3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Sector Ruhija
3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Sector Ruhija ushers you to the eastern side of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to spend quality time with one of the 4 habituated gorilla families in Ruhija sector that include Kyaguliro, Bitukura, Oruzogo and Mukiza. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was gazetted in 1991 within the south-western Uganda and now extends for an area of 321 square kilometers.
This safari to Bwindi from Ruhija entails spending time with one of the four habituated gorilla families in Ruhija and take their photos and be awarded a gorilla trekking certificate thereafter.
3 days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Ruhija starts from Kampala-Entebbe but you can also start it from Kigali Rwanda to Bwindi through the Katuna border in Kabale district. Gorilla trekking is generally a physically demanding activity that involves hiking through different terrains, thus before packing your bags make sure to undergo basic training such as press-ups or climbing hills.
What to expect for the 3 days Uganda gorilla trekking Ruhija
• Trekking one of the habituated gorilla families to spend one hour with the mountain gorillas.
• A smooth ride to Bwindi Impenetrable National park with our 4WD Vehicles.
• Canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi.
• A stopover at the Uganda Equator.
Detailed itinerary for the 3 days Uganda gorilla trekking Ruhija
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Early morning breakfast at the Hotel or place of residence and pick-up by our safari driver for 8-9 hours’ ride to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Be driven through the smooth roads as well as green sceneries and have a stopover at Igongo Cultural Center and Country Hotel for lunch before continuing and arriving at Ruhija sector in the evening for your dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Lunch and dinner.
Accommodation options
• Luxury: Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge.
• Midrange: Bakiga Lodge or Gorilla Mist Camp.
• Budget: Broadbill Forest Camp, Ruhija Community Rest Camp or Gift of Nature Lodge.
Travel time: 8-9 hours.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Be treated to a hefty and unforgettable breakfast before being picked by the driver to join other trekkers for a briefing on what to expect and what is expected of you while trekking the mountain gorillas. Walk to the trailhead that will mark the beginning of a remarkable 30 minutes to 4 hours’ trek through the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It will be a difficult trek as you will be hiking through the different terrains as well as thick vegetation but the sight of the mountain gorillas will make you forget everything you went through trying to reach them.
You will have one hour with the gorilla family to take photos of them playing, feeding and resting while also get detailed information on their outstanding behavior and physical characteristics. After the one hour with mountain gorillas, return to the Lodge for lunch then transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, Africa’s second deepest Lake. Upon arrival, head straight to booked Lodge and then go for an exhilarating canoe ride that will introduce you to the different bird species found in the Lake as well as the small Islands that make up Lake Bunyonyi. After the canoe ride, go back to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Full-board
Accommodation options
• Luxury: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort
• Midrange: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort, Bunyonyi Safari Resort or Arcadia Cottages.
• Budget: Bunyonyi Overland Resort or Bushara Island Camp.
Day 3: Return to Kampala
The sounds of the singing birds of Lake Bunyonyi will wake you up from your comfortable sleep to have breakfast and check-out of the Safari Lodge. Later begin your journey to Kampala with a stopover at Agip Motel in Mbarara Town for lunch and the Equator to get a chance of being in two hemispheres at the same time. Take photos and buy souvenirs that will remind you of your visit to Uganda and proceed to Kampala/Entebbe.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
End of the 3 days Bwindi Gorilla trekking Ruhija
The 3 days gorilla trekking Ruhija package includes
• Accommodation in Bwindi for one night and the other in Lake Bunyonyi.
• Airport transfers as long as your flight is one the same day the safari ends.
• En-route lunch.
• Bottled water.
• A private and comfortable 4WD Vehicle.
• Gorilla permit.
• Canoe ride in Lake Bunyonyi.
• Relevant Government taxes.
• A full-time English speaking driver.
• All activities included in the itinerary.
The 3 days Bwindi gorilla trekking Ruhija package excludes
• Visa fees
• International flights.
• Personal expenses such as gratuities, cigarettes, insurance, shopping bills, alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks taken at the Lodge and souvenirs.
• Optional activities not included on the itinerary
Other briefing points for gorilla trekking
• Rushaga sector.
• Buhoma sector.
• Nkuringo sector.
Mountain gorilla trekking guidelines
• Do not trek the gorilla when sick especially with flue or cough.
• Littering the Park is not allowed because rubbish or food particles act as a breeding ground for germs.
• Trekkers have only one hour with the habituated gorilla family.
• A maximum of 8 persons can trek a gorilla family per day.
• Flash cameras are not allowed.
• Cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing in the presence of the mountain gorillas.
• Trekkers should maintain a distance of 7 meters when seeing the mountain gorillas.
• Persons below 15 years are not allowed to trek the mountain gorillas.
• Do not make noise during trekking or when in the presence of the mountain gorillas.
What to carry for the 3 days Uganda gorilla trekking Ruhija
• Energy giving snacks and enough drinking water
• Long trousers to protect your legs from being scratched white trekking.
• A backpack for carrying the things you will need during trekking.
• A sweater to keep you warm during chilly mornings and evenings.
• Long sleeved shirts.
• Rain jacket.
• A flash torch.
• Non-flash camera.
• Sunglasses.
• Gardening gloves to protect your hands from being scratched by tree branches when using them for support.
Best Time for the 3 days Bwindi Gorilla Trek.
You can visit Uganda for the 3 days gorilla trekking Ruhija at any time of the year but if you visit during the months of January, February, June, July, August, September and December, you are likely to trek through less slippery and muddy forest trails given the fact that these months are in the dry season. However, these months are always within the peak season where the demand for gorilla permits is also high hence you have to book at least 4 months in advance.
The wet months of March, April, May, October and November receive relatively heavier rains that make forest trails muddy and more slippery, hence making the activity challenging during the wet season. Nonetheless, the heavy rains also allow vegetation to grow and the great apes have much food. Trekking them becomes faster because they don’t move to far places when searching for food.