The Nkuringo to Buhoma Walking Safari is a 4 – 6 hours guided excursion through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, and neighbouring communities. There are two (02) trailheads on this walk; The Ivy River trailhead and the Kashasha River Trailhead.
Which is the best trailhead to follow on the Nkuringo to Buhoma Walking Safari?
- The Ivy River trailhead:
This 3 – 4 hour – 14 Kilometer long trailhead is the most popular route followed by hikers on the Nkuringo to Buhoma Walking Safari experience.
The Ivy River Trail starts at the Nkuringo UWA Park office. Trekkers follow a murram road downhill with views over the forest for some 7 km before getting to the Ivy River on your right. The Ivy River Trail within the forest is often walked by visitors that stay in the Buhoma Sector as a nature walk from the park H.Q. From the Nkuringo office to the Ivy River it takes 2 – 3 hours of walking, while from the Buhoma sector (through the Bwindi Forest) to the Ivy river takes 3 – 4 hours. This means the hike/trek from Nkuringo to Buhoma or vice versa will at least last 4 – 6 hours for a fit trekker.
The Ivy River route ascends and descends gently thus making it the ideal route for the older & less fit travellers trekking or hiking through beautiful areas of the rain forest with several viewpoints from the Murram road from/to Nkuringo overlooking lush mist-covered valleys. The trail is also an important footpath for local people travelling to and from Nkuringo particularly on market days to Nteko village on the southern boundary of the park. Monkeys, duikers, bush pigs and some of Bwindi’s world-renowned bird species plus many butterflies can be observed.
- The Kashasha River Trailhead:
The Kashasha River Trail is a 17-kilometre, 6 to 7-hour trek which starts at the Nkuringo UWA Parks office before proceeding down a steep slope through community land to reach the park buffer zone. The route passes the junction of two rivers inside the forest, where, after a further 20-minute ascent, the trail meets the alternative route, the Ivy River trail, inside the forest 90 minutes from Buhoma. The trek to the Buhoma Park HQ on the Kashasha River Trail is 4 to 5 hours from Nkuringo to Buhoma or 6 to 7 hours from Buhoma to Nkuringo. The Kashasha River trail involves some steep inclines, which can be very challenging to climb for persons hiking from Buhoma to Nkuringo (yet another reason we prefer to do the Walking Safari starting in Nkuringo and ending in Buhoma).
The trail offers visitors a close-up experience of the natural wonders within a rainforest environment. Birds are prolific in Bwindi and your guide will assist point these out to you during your walk.
This walking safari can start at either end (Buhoma to Nkuringo or Nkuringo to Buhoma) of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, depending on where you are. Whichever direction you take, this walk remains worthwhile and rewarding. Although we have called it the Nkuringo to Buhoma Walking Safari, it can still be called the Buhoma to Nkuringo Walking Safari – because most of our clients flying in through Kigali often take the walk from the Nkuringo region after staying two (02) nights at the Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge and finish on the Buhoma side staying two (02) nights at the Bwindi Lodge.
How to Prepare for the Nkuringo to Buhoma Walking Safari
- What to Pack for Your Walking Safari:
You will need to have a backpack with 2 litres of water to drink, a packed lunch, good waterproof hiking shoes, Fast-dry trousers, a long-sleeved breathable shirt, a rain jacket, a hat, a pair of sunglasses, binoculars and a camera with extra batteries.
When you go on this walk (especially if hiking from Buhoma to Nkuringo region), it is important to keep in mind that there will be elevation differences at the last section which will involve a steep climb – One of the reasons we prefer to approach it from Nkuringo to Buhoma other than Buhoma to Nkuringo.
- How long is the Walking Safari:
Nkuringo to Buhoma using the Ivy River trailhead requires 3-4 hours.
Nkuringo to Buhoma using the Kashasha route is 6 – 7 hours.
What to Expect on the Nkuringo to Buhoma Walking Safari
Bwindi Impenentrable Forest National Park a tropical rainforest in Uganda is home to over 350 species of birds and many of them endemic to the region. On your walk through the forest, you will have a chance to spot some of them, there are over 300 kinds of butterflies and you will surely see some of them up close.
There are 10 species of primates in the park including chimpanzees, L’Hoests Monkey, Red-Tailed and Blue Monkey, Black & White Colobus Monkeys and Baboons. You will encounter quite a few primates on your trek through the ancient Rainforest. If lucky, you may run into some gorillas – the ranger might not let you gaze at them for so long as it is against park rules – he must immediately change routing.
The park also has 120 mammal species including Forest Elephants, Duikers, Bush Pigs, the giant Forest Hog, cat species and much more. You might also see some colourful lizards along the way – The Nkuringo to Buhoma walking Safari through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a must-do experience while you are in Bwindi for the Gorillas.
Did you Know? You can also go on two gorilla treks – one in Nkuringo or Rushaga region, and the other in the Buhoma Region. (See: 5 Days Gorillas twice In Uganda)
You might also like this:
