Gorilla Trekking in Buhoma – Bwindi’s Easiest & Most Popular Sector

Buhoma is one of the four sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in southwestern Uganda in the Kigezi highlands near Congo’s Virunga National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to mountain gorillas and covers an area of 331 square kilometers, with 19 habituated gorilla families open for tourism.

Alongside Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga, Buhoma is located on the northern side of the park.

Buhoma is known as the first sector to host tourists for gorilla trekking and habituation, starting in 1993. This makes it the oldest sector in the park and in Uganda for gorilla tourism, and it remains the most visited sector.

Buhoma is home to four gorilla families: Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, and Katwe.

• Mubare Gorilla Family was the first to be habituated, a process that took two years starting in 1991 before it was opened for trekking in 1993. It was first seen on Mubare Hill, which is where its name comes from. The group had 18 members initially, but the number reduced over time due to deaths and group splits caused by disagreements between silverbacks.
• Habinyanja Gorilla Family was first seen near a water pond, and its name comes from the Rukiga word “Nyanja,” meaning water pond. The group was opened for tourism in 1999 after two years of habituation. It originally had 30 members under the leadership of the silverback Mugurusi. After his death, two brothers, Mwirima and Rwansigazi, led the group until Mwirima left to form the Rushegura family. Habinyanja now has 18 members.
• Rushegura Gorilla Family was formed by Mwirima after splitting from the Habinyanja group. It was led by the silverback Kabukojo after Mwirima’s death in 2014. When the group first split, it had 8 members, but it has now grown to 16. Mwirima was known for being peaceful and teaching good habits to the group.
• Katwe Gorilla Family is the newest habituated group in the Buhoma sector and has 7 members with one silverback. The family is named after its leader, Katwe.

Since there are only four gorilla families in Buhoma, and each family can only be visited by eight people per day, there are only 32 permits available daily for trekkers in this sector.

Accessibility

Buhoma can be easily accessed from Kigali, Rwanda, Kabale Town, or the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Many tourists prefer Buhoma for its convenient location.

The terrain in Buhoma is easier to trek compared to Nkuringo or Rushaga. The paths are less steep and rugged, allowing visitors to find gorillas in a shorter time.

Accommodation Options

Buhoma has many accommodation options, from budget to luxury lodges, providing good services and a peaceful environment near the forest.

After gorilla trekking, visitors can take part in other activities in Buhoma, such as cycling, and cultural visits to the Bakiga and Batwa communities.

Because of its accessibility, easy terrain, and popularity, Buhoma gorilla permits are in high demand. Visitors are advised to book their permits at least 4 to 6 months in advance to secure a spot for trekking.

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