Different Gates for Trekking in Bwindi

Different Gates for Trekking in Bwindi :  Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is divided into four gorilla trekking sectors namely Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Buhoma sectors. Each of these sectors has a main entrance gate used by visitors as listed and detailed below.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of UNESCO’S Heritage Site in Africa best known for its mountain gorilla population and the adventurous gorilla trekking safaris. The park occupies the size of about 321 square meters extending over a broad altitudinal range of 1447 m above the sea level, this range enables habitats ranging from lowland forest to Afromontane vegetation.

Buhoma Entrance Gate

The Buhoma Entrance Gate is the most popular entry to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and is the main entrance to Buhoma Sector, the oldest sector in Bwindi found in the northwestern part of the park in Kanungu district.

Buhoma Entrance Gate is situated approximately 540 kilometers from Kampala – the capital of Uganda and the starting point to most travelers to Bwindi for gorilla safaris, it is also about 8 hours drive or one and a half hour flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip.

Buhoma Sector is the first gorilla trekking sector to be opened in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, so it is the most famous gorilla trekking point in Uganda and the world at large. Buhoma Sector also known as Buhoma gorilla trekking sector hosts the oldest habituated gorilla family in Bwindi known as the “Mubara Gorilla Family” which was the first gorilla family to be visited by the first team of tourists on gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi.

Buhoma Entrance Gate is the closest entry point to Queen Elizabeth National Park and is about a 2-hour drive, it is also close to the Southern Ishasha Sector which is popularly known for the rare tree-climbing lions.

How to Get to Buhoma Entrance Gate

Travelers can get to Buhoma Entrance Gate of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park either by road or by air.

By Road – Buhoma Entrance gate is the easiest entry gate to access as compared to other entry points to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the gate is located in the northwestern part of the park in Kanungu district which is about 540 kilometers from Kampala – drive of above 8-9 hours.

By Air: it is possible to fly to Bwindi’s Buhoma Entrance Gate by a domestic flight from either Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip, it is a one and half hour’s flight to Kihihi Airstrip which serves all visitors to Buhoma Sector. These flights are offered by several flight companies including Aerolink and Bar Aviation.

Ruhija Entrance Gate

The Ruhija Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the eastern section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the newest district of Rubanda, this sector is easily accessible from Kigali City of Rwanda via the Cyanika or Kyanika border.

From Kigali – Rwanda, it is a drive of about 4- 5 hours.

From Entebbe International Airport or Kampala, you can use either road or air to get to Ruhija Entrance Gate.

By road – it is a drive of approximately 9 to 10 hours

By Air – there are domestic flights from Kajjansi Airstrip or Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi Airport.

Ruhija Sector is situated close to the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi which makes it easy for visitors to retire to the beautiful lake after the adventurous gorilla trekking adventure.

Rushaga Entrance Gate

Rushaga Entrance Gate is the main entrance gate to Rushaga Gorilla Trekking Sector, the gate is located in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the district of Kisoro. From Kampala, it is approximately 9-10 hours of drive to Rushaga Entrance Gate.

Rushaga Entrance Sector is also easy to access from Kigali, Rwanda via the Kyanika / Cyanika border post. From Kigali it is a drive of 4-5 hours to Rushaga.

Rushaga Sector also known as Rushaga Gorilla Trekking Sector is a popular gorilla trekking sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for so many reasons such as hosting many families open for gorilla trekking. The sector is home to more than 7 families, easily accessed from Kigali, Rwanda and is situated close to Nkuringo Sector. It is possible to spend a night in the Rushaga area and trek gorillas at the Nkuringo Sector.

Nshongi Gorilla Family is the largest group ever habituated in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and was officially launched in September 2009, it was named after the river Nshongi which is situated close to the place where the gorilla family was first sighted. One of the interesting and most remarkable fact about this group is that it is led by Nshongi who is not even the oldest silverback in the family. Other notable gorilla family found in Rushaga Sector include Mishaya Gorilla Family, Kahungye Gorilla Family, Busingye Gorilla Family and Bweza Gorilla Family.

How to Get to Rushaga Entrance Gate

Travelers can get to Rushaga Entrance Gate by either Road or Air.

By road: Rushaga Sector can easily be accessed from Kampala or Kigali City, from Kampala it is a drive of approximately 9-10 hours of drive. From Kigali City, it is a drive of approximately 4-5 hours through Cyanika Border.

By Air: there are domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip to Kisoro Airport. Flight companies Aerolink and Bar Aviation operate daily flights from Rushaga Sector.

Nkuringo Entrance Gate

Nkuringo Entrance Gate is the main entrance access point to Nkuringo Sector in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. From Kabale Town, it is a distance of about 105 kilometers and this drive takes 4 hours on a mountainous marram road. From Kampala – the capital of Uganda, it is a drive of approximately 8-9 hours.

Nkuringo Sector a famous gorilla trekking sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for sheltering one of the most popular dominant silverbacks in Bwindi – Rafiki who died at the hands of poacjers during the June 2020 pandemic lockdown.

Nkuringo Sector was the second sector to be established in 2004, a decade after opening the Buhoma Sector found in the northern region of the park. after Buhoma, Nkuringo is the second most popular sector of Bwindi among tourists. Also, Nkuringo has some of the most challenging to reach and most entertaining gorilla groups in Uganda.

Nkuringo Gorilla Trekking Sector hosts four gorilla families with three open for gorilla trekking and one which is still under habituation, these families include Nkuringo Gorilla Family, Bushaho Gorilla Family, Christmas Gorilla Family and Posho Gorilla Family (Under Habituation).

How to Get to Nkuringo Entrance Gate

Nkuringo Entrance Gate can be accessed by either road or air.

By Air- this is the quickest way to get to Nkuringo Sector from either Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip, it is an hour’s flight to Kisoro Airstrip. The alternative airstrip to use is Kihihi Airstrip which is a four – hour drive.

By Road – from Kampala, it is a journey of 500 kilometers about 8-9 hours of drive to Nkuringo Sector via Masaka – Mbarara – Kabale to Nkuringo. Then from Kabale town, it lasts about 3 hours’ drive.