Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to nearly half of the world’s mountain gorillas, with more than 20 habituated families. But Bwindi isn’t one place with one gate. Gorilla trekking starts from four separate sectors, hours apart by road, and your permit is for a specific one. Choosing the right sector is one of the most important decisions in planning a gorilla trip.
Buhoma: the original sector
Where: the north-west of the park, in Kanungu District.
Buhoma is where gorilla tourism in Uganda began. The Mubare group was the first in Bwindi to be habituated for tourism, and UWA opened it to visitors in April 1993. Buhoma remains the most developed sector, with the widest choice of lodges, and it’s the easiest to combine with the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Extras: the Munyaga River trail and a waterfall walk, village walks, and the Batwa experience.
- Terrain: hilly, though often less steep than the southern sectors.
- Where to stay: Buhoma Community Rest Camp (budget), Engagi Lodge and Buhoma Lodge (mid-range), or Mahogany Springs and Bwindi Lodge (luxury).
Ruhija: high and quiet
Where: the east of the park, on a high ridge between Buhoma and the south.
Ruhija is cooler, quieter and higher than the other sectors. It’s the favourite of birders: the trail down to the Mubwindi Swamp is one of the best places in Uganda for Albertine Rift endemics, and the Bamboo walk climbs towards Rwamunyonyi, the park’s highest point at 2,607 metres. Treks can be steep, as the gorillas often feed in the valleys below the ridge.
- Best for: birders and travellers who like somewhere peaceful.
- Where to stay: Trekkers Tavern Cottages, simple and popular with birders.
Rushaga: the most choice
Where: the south of the park, near Kisoro and Lake Mutanda.
Rushaga has the most habituated gorilla families of any sector, so it often has permits when others are sold out. It’s also the only sector for the Gorilla Habituation Experience, where four visitors spend up to four hours with a family that is still getting used to people. See our habituation guide.
- Best for: the best availability, habituation, and combining with golden monkeys in Mgahinga or a trip from Rwanda.
- Where to stay: Rushaga Gorilla Camp (budget) or Gorilla Safari Lodge (mid-range).
Nkuringo: the views
Where: the south-west corner, on a ridge facing the Virunga volcanoes.
Nkuringo has the most spectacular scenery of the four, with views over the forest one way and the volcanoes the other. It’s also known for the steepest treks, because you often drop a long way down into the forest and climb back up.
- Best for: fit hikers and photographers.
- Where to stay: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (mid-range) or Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge (luxury).
Getting there
- By road from Kampala: a full day, 8 to 10 hours. Many travellers break the journey at Lake Mburo.
- By air: scheduled flights from Entebbe land at Kihihi (for Buhoma and Ruhija) or Kisoro (for Rushaga and Nkuringo).
- From Kigali: the southern sectors are about 4 to 5 hours by road, which makes them a great option if you fly into Rwanda.
How to choose
- Coming from Queen Elizabeth? Buhoma.
- Flying into Kigali, or adding golden monkeys? Rushaga or Nkuringo.
- A keen birder? Ruhija.
- Want the habituation experience? Rushaga.
- Dates fixed and permits tight? Whichever sector has space. The gorillas are wonderful everywhere.
Good to know
- Permits are US$800 for foreign non-residents (US$600 in April, May and November). The minimum age is 15.
- Always sleep in the same sector as your permit, so you aren’t driving for hours before a 7.30am briefing.
- Read our gorilla trekking guide for what to pack and how the day works.
Tell us your dates, and we’ll check which sectors have permits and match your lodge to the trailhead.
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