Photo: Mark Suer, January 2026 — Gorilla Bluff Lodge terrace, Buhoma

Buhoma — Uganda's Original Gorilla Trekking Village

The People Who Make Buhoma

Buhoma is, first and foremost, a community. About 3,000 people live in the wider parish, growing bananas, beans and sweet potatoes on terraced hillsides, running small shops along the main road, and building livelihoods that increasingly intersect with the steady stream of visitors passing through on their way to see the gorillas.

During our 10-day stay in January 2026, we met Clinton on the road opposite Gorilla Bluff Lodge. He was 17 years old and had set up a small display of paintings on the roadside — portraits, forest scenes, gorillas — each one made and sold by hand. Clinton lost his father while young and uses what he earns from his art to support his mother, two brothers and a younger sister with a disability. His goal, stated plainly, is to become a tour guide. He spoke with the kind of directness that comes from already knowing exactly what he wants from life.

Clinton is not unusual in Buhoma. Many young people here have found ways to connect their skills and ambitions with the opportunities that tourism brings — not as bystanders, but as participants building something for themselves.

A young resident of Buhoma. Clinton is one of many young people here building a future that connects their skills with what tourism makes possible. Photo: Mark Suer.

Tourism as a Lifeline — Norman Noel, BodaBoda Driver

Norman Noel works as a BodaBoda (motorcycle taxi) driver in Buhoma. He is the kind of person you meet within the first hour of arriving — navigating the red-dirt roads between the village and the park gate, meeting visitors from across the world at the lodge turn-offs, and carrying the particular optimism of someone who has a plan.

“I meet my friends from USA, UK, Germany, everywhere. I start exploring Uganda as my dream for exploring. If I can get a chance of getting a driving licence, I will have to expand my business of driving. At least I advance from a motorcycle to a car.”— Norman Noel, BodaBoda driver, Buhoma

Norman has also seen the other side of what happens when tourism stops. During the 2022 Ebola outbreak — when Uganda recorded cases and international travel warnings went out — visitor numbers in Buhoma fell sharply for weeks. In his own words: “We survive on tourism, and we have got a problem here. Tourists are few because of the Ebola.” That period has passed, tourism recovered, and Norman is back on his motorcycle — but the experience underlines how directly the wellbeing of this community is tied to the people who choose to come.

One of Buhoma's small general stores — selling beans, soap, bread and daily necessities. We bought food parcels here for local families during our January 2026 visit. Photo: Mark Suer, January 2026.

The small stores along Buhoma's main road — typically around 20 square metres, stocked with tins, basics and fresh produce — are a reliable indicator of how a community manages its daily life. Most are run by women. When we stopped in January 2026 to buy provisions, the shop had everything a family needs, packed tight from floor to ceiling. There is nothing performative about it. It is simply commerce, and it works.

Gorilla Trekking from Buhoma Sector

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) park headquarters is located right in Buhoma, and it is from here that trekking groups depart every morning at 8:30. Depending on where the gorilla family has moved overnight, the walk can take anywhere from one hour to most of the day. In January 2026, we found a family after just an hour — a silverback sitting calmly in a tree, pulling leaves from branches with steady, methodical ease. In June 2026, the same forest produced a very different encounter: a gorilla high in the canopy, moving through the treetops in a way that made it seem weightless.

A UWA ranger leads the way through dense undergrowth in Buhoma sector. GPS coordinates confirm this location at -0.9762, 29.6282. Photo: Mark Suer, January 2026.

Every trek includes a tracking guide, trail cutters, and two armed rangers — the rangers there for safety protocol, not because there is any real danger. Ours were good company on the steep sections and quick to offer a steadying hand when the ground was slippery. A permit costs $800 USD per person in 2026, set by UWA and the same regardless of which Bwindi sector you trek in. The permit covers park entry, the full guide team, and one hour with the gorilla family.

Buhoma sector has multiple habituated gorilla families assigned to it, which gives it good permit availability compared to some other sectors. Book directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority as early as possible — demand during peak season (June to September and December to February) consistently outstrips supply.

Where to Stay in Buhoma

Buhoma has a wider range of accommodation than any other Bwindi sector. At the top end, two lodges — including Buhoma Lodge, operated by Uganda Exclusive Camps — sit inside the national park boundary itself, offering proximity to the forest that no other property in Bwindi can match. Mid-range and boutique options, including Gorilla Bluff Lodge with its terrace views over the canopy, line the park edge at various price points. The Buhoma Community Rest Camp, operated by the local community, provides the most accessible option and includes camping, bandas and safari tents — a practical choice for budget-conscious travellers who still want to be right at the park gate.

Whichever lodge you choose, book at the same time as your gorilla permit. The two are linked — your sector determines your accommodation options, and the most sought-after lodge-and-permit combinations in peak season disappear many months before your arrival. Current rates vary by lodge and season; check directly with each property for 2026 pricing.

Getting to Buhoma

Buhoma is not a short journey from anywhere. From Kampala, the drive takes seven to ten hours depending on the route and road conditions — plan a full day of travel, not an afternoon. The main routes run via Kabale in the south or via Ishasha and Kihihi from the west. All roads leading into the park involve unpaved stretches, which become significantly more demanding after heavy rain. A four-wheel-drive vehicle with a spare tyre is not optional; it is essential.

For those who prefer not to drive, charter flights operate from Kampala and Entebbe to Kihihi Airstrip, roughly 1.5 hours by road from Buhoma. This cuts the journey to around two hours total. Most lodges can arrange road transfers from Kihihi on request.

Frequently Asked Questions