Mubare gorilla family in Bwindi. Bwindi Impenetrable national park is located in southwestern Uganda covering 330km2 and is renowned for its dense vegetation, ancient trees and significant role in conserving the endangered mountain gorillas.
In 1991, Bwindi was gazetted as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The decision was primarily aimed at conserving the endangered mountain gorilla population. In recognition of its unique biodiversity and critical role in the survival of mountain gorillas, Bwindi was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
This status heightened international attention on the forest’s conservation, helping bring in funds for research, anti-poaching efforts, and sustainable tourism. Bwindi is home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population, making it one of the most important conservation areas for this species.
Bwindi is known for its high level of biodiversity. It hosts around 120 mammal species, 350 bird species, 200 butterfly species, and many reptiles and amphibians. The forest’s rich flora includes over 1,000 species of flowering plants, including ferns, orchids, and ancient tree species, some of which are endemic to the region. With the popular mountain gorillas coming first, expect other wildlife like white and black colobus monkeys, golden monkeys, baboons, chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, pottos and galagos, African elephants, giant forest hogs, bush pigs, sitatunga antelopes, jackals, golden cats; bird species with 23 Albertine rift endemics namely green broadbills, black bee-eater, regal sunbird, bar-tailed trogon, black-billed turaco, Rwenzori batis, turaco, king fisher, strange weaver, dusky twinspot, mountain oriole, mountain yellow warbler, purple-breasted sunbird, blue-headed sunbird and many more.
The Buhoma Sector is one of the most popular and accessible regions of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda. Located in the northern part of the park close to Kihihi airstrip which makes it accessible from Entebbe for those who wish to fly and Kampala in 8hrs.
Buhoma is renowned for its proximity to mountain gorilla families, offering one of the main entry points for gorilla trekking in Bwindi. It is also known for its scenic beauty, cultural encounters, and as a hub for tourists seeking comfortable accommodations. Like the rest of Bwindi, the Buhoma sector is incredibly rich in biodiversity. In addition to the mountain gorillas, the area is home to a variety of wildlife species, including monkeys, duikers, bushbucks, and an impressive number of bird species making the sector particularly popular for birders.
Buhoma was the first sector for tourism to be done when Mubare family was first habituated in 1992 immediately after the Bwindi Impenetrable was gazetted as a National Park. The sector also encourages hiking with trails like Munyanga trail, ivy river trail, Muzabajiro loop trail and Rushara trail that provide beautiful views for sight-seeing and picnic sites. Buhoma has five gorilla families namely Mubare (6), Habinyanja (16), Rushegura (15), Katwe (7) and Binyindo (6) gorilla families; all families have silverbacks apart from Muyambi which is the newest gorilla family.
The Mubare Gorilla Family is one of the prominent gorilla groups found in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This family is especially significant because it is the oldest habituated gorilla group in the park, dating back to 1993 when it was opened for gorilla tourism.
Initially, the group was led by a dominant silverback named Ruhondeza. At its peak, it had around 18 members. However, after Ruhondeza’s death in 2012, the group faced some challenges, and its numbers reduced significantly.
The new leader of the group is a silverback named Kanyonyi, Ruhondeza’s successor and with a new dominant silverback Mubare has increased the number of members from 5 to 9 and is an interesting group to visit.
The Mubare group is generally considered one of the more accessible families for trekking, often found in lower altitudes around Buhoma. This makes it a favorite for tourists seeking an easier trekking experience.
Buhoma is not just a starting point for gorilla trekking but a vibrant and welcoming sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. With its easy accessibility, excellent tourist facilities, rich cultural interactions, and opportunities for nature walks, Buhoma remains one of the most visited and cherished areas for travelers seeking an immersive experience in Uganda’s wild beauty.
