Buhoma opened to gorilla tourism in 1993 with the Mubare group, and it is still the sector most first-time visitors trek from. It sits at the northern tip of the park at about 1,500 m, low enough to be warm and green, with a working village, a good clutch of lodges and a community that has been part of gorilla conservation for thirty years.
The gorilla families
Four habituated families trek from Buhoma: Mubare, the original group; Habinyanja; Rushegura, which often wanders through the lodge gardens; and Katwe. Rushegura is the reason Buhoma has a reputation for occasionally very short treks — the family has a habit of feeding within earshot of the village.
Trekking conditions
Two to five hours round trip is typical, on paths that have been walked for three decades and are correspondingly well defined. It is steep in places, as everywhere in Bwindi, but this is the gentlest of the four sectors and the one we recommend for first-timers, mixed-ability groups and anyone nervous about the walk. Porters wait at the briefing point; take one.
Getting there
- From Queen Elizabeth National Park: 3–4 hours through the Ishasha sector, where the tree-climbing lions are. This is the classic Uganda safari routing.
- By air: Entebbe to Kihihi airstrip, 1 hour 15, then about 1 hour by road. The fastest way in.
- From Entebbe by road: 9–10 hours.
- From Kigali: 6–7 hours via Katuna.
Where to stay in Buhoma
Buhoma has the widest choice in the park, from the community-run Buhoma Community Rest Camp — whose profits fund the local health centre — through mid-range lodges like Engagi Lodge and Silverback Lodge, to the top-end Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Bwindi Lodge and Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, which is inside the park boundary. See our lodge guide for the differences that matter.
What else to do
- The Batwa cultural experience, led by Batwa guides who lived in this forest before 1991.
- Buhoma village walk — a banana-beer still, a traditional healer, a school, and the Ride 4 a Woman weaving and craft centre.
- The Munyaga River and Waterfall trails, both half-day forest walks with a good chance of red-tailed monkeys and forest birds.
- Ishasha on the way in or out, for lions in fig trees.
Buhoma or Rushaga?
If you are arriving from Queen Elizabeth National Park on a longer Uganda safari, Buhoma. If you are flying into Kigali on a short trip, Rushaga. Both give you the same hour with the same species; the difference is the drive and the lodge list.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Which gorilla families trek from Buhoma?
Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura and Katwe. Mubare was the first family in Uganda opened to tourism, in 1993.
Is Buhoma the easiest sector to trek?
Generally, yes. It sits lower than Ruhija, the paths are well established after three decades of use, and treks commonly run two to four hours. Any sector can produce a long day, but Buhoma is the one we suggest for less confident walkers.
How do I get from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Buhoma?
Three to four hours by road through the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions. It is the standard routing on a longer Uganda safari.
Next
Keep planning
- All four Bwindi sectors — compared side by side
- Permits and costs — US$800 and what it covers
- Bwindi lodges — including lodges in this sector
- 3-day Bwindi safari — trek from any sector
Enquire
Start planning your gorilla trek
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