Buhoma entrance gate is the most popular entry to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the oldest sector found in the northwestern part of the park in Kanungu district. The entrance is approximately 540 km from Kampala, and that’s about 8 hours drive or one & a half hour flight from Entebbe Airport.
Buhoma sector is the first sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that was opened up for gorilla trekking and this is where gorilla trekking safaris started from. So, it is the most famous gorilla trekking point in Uganda.
The Buhoma region hosts the oldest habituated gorilla family known as the ‘Mubare gorilla family’. This was the first to be visited by the first team of tourists to visit Bwindi for gorilla trekking.
Buhoma entrance gate is the closest entry to Queen Elizabeth National Park, in about a 2-hour drive. This is also close to the southern Ishasha sector which is popularly known for tree-climbing lions.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four main gorilla tracking sectors. These include Rushaga in the south, Nkuringo in the south west, Ruhija in the west, and Buhoma in the north west.
Currently, the sector has four (4) gorilla families which are habituated for gorilla trekking. These include the Mubare gorilla group, the Katwe gorilla family, the Habinyanja gorilla family, and the Rushegura gorilla family.
Other tourist activities around the Buhoma Entrance Gate
Gorilla trekking is a famous activity in the Buhoma region, but one can combine it with other interesting activities such as hiking, mountain riding, and various cultural tours. You can also enjoy nature walks within this impenetrable forest.
Don’t miss bird watching because there are a variety of bird species. In addition, there are colorful butterflies, numerous tree species, and other various primates as well as the fantastic waterfalls within the forest.
Buhoma village walk is also beneficial to tourists. As a result, you will get a chance of encountering various cultural activities carried out by the local people of Batwa and Bakiga communities. While here, you will also be able to evidence the cultural performances in songs and dances. These depict the past lifestyle of the Batwa in the forest, while at the same time meeting the blacksmiths and traditional healers who treat the sick using herbal medicine extracted from plants.
You will also observe the various art and craft materials such as bags, baskets, and sandals, which are handmade by the residents.
Where to stay in the Buhoma region
Buhoma region provides one of the best and most comfortable accommodation facilities with delicious meals prepared by professional chefs. There are a variety of luxury, mid-range, and budget lodges with high-quality services delivered by experienced staff and professionals. The costs of the services vary from lodge to lodge depending on the services provided.
Luxury accommodation facilities to offer you a comfortable experience include the Gorilla Forest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs, and Bwindi Lodge. Mid-range facilities include Engagi Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Gorilla Resort, whereas budget facilities are Buhoma Community Rest Camp and Bwindi View Lodge.
How Buhoma connects with other regions in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
It’s an exciting moment to explore Buhoma region in combination with the other three sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is possible to connect from Buhoma to other sectors of Bwindi. This explains that visitors can sleep at Buhoma after their gorilla trek and then drive for two hours to Ruhija the following day for more gorilla trekking experience with other gorilla families.
One can also slope to Nkuringo in the south of Bwindi within 3 hours and then hiking through the trail in the impenetrable forest known as the Nkuringo safari walk.
How to get to Buhoma Entrance Gate
By road
Buhoma entrance gate is the easiest entry to access as compared to other entries to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is located in the northwestern part of the park in Kanungu district. That’s about 540 km from Kampala, in about 8 hours’ drive.
By air
For luxury visitors, it is possible to fly to the Buhoma region in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by a domestic flight. Aerolink is one of the domestic flight operators with daily flights to Kihihi airstrip, which is close to Buhoma entrance gate. The drive from Kihihi airstrip takes about 40 mins to the park headquarters. It also serves the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.