Gorilla Trekking in Rushaga Sector: Bwindi Forest Guide.
Rushaga sector is located in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, and is a major destination for gorilla safaris in Uganda. The area’s proximity to Mgahinga National Park and its accessibility from Rwanda make it a prime spot for tourists interested in gorilla trekking activities. The Rushaga sector has five established gorilla families that tourists can interact with when on a guided tour.
The five habituated gorilla families found in Rushaga include the Busingye, Mishaya, Bweza, Nshongi, and Kahungye families. These families are habituated to human interaction, which allows tourists to learn a lot from them. Rushaga is a special part of Bwindi National Park since it is the only part where habituation activities are carried out. Currently, two families of gorillas, known as Bushaho and Bikingi, are undergoing habituation, which gives tourists an opportunity to be part of the process when habituating wild gorillas for tourism purposes.
Tourism Activities to Do in Rushaga Sector in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Mountain Gorilla Trekking
Mountain gorilla trekking is one activity that cannot be missed when visiting Rushaga. Mountain gorilla trekking involves a trek to the lush and bamboo forests within Bwindi National Park to track the wild mountain gorillas. This activity usually takes between 2 and 8 hours, depending on the location of the particular gorilla family.
Once the mountain gorillas are encountered, visitors are given only 1 hour to observe and take photos with these wild animals, including activities like watching them feed, play, or rest. It is an incredible experience to encounter these wild animals, which are part of the endangered species in the wild. It requires booking due to the availability of only a certain number of permits every day.
Gorilla Habituation Experience
The Gorilla Habituation Experience in Rushaga is an exciting chance for visitors to have more time with the mountain gorillas. Unlike the normal treks, where visitors have one hour with the primates, the habituation experience allows visitors to spend as much as four hours with the gorillas as they get used to humans.
The habituation experience is only done in the Rushaga sector, and it takes a period of 2 to 3 years to be complete, where a team of researchers and guides help the gorillas get used to humans without any stress. Visitors will have the chance to accompany the researchers into the forest, where they get to understand more about the behaviour of the mountain gorillas.
Guided Nature Walks and Forest Trails
Rushaga sector boasts extensive forest trails, providing visitors with an unparalleled opportunity for nature walks. On these trails, tourists can explore Bwindi’s rich ecosystem, which is home to different bird species, butterflies and medicinal plants. Led by knowledgeable locals, visitors can also gain an understanding of the different plants and animals of the forest, as well as how they apply to herbal medicine and the importance of conservation.
While hiking the forest trails, tourists can also take advantage of the breathtaking landscapes of the valleys and mountains that surround them. These walks are suitable for nature lovers, bird watchers and those wishing for a relaxed stroll in the woods.
Bird Watching in Bwindi Forest
Bird watching is also an activity you can enjoy in Rushaga, as the forest is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a birding hotspot. The forest is home to more than 350 bird species, many endemic and Albertine rift endemics, including the African green broadbill, kivu ground thrush and the African green broadbill. Birding walks are at times scheduled for the early morning, when these birds are most active. This allows tourists to spot and identify various species.
Various forest trails are available for bird enthusiasts to explore, with expert guides to enhance the experience. During a birding tour in Rushaga, tourists have an opportunity to spot different bird species such as the Regal Sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori Turaco, Stripe-breasted Tit, Grauer’s Warbler, Handsome Francolin, African Green Broadbill, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Kivu Ground Thrush, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Bar-tailed Trogon, Many-coloured Bush-shrike, Doherty’s Bushshrike, Mountain Oriole, African Wood Owl, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Great Blue Turaco and more.
Community Village Tours and Cultural Interactions
Community tourism is an important part of the tourism experience in Rushaga. Visitors can have the opportunity to tour the villages to learn about the Batwa Pygmy and Bakiga communities. Visitors will be able to see what life in these communities was like, including how they lived, their customs, and worked with crafts like basket weaving, dancing and music.
Interacting with the communities will not only promote sustainable tourism but also empower the locals to benefit from the tourism experience. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in cultural drumming and dancing performances, eat the local cuisine, and purchase crafts from the locals.
Photography Tours and Wildlife Observation
Rushaga is a haven for photography enthusiasts who want to capture the beauty of Uganda’s landscape. The forests, valleys, and mountainous regions provide the perfect scenery for landscape photography. Wildlife observation is not limited to the mountain gorillas but also includes other primates such as chimpanzees, grey-cheeked mangabeys, red colobus monkeys, potto, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, animals like duikers, warthogs, golden cats, elephants, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, buffaloes and L’Hoest’s many species of birds. There are photography tours that allow visitors to take the best shots of the wildlife and the landscape. In the case of wildlife photography, the early morning and late afternoons are the best times to capture the action.
How much does it cost to obtain a gorilla permit in Rushaga sector- Bwindi?
The cost of the Bwindi gorilla permit for visitors planning to embark on their adventure in Rushaga sector is $800 per person for Non-Foreign Residents, $700 for Foreign Residents, and Shs 300,000 for East African Citizens. The cost of the gorilla habituation permit is $1500 per person for Non-Foreign Residents, $1000 for Foreign Residents, and Uganda Shs 750,000 per person for East African Citizens. The habituation permit will allow you to see the gorillas for four hours once you find them to see how they move, feed, rest, and live in their families.
Best Time to Visit Rushaga Sector
The Rushaga sector is open throughout the year, but the best time to visit the sector is during the dry season. The dry season is from June to July, August, September, December, January, and February. During this period, the rainfall is minimal, which ensures that the paths, roads, and trekking paths to the gorillas remain dry. Thus, the experience while trekking with the gorillas, going for nature walks, and visiting the communities is enjoyable. During the dry season, the chances of getting a good view of the animals while trekking or going for a safari and taking pictures with your camera are high.
In contrast, the rainy season, which includes the period from March to May and October to November, is not the best time to visit the sector. During this period, the paths become slippery, which may hinder the experience while trekking to the gorillas.
Where to Stay in Rushaga Sector
Rushaga sector provides visitors with accommodation facilities that vary from one type of accommodation to another. Rushaga sector has campsites, lodges, and eco-lodges. Therefore, visitors have a choice to make regarding the type of accommodation they prefer. Four Gorillas Lodge, Ichumbi Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, and Rushaga Gorilla Lodge are some of the places where visitors stay while on their safari.
Other notable places where visitors stay while on their safari include Bweza Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Hills Eco Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, and Wagtail Eco Safari Camp. These places to stay while on your safari allow you to have a memorable experience since they provide visitors with a peaceful environment and good services.
How to get to the Rushaga sector
Rushaga sector can be accessed by road transport means, where you will drive to the sector, which is located in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, by driving from Kampala to the park headquarters via Masaka, Mbarara, and Kabale, which will take approximately 8 to 9 hours. Rushaga sector can also be accessed by air transport means, where you will fly from Entebbe or Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro airstrip and then drive to the park headquarters.
For more information on things to do in Rushaga after gorilla trekking or to learn more about affordable packages for your safari, you can reach us at Chopper Tours and Travel.
