Located in the north of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Buhoma is the oldest and most popular of all four gorilla trekking sectors. The Buhoma sector was the first to host a gorilla tracking group when it opened for trekking in 1993. The Mubare gorilla family was the first family to be habituated and opened for tracking. Other gorilla families in this sector are Habinyanja, Rushegura, and the recently introduced Katwe group.
Situated in the northern part of Bwindi in Kanungu district, it is the park’s most visited sector compared to the other three sectors. This can be attributed to a few factors:
- The ease of access to Buhoma from Kabale and Kihiihi airstrips. Buhoma is also nearer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, specifically the Ishasha sector, home to the famous tree-climbing lions.
- Buhoma sector offers more choices of accommodation compared to other sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Lodges available include Buhoma Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Mahogany Springs, Engagi Lodge, Bwindi Volcano Lodge, and Silverback Lodge, while those seeking a camp experience can opt for Buhoma Community Rest Camp.
- Being the first sector where gorilla tracking started, Buhoma attracts several projects that visitors can engage in, including gorilla habituation experiences, community empowerment programs, women’s programs, cycling, nature/forest walks, birding, and more.
The sector is home to four fully habituated gorilla families:
- Mubare gorilla family: Also known as the M-group, it was the first gorilla group ever habituated in Uganda in 1991. It was first tracked by visitors in 1993. The group derives its name from the magnificent Mubare hills where the group was first sighted. Initially with 12 members, the family dropped to five after the death of Ruhondeza, but with the rise of Kanyonyi, the group has steadily increased to 9 members.
- Habinyanja Gorilla family: Known as Group H, this family has a fascinating story. It was initially led by Mugurusi (loosely translated as Old Man) during its habituation. After Mugurusi’s death, the family was led by his two sons, Rwansigazi and Mwirima.In 2002, Mwirima split from his brother Rwansigazi to form the Rushegura family, as Mwirima preferred to stay in the same area while Rwansigazi loved exploring distant places.Makara is now the leading Silverback, succeeding his father Rwansigazi after his demise. Other members include Maraya (the blackback), Nyabuche, Nyamuhango, Binyonko, Rukundo, Kisho, Rugyendo (adult females), Kavuyo (sub-adult male), and Ruyombo (sub-adult female). Malaika, Elisa, and Hamusini are juveniles.
- Rushegura gorilla family: Also known as the R-group, Rushegura is one of the largest gorilla families with up to 21 members, including one silverback, five adult females, one blackback, six juveniles, two sub-adults, and six infants. This family was first habituated in 2000, receiving its first visitors in 2002. Tracking this group usually takes less time as its members tend to stay near the park headquarters. However, they also roam as far as the Bwindi park boundary, allowing visitors to camp or stay nearby for tracking the following morning. For tourists interested in shorter treks, the Rushegura gorilla family is perfect, as it can be tracked in less than five hours.
- Katwe family: This is the newest addition to the gorilla family profile of the Buhoma sector. Established in the summer of 2018 after successful habituation by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Katwe family comprises 7 members, including one silverback (Silverback Katwe), four adult females, three blackbacks, and two infants. The exact number of members in the Katwe family is still uncertain as new members occasionally join and leave the group.
Other activities you can do in Buhoma include:
In addition to gorilla trekking in the Buhoma sector, a variety of attractions and activities are available for visitors. These include community walks to adjacent communities of the Bakiga and Batwa, providing insight into the way these Batwa lived in the forest before resettlement to facilitate the conservation of mountain gorillas. Visitors can participate in activities such as preparing local food, digging, brewing local beer, fruit collecting, and more.
Being a birder’s haven, avid birders find Bwindi an interesting destination. Over 348 bird species are recorded within Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, with 23 confined to the Albertine Rift, such as the Short-tailed Warbler, Blue-headed Sunbird, and common birds like the Dark-caped Bulbul, African Emerald Cuckoo, among others.
Accessing Buhoma Sector
Buhoma is a full day’s drive from Entebbe or Kampala, two hours’ drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha Sector), and six hours’ drive from Lake Mburo National Park. Two daily scheduled flights land at the nearby Kihiihi airstrip, approximately one hour and thirty minutes’ drive to Buhoma depending on road conditions.
In general, gorilla trekking in the Buhoma sector is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you can have in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Easy access, cozy lodges, a variety of activities, and all other amenities make Buhoma one of the best sectors to track gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
