One of Bwindi Gorilla Park’s hiking sectors is Rushaga sector, which is situated in the southern part of Bwindi. The largest number of mountain gorillas remaining in the world are found in Bwindi Gorilla Park, sheltered in the four park sectors of Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Buhoma. The Rushaga sector is well-known for having the most mountain gorillas and for being one of the sectors where mountain gorilla habituation takes place.
Trekking gorillas in Rushaga sector
As compared to other park sectors, this one has the most number of gorilla families for trekking. In the Rushaga sector, one can undertake gorilla trekking with other gorilla groups of Nshongi, Bweza, Busingye, Mishaya, Rwigi, Mucunguzi, and Kahungye gorilla families. Trekkers meet at 8 am for a briefing from park wardens’ rules and regulations before beginning their adventure with gorillas.
Every gorilla family in the Rushaga sector is trekked by a group of eight individuals under the direction of armed ranger guides who are knowledgeable about the best places to trek and are able to defend the trekkers from potentially dangerous wild animals. Trekking takes two to seven hours, during which time one must navigate tough terrain and dense jungle in search of mountain gorillas.
On locating a gorilla group, trekkers will have an hour to spend with the armed ranger guides, learn about their habits, take pictures, and observe the mountain gorillas as they go about their everyday lives—hunting, nesting, climbing, feeding, and much more.
In the Rushaga sector, there resides 7 gorilla families, and each family accommodates only 8 trekkers a day. Thus, Uganda Wildlife Authority issues 56 trekking permits each day to people who are interested. The cost of a gorilla trekking permit for the Rushaga region of Bwindi Gorilla Park is UGX250,000 for East African citizens, $600 for foreign residents, and $700 for non-residents of other countries.
Gorilla habituation experience in Rushaga
Trekkers can spend four hours with a mountain gorilla group during the gorilla habituation experience in the Rushaga gorilla sector of the Bwindi gorilla park. The Bikingi gorilla group is where hikers participate in the gorilla habituation process in Rushaga sector, which aims to making mountain gorillas used to human presence. Similar to gorilla trekking, mountain gorilla habituation begins with a briefing early in the morning from park wardens, and armed ranger guides lead every hike.
Trekkers spend four hours with mountain gorillas as part of the gorilla habituation activity. During this time, they assist the gorillas in getting used to human presence, observe the gorillas going about their daily lives, take pictures, and learn about their habits. Trekking always offers a great chance of encountering different park mammals, species of birds and primates.
You must obtain a gorilla habituation permission from a reputable local tour operator in order to participate in the gorilla habituation experience in Rushaga gorilla sector. These permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The cost of a mountain gorilla habituation permit is $1500 for non-resident foreigners, $1000 for foreign East African residents, and UGX750,000 for citizens of East Africa.
Additional activities to do in Rushaga gorilla sector
In addition to gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation, other activities available in Bwindi Gorilla Park include nature walks, birding, and Batwa cultural experience. Visitors can engage with the Batwa pygmies who were formerly residents of Bwindi before the government drove them out and forced them to live on the outside of the park through the Batwa cultural excursions.
With nature walks, visitors can take a foot safari in the national park and get up close and personal with some of its primates, birds, and mammals. Black bee-eater, grey cuckoo-shrike, African wood owl, Rwenzori nightjar, collared apalis, red-throated alethe, collared apalis, mountain masked apalis, African green broadbill, strange weaver, dusky twinspot, regal sunbird, kivu ground thrush, tit hylia, red-faced woodland warbler, and montane oriole are just a few of the over 350 bird species that can be seen in the park during birding activities in the Rushaga sector.
Lodging options in Rushaga gorilla sector
The next step is to arrange accommodations in the Rushaga region of the Bwindi Gorilla Park in case you wish to remain overnight or longer. In the Rushaga area, there are a plethora of lodges and motels to choose from, catering to all budgets and tastes. These include the following: Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Nsongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Resort, Four Gorillas Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, and Wagtail Eco Safari Lodge.
When to go to Rushaga for gorilla trekking sector
Although trekking in Rushaga sector of the southern Bwindi Gorilla Park is available year-round, some months are better than others. The best times to visit the Rushaga sector are during the dry months of June to September and December to February. These months are characterized by little to no rainfall, which leaves the trekking trails dry, sparse vegetation allowing clear views of the animals, and passable roads that lead to the park.
However, the park is still open for visits during the wet season of March to May and October to November. Visitors during those times can take advantage of discounts on lodging options. Travelers should know that during the rainy season, the park’s roads are impassable, the trekking routes are muddy and slippery, and the heavy vegetation obscures views of the animals and poses a photographic challenge.