Buhoma sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the best region for gorilla trekking experience. The park is located in south western Uganda in Kanungu district and its part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest located along Democratic Republic of Congo next to Virunga National Park on the Albertine Rift edge.

Buhoma sector is situated in the northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National park. This sector is located in Kanungu district and is the most amazing and easiest sector for gorilla trekking and other top tourist activities, the good this about Buhoma sector is that it’s a home of the first gorilla family to be habituated and trekked first in Bwindi Impenetrable National park and it’s called Mubare gorilla family.

Gorilla families in Buhoma sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are the following.

Rushegura Gorilla Family

This is a big gorilla family in Buhoma sector with 15 gorilla individuals consisting of 4 black back, 3 juveniles, 4 adult females, 4 infants and these are under the leadership of Alpha Kabukojo. This family was habituated in 2000 and they received the first trekker in 2002 after splitting from Habinyanja Gorilla Family and it takes 3-5 hours to trek Rushegura Gorilla Family.

Mubare Gorilla Family

Mubare Gorilla Family is the first and oldest habituated gorilla family in Buhoma sector, this is one of the most interesting sectors in Buhoma family with 8 gorilla individuals which include 1 silverback, one adult male, 1 black back, 2 juveniles, 1 adult male and these are under the leadership of a dominant Alpha Ruhondeza. Mubare gorilla family was started in 1991 and the first trekking was received in 1993.

Habinyanja Gorilla Family

This is an amazing family with 17 members made up of 1 silverback. The name Habinyanja is derived from a Rukiga word Nyanja meaning a place of water and this refers to a place where its members were first spotted during the habituation process which started in 1997 and then ended in 1999. Trekking Habinyanja Gorilla Family takes you 5 hours or even a whole day of trekking.

Activities done in Buhoma sector

Mountain gorilla trekking

Mountain gorilla trekking is the most done activity done in Buhoma sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This activity involves hiking through trials looking for the mountain gorillas. While in Buhoma sector you track three gorilla families that is Rushengura gorilla family, Mubare gorilla family and Habinyanja gorilla family where you will happy in the presence of the gorillas which is an amazing experience. Mountain gorilla trekking is done by people above 15 years of age and is done by people who have gorilla trekking permits and this costs USD 700 per person and USD 1500 for gorilla habituation experience permits.

Bird watching

Buhoma sector is covered with thick forest which is a perfect habitant for a large number of bird species and most of these are forest and migratory bird species. while on a bird watching safari in Buhoma sector many birds are spotted such as chapin’s fly, strange weaver, African jacana, grey crowned crane, red throated alethe, handsome francolin, collared apalis, kivu ground thrush, grey guckoo shrike, western green tinker bird, African wood owl, rwenzori batis, tit hylia, dusky twin pot, montane oriole, handsome francolin and regal sun bird among others.

Dry seasons March to September and then June to July is the best time to go for birding in Buhoma sector. These are nesting periods and many migratory birds come to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in these months giving you a chance to spot many birds in Buhoma sector.

Nature walks

These are the best ways to enjoy nature in Buhoma sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, these takes you on a walk through the forested area in Buhoma sector using different trails in the sector. Through nature walks you get to see animals such as colobus monkeys, olive baboons, colobus baboons and birds i.e. grey crowned crane, white headed saw wing, pink footed puff back, antepecker, Waller’s starling and crested guinea

Community walks

Community walks in Buhoma sector give you a chance to see traditional and cultural ways of the people living in communities on the borders of Buhoma sector and also Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The communities in here include the Bakiga and these get you to participate in cultural activities i.e. cultural songs, dances, drama getting of local herbs from traditional healers among others.