Ruhija sector of Bwindi
Ruhija is one of the four sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to include Rushaga sector, Nkuringo sector, Buhoma sector a home to mountain gorillas. Bwindi was gazetted in 1993 to protect endangered mountain gorillas and it was later divided into 4 sectors all harboring mountain gorillas among which include Ruhija. The Ruhija sector is located on the northern side of the park next to Buhoma sector.
The Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park arbors endangered mountain gorillas and so far 5 groups have been habituated and open for park visits. The sector has gorilla families such as Oruzogo, Mukiza, Kyagulira A, Kyagulira B, and Bitakura. All of these mountain gorilla families are fully habituated and tourists can go gorilla trekking at any time of the year.
Ruhija sector is not only home to endangered mountain gorillas but also birds, mammals, primates, and different vegetation species. During a visit to the sector before or after trekking gorilla tourists can participate in other activities such as nature walks, birding, and community tours to see different attractions in and around the park.
Activities to do in Ruhija sector
Gorilla trekking in Ruhija sector of Bwindi
The top activity in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is mountain gorilla trekking where tourists visit the jungle to spend time with the endangered mountain gorillas. The sector currently has 5 mountain gorilla families that are fully habituated and open for tourists to visit every day. To see mountain gorillas in this sector, tourists must have a gorilla permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Trekkers for the day in Ruhija visit the sector headquarters where they get briefed about the rules and regulations of the activity. Each mountain gorilla family is trekked by 8 people who are led by armed ranger guides. Searching and locating a mountain gorilla family may take 2 to 4 hours and during the search, trekkers get to meet different attractions of the park.
When a mountain gorilla family is located, trekkers are given 1 hour to be around the members. Trekkers get to learn about the gorilla habitats, watch them carry out different activities of the day and they get an opportunity to take photos and record videos. Being around mountain gorillas comes with a wonderful experience and when the time is done, trekkers must move away from the group to let the members continue with the day.
Bird watching in Ruhija sector of Bwindi
Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is one of the best to have bird watching. The region has the best bird watching spots in Ruhija sector that enable birders to encounter some of the birds of Bwindi. Bwindi is said to be home to 350 bird species and with a well-experienced birder guide, one is able to see more than half of these species if they have enough time within the park.
Ruhija bird watching comes with an opportunity of spotting bird species such as Great blue turaco, eastern yellow billed barbet, chestnut throated apalis, African wood owl, African Cuckoo Hawk, African dusky flycatcher, scarlet chested sunbird, black bee-eater, yellow streaked greenbul, lunder’s bushshrike, stripe breasted tit, slender billed greenbul, grey cuckooshrike, red-faced woodland warbler, collared sunbird, western citril.
Regal sunbird, chinspot batis, white-tailed blue flycatcher, rameron pigeon, cinnamon chested bee-eater, dusky blue flycatcher, variable sunbird, black billed turaco, banded prinia, grauer’s warbler, black sawing, grey throated barbet, black-faced apalis, dusky crownsonwing, mountain illadopsis, Rwenzori turaco, yellow whiskered greenbul, golden breasted bunting, klaas’s cuckoo, strange weaver, and pied crow among others.
Batwa community tour
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park was home to the Batwa pygmies until the government decided to gazette the area as a national park. On a safari to the park, tourists can always take a visit to some of the communities around the sector where they can get a chance to interact with the Batwa. They will tell stories of long ago and how they survived in the jungle alongside wild animals. They do have traditional dancers who entertain the guests through dances and drama at the end of the visit.
When to visit Ruhija sector of Bwindi
Ruhija sector can be visited all throughout the year but tourists looking at the best time need to visit during the dry season. June to September and December to February are the best times to visit the sector for there is little rainfall and plenty of sunshine. Tourists will find the trekking trails dry and easier to walk through, the vegetation will be short and scattered with good views of wildlife, and roads to the sector will be in good condition.
The rainy season March to May and October to November are not the best times to go to Ruhija but tourists who will travel during that period will get discounted tour packages. The lodges and tour companies reduce prices to attract a few travelers who are planning to visit. The rainy season is not the best because of the muddy and slippery trekking trails, tall vegetation cover, and poor roads.
