Activities/Things to do in Ruhija Uganda Gorilla Sector
Ruhija is found within the Eastern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and is currently one of the four sectors that make up this breathtaking destination. This remarkable sector is the most remote of the four sectors and shelters four wonderful habituated gorilla families, with Kyaguliro set aside of research purposes while the remaining three-Oruzogo, Mukiza and Bitukura open for gorilla trekking. For visitors planning to explore Ruhija sector, some of the tourist activities to expect during your visits include;
Gorilla Trekking in Ruhija
Gorilla Trekking is the main activity in Ruhija sector, offering visitors the once-in-a lifetime opportunity of trekking and falling in love with the giant apes. Feel the thrill as you trek one of the habituated gorilla families to witness the gentle and compassionate nature of these Apes, which are believed to be aggressive. A total of 24 gorilla permits are available each day for Ruhija sector and persons of 15 years above possessing valid gorilla permits can trek mountain gorillas here for 1-4 hours to spend one hour with the great Apes. On a typical gorilla trekking day, wake up early for the activity that begins at 7:00am with briefing and 8:00am with the actual treks in the footsteps of these amazing creatures. Treks focus on the daily lifestyle, behavior/characteristics of mountain gorillas.
Cultural Encounters in Ruhija
Immerse yourself in the vibrant traditional culture of the Batwa pygmies and Bakiga people living around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Interact with the locals, visit the traditional healer, taste their ethnic delicacies, learn about basket weaving purchase their well-crafted traditional jewelry, be amazed by the traditional banana brewing procedures, visit some of the local schools to be amazed by the traditional learning skills of the people and climax it by participating in their traditional dances and songs.
Guided forest walks in Ruhija
The dense jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers visitors to Ruhija sector jaw-dropping walks passing through valleys, ascending and descending hills and jumping rivers to enjoy sweeping views of the forest, breathtaking views of waterfalls and natural streams, different butterfly species, primates (L’Hoests monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, chimpanzees and sometimes mountain gorillas on a lucky day), elephants, buffaloes and duikers not forgetting the plethora of bird species.
Bird watching in Ruhija
Ruhija sector features some of the excellent birding trails in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with numerous forest and Albertine Rift endemic bird species to look-out for. The Mubwindi Swamp, Ruhija Hill as well as the Bamboo zone are the best birding spots in this sector, offering birders with views of Mountain greenbul, mountain Illadopsis, Grey green bush shrike, Dusky Crimsonwing, Purple-breasted sunbirds, Brown-chested Alethe, Strange weavers, Stripe-breasted tit, Slender-billed Greenbul, Mountain yellow warblers and many others. Read about birding in Ruhija sector.
Visit some of the Community Projects
You can visit and support some of the community-based empowerment projects. Community living around National Parks, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park inclusive have devised clean ways of earning from tourism (not poaching) through establishing bee-keeping projects, basket weaving and souvenir shops. Make a stop to one of these projects where you will find eye-catching things which you will purchase if interested.