ride 4 a Woman which was started by a group of women to support those struggling with domestic violence, HIV, and poverty. A visit to Ride 4 a Woman will give you an opportunity to see how women are trained to be guides, repair bikes, sew, weave, and also make crafts. You will also get entertained by a group of women who will do traditional dances and sings.

Connect to Queen Elizabeth national park

Buhoma sector is very close to Queen Elizabeth national park which is the second largest and one of the most visited national parks in the country. After gorilla trekking Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, travelers can decide to cross to queen Elizabeth national park and take a game drive in the Ishasha sector of the park with opportunities of seeing tree-climbing lions, and Mweya sector for a boat cruise at the Kazinga channel with chances of seeing water birds, hippos, crocodiles and some of the park animals like elephants, antelopes, and buffaloes on the shores. The journey from Buhoma to Queen Elizabeth national park can take only 3-4 hours. Kazinga channel.

How to access the Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park for gorilla trekking?

Buhoma sector in the northern sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can be accessed by road transport from Kampala via Masaka – Mbarara – Kabale road taking you about 8- 9 hours’ drive. From Kabale, you can proceed to the Buhoma sector taking a few hours. Travelers from Kigali city can get to the Buhoma sector for gorilla trekking using the Katuna border in Kabale or Cyanika border in Kisoro taking only 4-5 hours.

Buhoma sector can also be accessed by air transport from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi airstrip taking you only 2 hours. From the Kihihi airstrip, your driver guide can pick you up and transfer you to the lodge talking for about 1 hour. Travelers who want to use air transport are advised to inform their tour operators so that they book the flights in advance.

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

Buhoma sector in the northern part of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can be visited at any time of the year for gorilla trekking but the best time is the dry season which happens from June to September and December to February every year. During these months there is little or no rainfall, the trekking trails are not muddy and less slippery, the vegetation is thin for clear views of animals, most of the part animals gather at the water sources to drink water, and the roads leading to the park are passable.

Buhoma sector can also be visited for gorilla trekking in the wet season which happens in October to November and March to May but during this season there is plenty of rainfall making the trekking trails muddy and slippery, the vegetation thick which means you cannot animals clearly, photography difficult and the roads leading to the park impassable. The advantage of trekking mountain gorillas in the rainy season is that the lodges give out huge discounts and the prices of the permits are on discount.

Accommodation in Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park after gorilla trekking?

Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has several accommodation facilities offering different levels of comfort and pricing. The accommodation facilities range from luxury to mid-range to budget options such as Buhoma Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Silverback Lodge, Trekkers Tavern, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Mahogany Springs, Engagi Lodge, Lake Kitandara Bwindi Camp, Gorilla Conservation Camp, Buhoma Camp, and Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge among others.