Activities to do in Ruhija after Gorilla Trekking

Ruhija sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the renowned areas where mountain gorillas can be seen. Ruhija is located on the eastern part of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Part of the mountain gorillas in Bwindi reside in the Ruhija sector, where four gorilla groups have developed a strong aversion to humans. Activities to do in Ruhija after gorilla trekking include birdwatching, nature walks, Batwa community visit. In the Ruhija region, one might come across the gorilla families like Kyaguliro, Mukiza, Orugozo and Bitukura.

A gorilla permit is required to see the mountain gorilla families mentioned above. For the same price, Ruhija’s gorilla permit can be obtained directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority or from a reputable local tour operator.

What is the Cost of a gorilla trekking permit?

For non-foreign residents, gorilla permits in the Ruhija area cost $800; for foreign residents, they cost $700; and for East African citizens, they cost UGX 300,000. To show rangers that you are authorised to spend time with the mountain gorillas, you must present them with your gorilla permits. You will accompany them to the briefing offices on the day of the trek for a briefing about the rules and regulations and receive permission to walk with the mountain gorillas. Armed ranger guides conduct the walk, and the activity begins with a briefing at the sector offices. It may require two to seven hours of encounters with various park species, primates, and birds before you find the mountain gorillas in Ruhija. After tracking down the gorilla family, trekkers have an hour to be with them, see them going about their everyday lives, take photographs, and discover more about their way of life. Travellers can participate in the following activities after hiking with the mountain gorillas in the Ruhija sector.

Batwa Community visit

You should not skip visiting the Batwa community visit after going on a mountain gorilla trek in Ruhija. Local guides will lead you around the park’s perimeter during your Batwa tour, sharing with you tales of their former way of life in the forest, including gathering food and using plants as medicine. The Batwa cultural excursion takes you to communities of Batwa people where you can interact with traditional healers who continue to employ herbs as medicine, traditional dancers, and elders who share stories from long ago. You will participate in certain community activities, including gardening and food preparation, in addition to seeing people going about their daily lives.

Nature walks- Activities to do in Ruhija after gorilla trekking

Nature walks are one of the activities to do in Ruhija after gorilla trekking. If you want to discover the various sites in the Ruhija sector, it’s a must-do activity. Travellers can observe a variety of park animals on the nature walks in the Ruhija sector, including buffaloes, bushpigs, duikers, giant forest hogs, jackals, bats, and birds like the tit hylia, regal sunbird, Rwenzori batis, African green broadbill, African paradise flycatcher, dwarf honeyguide, Rwenzori batis, and Kivu ground thrush.

Birdwatching- Activities to do in Ruhija after gorilla trekking

In the Ruhija sector, birdwatching is a fantastic activity to combine with mountain gorilla hiking. The armed rangers who conduct the birders through the several birding trails inside the region oversee the activities. Bird species including the blue-headed sunbird, African pygmy kingfisher, African green broadbill, dwarf honeyguide, Rwenzori batis, African paradise flycatcher, Kivu ground thrush, grey-throated barbet, regal sunbird, tit hylia, crowned hornbill, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, olive-breasted greenbul, western green tinkerbird, and Nuemann’s warbler can all be seen during your birding trip in the Ruhija sector.

Best time to visit Ruhija sector in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Although you can visit the Ruhija region year-round, some periods of the year are better than others. The best times to visit the Ruhija sector are during the dry months, which fall between June and September and December and February. They are distinguished by sparse, dispersed vegetation that affords good views of the sector animals; little to no rainfall, which leaves the trekking trails dry; and passable roads that lead to the park.

Driving from Kampala to Kabale via Masaka and Mbarara is an option for individuals who do not mind long-distance travel or who prefer to be in cars. It takes nine to ten hours to get from there to the Ruhija Sector. By visiting Uganda at the Katuna border in Kabale, travellers from Kigali can reach the Ruhija area.

Travellers, especially those on a tight budget, can take advantage of significant savings on lodging by visiting Bwindi’s Ruhija area between March and May and October and November, when it rains. Unfortunately, the rainy season brings excessive amounts of rain, muddy and slippery trekking trails, dense vegetation that obscures views of the park’s animals, and poorly maintained roads that access the area.

How to get to Ruhija sector

There are two ways to get to the Ruhija Sector: by plane or by vehicle. With Bar Aviation, Aerolink Uganda, or Uganda Airlines, affluent passengers can reach the Ruhija sector in two hours from Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro airstrip. In a few hours, you will be transported from the airstrip to the Ruhija Sector while taking in the scenery along the way and getting to know the locals.

Accommodation in Ruhija

When taking a gorilla tour in Bwindi, tourists can stay in a variety of lodging options in Ruhija. Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Bakiga Lodge, Broadbill Forest Camp, Agandi Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Cuckoo Land Tented Lodge and Trekkers Tavern are just a few of the affordable, mid-range, and luxury lodging options available in Ruhija.

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Activities to do in Ruhija after Gorilla Trekking