How to get to Buhoma Gorilla Sector by Road? Best Route to Take

You can reach the Buhoma Gorilla Sector in the northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by road. We at Standard Safaris on top of offering the best tour packages, also offer transportation services to any safari destination in the country and beyond. This can be done in either Entebbe, Kampala, Rwanda, and others. Upon arrival, our experienced and professional driver can pick you up and drive you to Buhoma. Buhoma gorilla sector being in a remote place will require a 4X4 safari car to have a seamless travel experience by road. A reputable tour operator like Standard Safaris offers car hire services to Buhoma, depending on your preference and budget.

There are various routes you can use to reach the Buhoma Gorilla Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a tour. From Kampala to Kihihi it is about 440 kilometers via Mbarara, Ntungamo, Rukunjiri, and Kihihi. This takes about 8-9 hours to Buhoma and reaching there will be on a dirt road. Another route is via Kigali-Buhoma where the road trip crosses through the Gatuna-Kabale border or the Cyanika-Kisoro border. This is a 5-6-hour road trip that covers a total distance of roughly 223 kilometers.

For visitors who are on a tour of Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can reach Buhoma via the Kasese, Ishasha, and Buhoma routes. This is about 62 kilometers from the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This route will take a duration of 1.5-2 hours. From Entebbe, you can also pass via Kampala, Kabale, Kanungu, and Buhoma which is 533 kilometers long from the airport. This route will take 10-11 hours. Another route from Entebbe International Airport to Buhoma is via Kampala, Kabale, Ruhija, and Buhoma. This is about 558 kilometers from Entebbe and will take 11-12 hours.

An alternative way to get to the Buhoma Gorilla Sector

Air transportation is the alternative way of reaching the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is a faster and more convenient way for travelers with a limited time in Uganda but wish to explore Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, particularly in the Buhoma Gorilla Sector. You will have to book a scheduled flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi airstrip since it is the nearest to the Buhoma Gorilla Sector. This flight will take 1.5 to almost 2 hours. Aerolink offers scheduled or chartered flights from Entebbe and you need to book in advance. After arriving in Kihihi, you will travel by road for 44 kilometers to Buhoma Gorilla Sector. This is about an hour’s drive for you to reach your destination. There is no air transportation option from Rwanda to the Buhoma Gorilla Sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

What to do in the Buhoma Gorilla Sector

Gorilla trekking tour

This is the most popular tourist activity in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in general and the Buhoma Gorilla Sector in particular. A gorilla trekking tour in this sector provides a chance to encounter a habituated group of endangered mountain gorillas. At the moment, the Buhoma sector has four habituated families, including Mubare, Habimanya, Katwe, and Rushegura. A maximum of 8 visitors are allowed to trek one of the families each day and you will need a gorilla permit to locate and spend an hour with them.

Birdwatching

With over 300 bird species in the luxurious Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the Buhoma Gorilla Sector is among the best sites to spot these mostly flying creatures on a guided birding tour. For 3-4 hours, you will have a delightful time moving through the Buhoma sector to look for these bird species. Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batis, short-tailed warbler, and the African green broadbill among other birds have made Buhoma their home. There are several trails to move on while on a birdwatching tour. These include the Buhoma waterfall trail, the Ivy River trail, and the Kashasha River trail.

Nature walks or forest walks.

With a variety of trails to walk through and experience the distinct fresh atmosphere of Bwindi, you will enjoy a nature walk. This guided nature walk will ensure that you explore the flora and fauna in the Buhoma Gorilla Sector. Besides the previously mentioned trails, you can also be guided on the Munyanga waterfall trail, Rushura trail, and Muzubijiro loop trail. These trails place you in a much better position to have an improved view of the volcanoes, Rwenzori mountains, waterfalls, birds, mammals, and flora among others.

Biking tours

The Buhoma sector is where you can also enjoy biking tours. These bike tours start at the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park headquarters to the Ivy River. The Ivy cycling trails are accompanied by expert ranger guides who also offer security while you explore the site with the hope of encountering wild mammals and birds.

Packing List for Buhoma Gorilla Sector Tour

Rain jacket
Light clothes
Hiking shoes or boots
Warm sweater
Head sock
A pair of hand gloves
Refillable water bottle
Sunglasses
Wide-brimmed hat
Sunscreen
Bug repellent
Camera and binoculars
Basic first aid kit
Gorilla permit for gorilla trekking

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.

I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.

If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.

The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.

The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.

The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.

The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.

I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.

We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.

Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.
The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.
Game drive security is assured.
Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.
Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.
The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.
It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.
I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.
My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.
I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.

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