Ruhija Gorilla Families – The Ruhija sector is found in the eastern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a major destination for gorilla trekking in Africa.
Bwindi is located in the southwestern part of Uganda and is part of the Bwindi-Mgahinga Conservation Area.
Bwindi was declared a national park in 1991 with the purpose of protecting the endangered mountain gorillas, whose numbers were declining due to diseases, poaching, and habitat loss.
The park is one of the most biologically diverse forests worldwide, with over 120 mammal species, 220 butterfly species, 350 bird species, and over 1,000 flowering plants, among others.
The Ruhija sector is one of the four sectors for gorilla trekking and it has four gorilla families, which include:
- Oruzogo Gorilla Family: The Oruzogo gorilla family gets its name from a plant called Oruzogo and was formed in 2011. The family has 10 members, including 1 silverback, 4 blackbacks, 2 females, 1 sub-adult female, 2 sub-adults, 1 juvenile, and 1 infant. The family was one of the first to be formed in this sector and initially had 19 members under the leadership of Tibirikwata, a silverback. However, later the family split up, and Kasimali left with some members.
- Bitukura Gorilla Family: The Bitukura family derives its name from the Bitukura River, where it was first sighted. The family has 14 members, including 3 silverbacks, 4 adult females, 2 blackbacks, 2 juveniles, 2 infants, and 1 newborn baby. The family is under the leadership of Karamazi, a dominant silverback.
- Kyaguriro A and B Gorilla Families: The Kyaguriro family was one of the first families to be discovered in this sector and was primarily used for research. At the time of its formation, the family was led by Zeus, then Rukira, who was later challenged by Mukiza. Kyaguriro eventually split and was subdivided into two families: A and B. Currently, Kyaguriro A is headed by the silverback Rukara and is open for trekking, while Kyaguriro B is led by Mukiza and is used for gorilla research.
Cost of Gorilla Trekking in Ruhija Sector
- Gorilla permits in the Ruhija sector cost USD 800 for foreign non-residents.
- USD 700 for foreign residents.
- UGX 300,000 for East African citizens.
Gorilla permits are secured through the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
How to Get to Ruhija
- Ruhija can be accessed by road from Kampala or Entebbe, where tourists will drive for about 10 hours, covering a distance of 340 km.
- Those coming from Rwanda can access Ruhija via the Cyanika border and travel for about 3 to 4 hours.
- Tourists can also access Ruhija by air by booking flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kisoro Airstrip. The flight takes about 1 hour, after which tourists head to Ruhija by road.
Ruhija gorilla families are a treasure trove of biodiversity and conservation, offering lasting memories to tourists and researchers alike.