Gorilla trekking in Ruhija from Kigali, Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is doable from Kigali in Rwanda. Ruhija sector offers unmatched gorilla trekking tours to anyone traveling from Kigali and the rest of the world. Ruhija is one of the 4 sectors where gorilla trekking occurs from Kigali, Rwanda. The other 3 sectors include Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Buhoma. From Kigali, Ruhija is the closest sector if you need to do a gorilla trekking tour in Bwindi.

What is the distance of the Ruhija sector from Kigali, Rwanda?

Driving from Kigali city in Rwanda to Ruhija sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park covers a distance of roughly 155.4 km. During this journey, you will enter Uganda through the Katuna border and the Kabale district. The time you will take to complete this journey is almost 4 hours. The road trip from Kigali to the Ruhija sector is so scenic, offering views of the hilly countryside and the people living there.

Alternative way of reaching the Ruhija sector by road?

Ruhija sector can also be reached by road from Kampala in Uganda. Approximately 457 km will be covered on a road trip that takes 9-10 hours through Masaka, Mbarara, and Kabale. This is a much longer journey compared to starting from Kigali. However, you can choose to use air transport from Entebbe International Airport. This is a 1-hour and 15-minute trip from Entebbe to the nearest airstrip, Kisoro. AeroLink offers the flights.

How many habituated gorilla families are living in the Ruhija sector?

There are at least 4 gorilla families that have been habituated and now live in the Ruhija tourism sector. Oruzogo is one of the habituated gorilla families. This group consists of 11 members and is led by a dominant silverback known as Kaganga. Bitukura is the second habituated gorilla family living in the Ruhija sector. Bitukura is led by the silverback Mugisha, with a family consisting of 13 individuals.

The third habituated gorilla family you can find in the Ruhija tourism sector is known as Kyaguriro. This family is under the leadership of the dominant silverback Musoni. 6 mountain gorillas make up the family. The fourth habituated gorilla family living in the Ruhija tourism sector is known as Mukiza. At least 19 individuals make up the Mukiza gorilla family under the leadership of silverback Mukiza.

How is gorilla trekking done in the Ruhija sector from Kigali, Rwanda?

Only 8 people are allowed in the Ruhija sector to trek a habituated gorilla family each day. Each gorilla trek starts with a briefing held by a park representative. This is the moment the visitors are informed about safe gorilla trekking. An experienced tracker and armed rangers will then lead the visitors into the forest to locate a habituated gorilla family. Once the gorilla family is found, an hour is offered for the visitors to observe the mountain gorillas.

Requirements of doing a gorilla trek in the Ruhija sector from Kigali, Rwanda?

A gorilla trekking permit! This is a document issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority to help you enter a gorilla destination for a gorilla trek. The gorilla trekking permit costs only $800 per person. Acquiring the gorilla permit outside Uganda is best done through Standard Safaris, a registered tour operator. Another important factor is that you should be at least 15 years old to get a gorilla trekking permit and enjoy the adventure.

Best time to go for a gorilla trek in Ruhija from Kigali?

The dry season is the best time! Gorilla trekking is more exciting when the gorilla trails are passable. Dry seasons are characterized by low rainfall amounts, which results in drier trails that reduce slipping. Dry seasons also have the benefit of reduced vegetation cover, thus offering clear views of the mountain gorillas in the forest. The dry season in the Ruhija sector is experienced from June to August and from December to February.

What else to do in Ruhija from Kigali, Rwanda?

While planning for your gorilla trekking in Ruhija from Kigali, Rwanda, make your experience even better with the following activities,

Birdwatching,

With over 357 bird species found throughout Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Ruhija is among the best sites to look for them. Along the bamboo trail and Mubwindi swamp trail, you will identify a lot of birds, including Albertine Rift endemic species. Some of the bird species you will find here include the Ruwenzori turaco, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, regal sunbird, and the rare African broadbill, etc.

Nature walk

This is among the most exciting activities in the Ruhija sector, while on a gorilla trek from Kigali, Rwanda. Besides the scenic Mubwindi swamp, you will witness some of the 200 species of trees found in this tropical rainforest. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is also blessed with over 120 mammal species. Encountering them is very delightful. You may see the olive baboon, chimpanzee, L’hoest’s monkey, bush pig, and the bush elephant among others.

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.