Hello everyone!
I finally managed to gorilla permits for myself and my boyfriend (yay!). We'll apparently be tracking the Bitukura group in the Ruhija. After reading the lonely planet and search through TT, I have a good idea of how to travel from Kampala to Buhoma or Kabale, but can't seem to figure out how to travel from either Buhoma or Kabale to Ruhija! Unless the meeting point for the Bitukura group is also in Buhoma?? Thank you in advance for any info!
Hi Copperschool
How did you get your gorilla-tracking permit?
My friend and I are coming to Uganda on 29 September from South Africa. We would like to buy permits online before we arrive. We are hiring a car with a driver, so not using a tour company.
Thanks !
You'll need to call Uganda Wildlife Authority directly. They're not very good at answering emails, unfortunately. After you sent a track date with them, you'll have to transfer $500 per person to their bank. I'd call ASAP cause I think the permits are selling out fast!
OP, the easiest way to get to Ruhija is to hire a private vehicle to take you there from Kabale. There are plenty of people with cars in Kabale who make money shuttling tourists to/from Ruhija and Buhoma. If you stay a night in Kabale, your hotel can help you find somebody. A one-way trip Kabale-Ruhija should cost around UGX 100,000.
Hi,
A bit late to post to your question for the Aug 2010 trip, but info for anyone else going to Ruhija to track gorillas nonetheless! I stayed at Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort Campsite there, run by a young girl named Josephine. I just took a bus from Kampala to Kabale, where we found a driver from the bunch of young men looking to offer transport. There isn't much of anything in Ruhija, so if you want to bring food for your lunch while trekking, might be a good idea, or snacks/beverages. The driver took us to a grocery store, called ahead to Josephine, who prepared dinner for our arrival and also stayed the night at the lodge to drive us back the next day ($50 each way for the driver but we didn't have to pay his accomdations for the night). The campsite resort isn't exactly a resort, but quite nice nonetheless. We stayed in a tent with double bed inside, quite cozy with a veranda overlooking the mountains of Uganda and the Congo. Josephine's # is 0783411533, and the owner's # is 0772480885 - they would be delighted to have you! Happy Trekking, enjoy!