The Habinyanja Trail Hike takes between 4 and 6 hours. Habinyanja is one of the best hiking trails where many nature lovers meet their travel dreams. This trail is popular for its great sightings of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest’s hidden secrets. A hike through Habinyanja involves navigating via the lush Habinyanja swamp where diverse bird species reside, colorful butterflies, and more.
The Habinyanja hiking trail extends to cover the scenic Habigorogoro-Riyovi ridge. Visitors can conclude with amazing views of the Buhoma River.
What to Expect on the Habinyanja Trail Hike
Primate encounters
A guided hike through the Habinyanja trail allows you to enjoy great sights of diverse primate species. Visitors on a trek on the Habinyanja stand a chance to explore primates such as olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, pottos, chimpanzees, mangabeys, and more. Keen nature enthusiasts can also come across the giant forest hogs, duikers, elephants, and more.
Colorful butterflies
Over 220 butterfly species reside in Bwindi and most of them can be spotted on a guided nature walk. The park holds butterfly species including endemic species such as Papilio leucopenia, Charaxes fournierae, and Graphium gudenusi.
Birds
A guided hike through Habinyanja never goes without bird sightings. The birds to expect to encounter include African black ducks, Pel’s fishing owl, Black bee-eaters, bronze sunbird, brown snake eagle, peregrine falcon, black swift, cape robin chat, banded prinia, lesser honey guide, African fish eagle, olive long-tailed cuckoos, African jacanas, yellow bill, red-eyed dove, grey wagtail, to mention but a few.
Habinyanja swamp
The stunning Habinyanja swamp where the Habinyanja gorilla group derives its name lies right on this trail. It is a valuable ecosystem and a good habitat for African black ducks.
Muyanga River
Located in the Buhoma region of Bwindi, the Muyanga River is one feature you should expect to explore on the Habinyanja trail. Muyanga River is a tributary of the Nile and while here, expect to spot some of the interesting birds in addition to the scenic views of the river.
Riyoyi ridge
Enthusiastic hikers shouldn’t miss to conquer the scenic Riyoyi ridge. At the Riyoyi Ridge, expect to enjoy breathtaking views of the ridge and surrounding areas.
Buhoma River
Buhoma River is one of the significant highlights on the Habinyanja trail which is also a main tributary of the Nile. A visit to this scenic river allows you to enjoy scenic views of the river and also spot some interesting species of wildlife.
What to take for the Habinyanja hiking trail tour
Essentials to consider on your Habinyanja hiking trail in Buhoma include long cotton socks, waterproof hiking boots or shoes, gardening gloves, a good camera for photography, energy-giving snacks, a waterproof daypack, sunscreen, a rain jacket, long-sleeved shirts, a sweater, a safari hat, bottled drinking water, a pair of binoculars, and others.
Where to stay
Planning to explore the Habinyanja trail soon and not sure of where to stay? Here is a checklist of comfortable accommodation options to consider for an overnight stay before or after conquering the Habinyanja hiking trail. The lodges include Buhoma Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Mahogany Springs, Bwindi Lodge, Engagi Lodge, and others.
What else can you do besides the Habinyanja hiking trail?
Besides hiking adventures, visitors can also have the best of gorilla trekking. An addition of gorilla trekking in the Buhoma sector is a great chance for you to encounter a family of mountain gorillas in the wild. Buhoma has already habituated families including the Katwe gorilla group, Mubare group, Rushegura, Habinyanja group, and Muyambi gorilla family.
The best time to explore the Habinyanja hiking trail
Hikes through Habinyanja trail are perfectly experienced during the peak dry months. The dry season/months start from June, July, August, to September, then December, January, to February. It is around these dry months when the trail experiences low rains and can be a bit drier making it easier to walk through.
Getting There
The Habinyanja hiking trail can be accessed from the Buhoma trailhead of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The trail lies on the northern sector of Bwindi and you can set off from Kampala to Buhoma about an 8-9 hours drive. Or depart from Kigali via the Katuna border to Buhoma which is about a 4-5 hours’ drive.
By air, take a flight booked by your local expert. Departure from Entebbe International Airport/Kajjansi Airfield to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip then drive to the Buhoma region of Bwindi.