Activities to do in Ruhija after gorilla trekking
Activities to do in Ruhija after gorilla trekking: Ruhija is one of the four sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park a home to endangered mountain gorillas. This particular sector is located in the northern sector of the park next to Buhoma sector. Ruhija sector harbors some of the mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and the main activity done here is gorilla trekking.
Some of the mountain gorillas living in Ruhija sector of Bwindi were habituated and are open for gorilla trekking activities. These families include Oruzogo, Bitakura, Kyagulira A, Kyagulira B, and Mukiza. Every day tourists are allowed to visit these gorilla families if they have valid gorilla trekking permits. Today we are looking at what tourists can do in this sector after visiting any of the gorilla families for 1 hour.
Activities to do in Ruhija after gorilla trekking
Bird watching
Ruhija is one of the best birding sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The impenetrable forest of Bwindi harbors over 350 bird species most of which can be seen in Ruhija. By using different nature walks/birding trails, avid birders will be able to spot as many bird species as they can depend on how much time they have for the activity.
Shelly’s crimsonwing, regal sunbird, oriole finch, pin tailed whydah, grey crowned crane, blue spotted wood dove, blue-headed sunbird, great blue turaco, marsh tchagra, grey wagtail, black bee-eater, sooty falcon, little grebe, zebra waxbill, chapin’s flycatcher, mountain wagtail, red knobbed coot, black swift, magpie manikin, waller’s starling, helmeted guinea fowl, papyrus canary, green hylia, die derik cuckoo, forest robin.
Stripe breasted tit, cattle egret, white-winged tit, grosbeak weaver, dwarf honeyguide, buff spotted woodpecker, palm nut vulture, ayres hawk eagle, banded prinia, black crake, red-capped robin chat, western nectar, ross’s turaco, African hawk eagle, horus swift, little grebe, klaas’s cuckoo, crested guinea fowl, green crombec, mountain yellow warbler, and luhder’s bush-shrike to mention but a few.
Nature walks
The nature walks in Ruhija sector of Bwindi will give you an opportunity to get so close to nature. This will enable you to explore the different attractions of the park at a close distance. With nature walks in Ruhija, tourists use different trails based on what they want to see. The most used trails are Mubwindi Swamp and the bamboo trail.
While doing nature walks in Ruhija, you will be able to encounter some of the park animals of the park which include chimpanzees, blue monkeys, olive baboons, side-stripped jackals, forest elephants, and giant forest hogs among others. Tourists interested in seeing birds will also be able to see a number of them in the different vegetation covers.
Community tours
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is one of the national parks in Uganda with the best community tours. The park used to be home to the Batwa pygmies but in 1993 when it was being gazetted they were asked to move out. This forced them to settle around the park boundaries and that’s where tourists can meet them.
During the cultural tours, tourists are taken to the homes of the Batwa and here they meet the members. The elders tell stories of how they used to live in the jungle and survive alongside animals. From here you will know how they used bows and arrows to kill the animals and how they used to make fire and cook. A group of dancers will entertain you through dance and drama.
When to go to Ruhija for gorilla trekking
Ruhija is open for gorilla trekking all throughout the year but tourists who are looking at the best time need to visit during the dry season. This is a period when the park is receiving little rainfall and plenty of sunshine. Trekkers will find the trekking trails dry and easier to move through which makes it easy to locate the gorillas. The vegetation is short and scattered which allows trekkers to have a clear view of the attractions and then the roads to the park are in good condition.
Tourists can still go gorilla trekking in Ruhija during the rainy season which occurs from March to May and October to November. During this period, a few tourists visit the park because of the plenty of rainfall. Budget travelers are many during this time because the tour packages are low. Tourists intending to visit Ruhija in the rainy season might find the trekking trails slippery and vegetation will be tall with unclear views of attractions.
Accessing Ruhija Gorilla Trekking Sector
Accessing Ruhija Gorilla Trekking Sector by flight Tourists from Entebbe/Kampala can get to Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park using air transport or road transport. Air transport is the quickest but comes at a very high fee. There are flights to Kihihi Airstrip from Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip to enable luxury travelers to access the park on time in a luxury style.
Accessing Ruhija Gorilla Trekking Sector by Road transport is the most common way tourists move to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. From Entebbe/Kampala, tourists go through Mpigi, Masaka, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Ntungamo, and Kabale where they branch off to Ruhija sector. The journey is very long and tourists should always be ready for a 9 to 10 hour’s drive.
Where to stay on a safari to Ruhija
Ruhija sector of Bwindi has many options for lodges to stay at while on a safari. The sector has luxury, mid-range, and budget accommodation options that tourists can use if they want to stay for a night or more in the park. Accommodation options include Bakiga Lodge, Trekkers Tavern Cottages, Broadbill Forest Camp, Ruhija Gorilla Guest House, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, and Gorilla Mist Lodge to mention but a few.
