Traveling from Kigali for gorilla trekking in Rushaga Sector offers memorable encounters with the mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. For the record, the distance from Kigali in Rwanda to the Rushaga sector is shorter than from Kampala to the same destination. Therefore, trekking gorillas in Rushaga from Kigali ensures that the travel time is shortened, thus providing more opportunities to experience more activities.
How is gorilla trekking done in Rushaga?
You need to present a gorilla permit at the Rushaga Sector gate to be allowed entrance. Be at the place before 8 am to attend the short briefing. During the latter, park personnel offer insight into guidelines and rules for successful gorilla trekking. You also get some information about the gorilla family you will track. A ranger guide will lead you to look for the family in the thick Rushaga forest.
After a while of walking, you will meet the gorilla family. Spend an hour in their proximity to observe their behaviors. Capture these unique gorillas on camera to have nice memories of Rushaga Sector. After this, return to the starting point for debriefing. You will be awarded a certificate at the Rushaga headquarters. As you track gorillas, you will take 2 to 6 hours, depending on your pace and where the gorillas spent the night yesterday.
Gorilla families in Rushaga Sector
Of all the sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Rushaga Sector shelters the most habituated gorilla families. They include Mishaya group, Bikingi group, Rwigi group, Tindatine group, Kahungye group, Bweza group, Busingye group, Mucunguzi group, and Kutu group. This offers a variety of families to choose from. You can even do a double trek if you want to.
Cost of a gorilla trek in Rushaga Sector
The cost of all gorilla trekking tours in the Rushaga sector, like in all other sectors of Uganda, is standard. Currently, the rates offered by Uganda Wildlife Authority to buy a gorilla permit are as follows,
- Foreign non-residents: USD 800
- Foreign residents: USD 700
- Rest of Africa: USD 500
- Citizens of the East African Community: UGX 300,000
These rates are offered per person, specifically for the date of trekking, unless schedules or cancellations are made by UWA. Do not consider buying a gorilla permit unless you are 15 years old and above.
When to travel to Rushaga Sector
Gorilla trekking in the Rushaga sector is offered every day without exception. Traveling from Kigali to Rushaga Sector can be done all year round. The ease of trekking the gorilla families in Rushaga is dependent on the weather conditions. Trekking is less difficult in the dry season compared to the wet season.
Chances of rainfall are quite low during the dry season, and the skies are mostly clear. The gorilla trails are less muddy, which makes walking easier. This season is experienced from June to August and from December to February.
Wet seasons offer ideal conditions for visitors who prefer trekking with gorillas on muddy or slippery trails. This is due to the heavy rains that fall frequently in Rushaga during this time of the year. The rains cause the vegetation in Rushaga Sector to grow even denser.
This makes the trek even more challenging but thrilling. But photos of the gorillas look more amazing because the dense vegetation cover offers beautiful backdrops. The wet season in the Rushaga Sector runs from March to May and from October to November.
How to travel
The only way of traveling from Kigali in Rwanda to Rushaga Sector in the south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is by road. The best route is Kigali-Katuna-Kabale-Kisoro, which covers approximately 171.5 kilometers. The time taken during this cross-border scenic drive is 4 to 5 hours. There is a pause at the Katuna border where immigration documents are cleared to ensure that you enter Uganda legally.
Other Gorilla Sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Rushaga is one of the 4 gorilla sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Others are Ruhija Gorilla Sector, Nkuringo Gorilla Sector, and Buhoma Gorilla Sector. Buhoma is situated in the northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The others are situated in the southern parts of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Among these, Rushaga is the only sector where gorilla habituation experiences are done. Buhoma Sector is, however, iconic since it is where the first gorilla family was habituated for trekking.