Bird watching in Ruhija sector.
Ruhija sector, one of the four sectors in the eastern section of Bwindi impenetrable national park in Rubanda district, is a good place to go bird watching. With over 350 reported bird species, including migratory, woodland, and Albertine Rift unique species, Ruhija Sector is one of Uganda’s best places to go birdwatching.
You will be escorted by a knowledgeable bird guide as you follow birding trails such as the Mubwindi trail and the bamboo trail, where you can see a variety of bird species, including the grey-throated barbet, African green broadbill, red-chested flufftail, common buzzard, dwarf honeyguide, Caruthers cisticola, African shrike flycatcher, black bee-eater, mountain masked apalis, strange weaver, archers robin chat, strip breasted tit, Rwenzori turaco, kivu ground thrush, purple breasted sunbird, African goshawk, Ross’s turaco, grey-crowned cranes, helmeted guinea fowl, yellow-rumped tinkerbird, African sooty flycatcher, handsome francolin, brown-capped weaver, Rwenzori batis, red-tailed greenbul, archers robin chat, African pygmy kingfisher, and short-tailed warbler, among others.
The ideal time of year to visit Ruhija Sector for a bird watching safari
The Ruhija sector is a year-round destination for bird watchers, although the greatest time to see migratory and colorful bird species is during the wet/rainy season, which runs from March to May and October to November.
This is because those are the nesting seasons. Because the birding trails will be dry and accessible during the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February, bird watching in the Ruhija sector is also possible during these times.
Accommodations for your Ruhija sector bird watching safari
The Ruhija sector offers a variety of lodging options for your bird-watching safari, including Bakiga Lodge, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Gorilla Mist Camp, Agandi Uganda Eco-lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Broadbill Forest Camp, Cuckoo Lodge, Nyundo Valley Hill Bandas, Trekkers Tavern Cottages, and more. These accommodations range from affordable to luxurious.
Things to bring on your Ruhija sector bird watching safari
A guidebook, hiking boots to keep your feet dry, garden gloves, binoculars to view birds from a distance, long-sleeved shirts and trousers to keep you warm in the morning and protect you from safari ants, a camera and extra batteries to take pictures and record videos of various bird species, energy snacks and drinking water to stay hydrated while birding, a waterproof rain jacket to protect you from rain, a backpack to carry your essentials for birding, insect repellent to protect you from biting insects, and more are some of the things you should bring for your Ruhija sector bird watching safari.
Directions to the Ruhija Sector
The Ruhija sector is reachable by road and air transportation and is situated in the eastern portion of the impenetrable national park of Bwindi.
Air travel
If you choose to travel by air, you will schedule or charter flights from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi Airstrip with Bar Aviation or Aerolink Uganda, and then take a road connection to Ruhija Sector. You can book domestic flights to Ruhija sector with All In Africa Safaris, a reliable trip provider.
Transportation via road
Using road transportation, you will travel eight to nine hours from Kampala to Ruhija Sector via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, and finally to Ruhija.
Ruhija sector is also accessible from Kigali, Rwanda, where you can fly to Kigali International Airport and then drive for three to four hours to reach Ruhija sector via the Katuna border.
In addition to bird watching, Ruhija Sector provides visitors with other fascinating activities, such as nature walks where you can get up close and personal with various wildlife species, community tours, Batwa cultural experiences where you can interact with the Batwa who once lived in Bwindi forest before it was gazetted into a national park, and gorilla trekking, where you can spend an hour with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Do not hesitate to contact us at All In Africa Safaris or visit our website to schedule an affordable birding safari. Bird watching is an exciting pastime in the Ruhija region that you should not miss while your safari in Uganda.
