THE BUHOMA TRAILS
The Waterfall trail is a 2km and 3hr trail along an abandoned trail leading to the beautiful area of forest and a 33m high waterfall on the Munyanga River. This trail offers great sightings for monkeys like L’hoests, vervet and red-tailed monkeys together with the general scenic beauty of the park. The Mazubijiro and Rushara Hill trails take about 3 hours each and they offer good sightings across the Virunga Mountains while the Ivo River walk offers the best opportunities for seeing monkeys, duikers and a variety of birds. For Birders, the Munyanga River trail is the best option starting at the edge of the park behind the gorilla-tracking trailhead through the same old road as the waterfall trail. This trail offers the best sightings for birds like the great blue turaco, the black-billed turaco, black bee-eater, gray-throated barbet, rusty-faced warbler, Elliot’s woodpecker, bar-tailed trogon. In addition, the trail supports a dazzling array of colorful butterflies and the lovely L’hoest monkeys can be encountered. All these trails start from Buhoma and they usually end at the Waterfall.
THE RUHIJA TRAILS
Trails from Ruhija are longer and nature walks from this end may not be compatible with gorilla trekking on the same day. The Bamboo trail is a 6hr trail leading to the 2607m Rwamunyonyi peak which is the highest in the Bwindi forest. The trail offers great scenic views as you go atop the peak while the Mubwindi swamp trail is the top bird watching trail in Ruhija. The trail descends to a swampy area which harbors 20 bird species that are listed in the IUCN Red list and are endemic to the Albertine rift. These birds include the African green broadbill, shoebill and Grauer’s rush warbler. These trails may take between 3 to 6 hours of walking.
THE RUSHAGA TRAILS
Nature walks at Rushaga are done following the 3-4hr Waterfall trail. This trail offers abundant birdlife just like Buhoma along with a variety of monkey species like L’hoests, blue and red-tailed monkeys and the black and white colobus monkeys. This trail is worth a visit after the gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable national park.
THE NKURINGO TRAILS
Nkuringo is a very scenic area with hiking potential. You can hike the steep Nteko ridge or take a stroll along the ridge-top road towards DRC or the east towards Rubugeri. Also you can take the Nkuringo community walk to enjoy the cultures of the Bakiga by visiting the traditional healer, blacksmith, brewer and homestead in the Nkuringo village. These walks can be arranged through the Nkuringo Gorilla Camp.
