Participate in the exhilarating gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector in the south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (331 Km2), in southwestern Uganda. Rushaga is one of four gorilla sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park containing habituated gorilla families for trekking. The other sectors are Ruhija in the southeast, Nkuringo in the southwest and Buhoma in the north. The four sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park have around 22 habituated gorilla families. Rushaga has the highest number of habituated gorilla families which include Nshongi, Bikingi, Busingye, Kutu, Mucunguzi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Bweza and Rwigi. This positions Rushaga as the best sector to track and observe a habituated mountain gorilla family.
Permit for gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector
Trekking gorillas in Rushaga sector and spending an hour in their presence is only done if you have a gorilla permit, issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. This document can only be acquired through a licenced tour operator like Monteero Safaris. They are usually limited each day and are on high demand especially during the peak season of tourism. Therefore, you should acquire or book your permit in advance to avoid unnecessary inconveniences. This could be done at least 3 months before your trekking date. The permit costs US$800 per person per trek, which also caters for park entrance, guiding and contribution to community development.
How gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector is done
All visitors should be assembled at the Rushaga sector trailhead before 08:00 for a short briefing conducted by a park ranger. Each visitor should be placed in a group of up to 8 other visitors and assigned a gorilla family to trek. This depends on your physical level which might be a factor in an exhaustive tour activity like this. An experienced ranger guide who is also a tracker is accompanied by an armed ranger to lead you into the dense forest to track the gorilla family. You will find the gorilla family and allowed to observe their unique styles of interacting with each other and their habitat for an hour. You will also take photos to remind you of the amazing tour experience. Then you will hike back to the starting point for debriefing.
How to travel for gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector
To access the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you could travel either by road or air. Road transportation from either Kampala, Kigali or even other Ugandan national parks is possible. From Kampala to the Rushaga sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the scenic journey will cover a road distance of roughly 510 kilometers. This is a 10.5 to 11 hours drive south-westwards. From Queen Elzabeth National Park, the drive to Rushaga covers around 155 kilometers and takes 5 to 6 hours. From Kigali, the journey takes around 4.5 to 5 hours on a road distance of 173 kilometers. You can travel in comfort by hiring any of our available safari vehicles, including four-wheel safari car, drone and saloon car.
Alternatively, you can choose a domestic flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airstrip provided by AeroLink. The flight takes 1 to 1.5 hours and offers aerial views of Uganda’s diverse ecosystems. Once you reach the airstrip, you will need ground transportation to reach the Rushaga sector. Your trusted and licenced tour operator, Monteero Safaris will organize this for you since we have our representatives to meet you and drive you to either Rushaga or your booked lodge. Monteero Safaris is also your trusted safari company to book the flight since we are locally based and have a good working relationship with AeroLink. This helps us get real-time information regarding any changes in flight and weather conditions.
Best time to experience gorilla trekking in Rushaga Sector
The Rushaga sector offers gorilla trekking tours every day of the year regardless of the season. However, different travelers choose to go for gorilla trekking based on certain factors, including weather, budget and tranquillity. For example, some people would love to trek gorillas while traversing less challenging terrain, where the gorilla trails are less damp thus not slippery. Such conditions are created during the dry season, which occurs twice a year, from December to February and from June to August. The dry season provides warm and dry weather conditions that are suitable for outdoor activities. Moreover, the dry season has comparatively low chances of rainfall, thus offering uninterrupted adventures with clear visibility in the forest.
For hardcore trekkers you have the wet season that occurs twice a year, from March to May, with the second one during October and November. The wet season brings frequent rains that cause wet and cooler weather conditions in the forest. These create muddy and slippery trails that make the trek more demanding or exhaustive but intriguing. The undergrowth becomes much denser with heavy rains thus providing cover to the gorilla families. This makes locating them more adventurous. For budget travelers, the rainy season is the low season with lesser crowds that offer tranquil gorilla treks in the Rushaga sector. Chances are also high for you to get discounts on your accommodation and private transportation to the Rushaga sector.
What to pack for gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector
Kindly do not forget to pack essential items necessary for a comfortable gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector. These include,
- Lightweight and neutral-colored clothes, usually a long pair of trousers and long-sleeved shirt
- Strong hiking shoes or boots and a pair of socks
- Gaiters
- Hat or cap
- Sweater and light rain jacket
- UV protection sunglasses
- Suncream
- Insect repellent
- Camera
- Pair of binoculars
- Water bottle
- Light energy snacks
- Backpack
- Basic first aid kit
- Cash for hiring porters and buying souvenirs
- Gorilla permit