Many people often assume that once you set out to trek gorillas in Uganda, you can go anywhere in the Bwindi impenetrable national park. That is partly true as long as you carry that assumption before booking a gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Whenever you attempt to book a gorilla safari to Uganda, you will always be informed of the necessity to make a choice among the four gorilla trekking sectors that Bwindi has to offer. These are the Buhoma sector, the Ruhija sector, the Rushaga sector, and the Nkuringo.
The moment people learn of this reality, they ask themselves; which sector should I go for? Which one do you recommend? It is often hard to take them through a whole lecture on the four sectors. In most cases, based on the itinerary and our prior exchanges, I simply recommend a sector without getting into so much detail.
What if you have been recommended to trek gorillas in the Buhoma sector? And you are still curious as to why you should stick to this stick. Here is why you should trek gorillas in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi’s impenetrable national park.
Many Lodging Options
Among all the four sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the Buhoma sector has the highest number of lodge options for all budgets. Once you secure a permit for the Buhoma sector, you cannot worry about issues of full lodge bookings in the area or failing to find a lodge that fits your budget. In the Buhoma sector, even shoestring travelers are catered for.
Its diversity of lodges is partly attributed to the fact that it is the first gorilla trekking sector in Uganda. Therefore it has had enough time to evolve and adjust to client needs, unlike other sectors.
Very Accessible
As I earlier mentioned, the best gorilla trekking sector sometimes has a lot to do with your itinerary. The Buhoma sector is by far the best gorilla trekking sector because of its proximity to Queen Elizabeth national park.
The sector is also very close to the Kihihi airstrip which makes it the best option for gorilla flying safaris in Uganda. If you are to attempt a flying safari to Rushaga sector, you will have to endure a couple more hours to transfer to the park which is not the case with the Buhoma sector.
On top of its accessibility, it also has a long history of gorilla trekking in Uganda. In the Buhoma sector, you not only encounter the gorillas, but you also get an opportunity to learn about how best the wildlife-human conflicts were settled courtesy of gorilla trekking.
Several Hiking Trails And Activities
Gorilla trekking is often a half-day activity unless the unforeseen happens. This implies that if your physical fitness is not wanting, you can have more time to do some hikes. However, unlike other sectors, the Buhoma sector has a number of options when it comes to hiking. These include but are not limited to; the Rushare hill trail, Muzabajiro loop trail, and river ivy trail; among others.
The sector offers mountain biking community tours, village tours, as well as cultural experience excursions. If you are looking for a sector with a lot of icing on the gorilla trekking cake, then the Buhoma sector is the best option.
However, it would be unfair to conclude without highlighting a few cons with the Buhoma sector. These include but are not limited to poor accessibility in case you are connecting from Kigali for your gorilla trekking safari. And the worst part about the Buhoma sector is the fact that it is the most desired sector among travelers and tour operators, thus very hard to secure a gorilla permit for this sector if you do not book early enough.
If you have not yet secured your gorilla trekking permit for the Buhoma sector, it is often recommended to do it at least six months in advance. However, that will still not guarantee availability. In case you need a comprehensive guide on how to book gorilla trekking permits in Uganda, check out our article here.