Flying to Kihihi to trek mountain gorillas of Buhoma
Flying to Kihihi to trek mountain gorillas of Buhoma: Gorilla trekking in Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park takes you to the oldest sector of the park. Buhoma was the first sector to have mountain gorilla trekking take place early in the 1990s. When the park was gazetted in 1993, the first mountain gorilla family started taking its habituation process. Mubare gorilla family was the first to be habituated in the park and it was open for trekking activities.
Buhoma sector is located on the northern side of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park where it harbors six mountain gorilla families. Mubare is the oldest family in the park and it lives within this sector together with other families like Mayambi, Katwe, Rushengura, Binyindo, and Habinyanja.
Luxury travelers who would to fly to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and trek the mountain gorillas of Buhoma this is for you. Buhoma being in the northern sector of the park is close to Kihihi Airstrip. This is where tourists fly and later drive for a short distance to any of the lodges in that sector for a night or more before gorilla trekking which starts early in the morning.
In Uganda, we have different airline companies that fly tourists to any destination within the country. Aerolink Uganda, Bar Aviation Uganda, and Kampala Executive Aviation are some of the airline companies that can help tourists to fly to Buhoma sector of Bwindi. Flights are from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi Airstrip every day.
Flying to Kihihi airstrip to trek the mountain gorilla of Buhoma requires tourists to make advance bookings. Flights seats should be booked early enough and also the mountain gorillas for a successful safari to Buhoma sector. Booking this safari should be done 3 to 4 months in advance to avoid last minute bookings, especially for mountain gorilla permits which sell out quickly in the high season.
When is the best time for this gorilla safari?
A gorilla safari to Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park using Kihihi Airstrip can be done at any time of the year. The driest months of the year are the best to have this safari when the park is receiving little or no rainfall and plenty of sunshine. June to September and December to February are the best times to have this safari.
Tourists who will fly to Kihihi for their gorilla safaris in Buhoma will find the roads connecting to the lodge and park in good condition. The trekking trails will be dry and passable will eases locating the mountain gorillas. The vegetation within the jungle will be short and scattered which gives the best views of mountain gorillas and photography.
Tourists who still find time during the rainy season can fly to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and trek the mountain gorillas of Buhoma. Those coming should know that there is plenty of rainfall within the park and so the roads connecting the lodge and park headquarters can be in poor condition. The trekking rails tend to be muddy and slippery which affects the searching time for mountain gorillas and the vegetation is tall giving unclear views of gorillas.
Gorilla trekking in Buhoma sector of Bwindi
Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has 7 mountain gorilla families available to trek on each day. On the day of searching gorillas, the trekkers are driven to the sector headquarters where they meet rangers who brief all the trekkers for the day about the rules and regulations of the activity. After the briefing is done, trekkers are grouped not exceeding 8 people and given armed ranger guides to lead them into the jungle.
Trekkers are driven to the starting points of the trek by their drivers and left to head into the jungle with armed ranger guides. Inside the jungle, different trekking trails are used to search for where the assigned mountain gorilla family could be. Locating a mountain gorilla family has no specific time but it may take 2 to 5 hours depending on the location, the nature of the trekking trails, and the speed of the trekkers.
When the mountain gorilla family is located, trekkers are given 1 hour to be around the members and this time allows them to learn about the gorilla habits, watch the members do daily activities, take photos, and record videos. Once gorilla trekking is done, trekkers move away from the mountain gorilla family leaving the members to continue with their day.
Where to stay on a flying safari to Buhoma?
Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has several accommodation facilities of mid-range and luxury facilities where tourists can stay on their gorilla flying safari. These lodges are within a short distance to the park headquarters and they include Bwindi Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Engagi Lodge, and Silverback Lodge to mention but a few.
