Gorilla Trekking in Rushaga Sector – Rushaga sector is located in the southern region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda.
In 1991, the forest of Bwindi was established as a national park, and its dense, dark forest led to its name, “Bwindi Impenetrable.”
The park is part of the Bwindi-Mgahinga Conservation Area and is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to the endangered mountain gorillas, hosting almost half of the world’s remaining population.
Rushaga sector has the highest number of habituated gorilla families, with eight families: Bweza, Nshongi, Busingye, Mishaya, Kahungye, Bikingi, Rwigi, and Mucunguzi.
Gorilla Trekking in Rushaga Sector
Gorilla trekking refers to the activity of hiking through the lush forest in search of mountain gorillas.
Gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector begins early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters.
Tourists are then grouped into parties of 8 people, and each group is assigned a specific gorilla family to trek.
Tourists are led by a well-trained park ranger who guides them throughout the trekking experience while sharing information about the gorillas.
During the trek, tourists may encounter different wildlife species, including birds, plants, and tree species, among others.
The entire trekking experience lasts between 2 to 6 hours, depending on the speed of the group and the location of the gorillas.
Cost of Gorilla Permits
- USD 800 for foreign non-residents
- USD 700 for foreign residents
- UGX 300,000 for East African nationals
Best Time to Go Gorilla Trekking in Rushaga
The Rushaga sector is open for trekking year-round, but the best time to trek is during the dry season when the trails are less muddy and slippery.
The dry months are June to August and December to February.
How to Book a Gorilla Permit
Gorilla permits can be secured through a trusted tour operator or directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
How to Get There
- By Road: Tourists can travel to Rushaga by road, starting from Kampala or Entebbe to Kabale, then proceeding to Rushaga. The journey takes about 10 hours, covering 340 km.
- By Air: Tourists who prefer air travel can take a flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield, landing at Kisoro Airstrip. From there, they can connect to Rushaga by road.
Other Activities
- Community walks
- Nature walks
- Bird watching
- Batwa cultural encounters
- Gorilla habituation
Remarkably, gorilla trekking in Rushaga is a very interesting experience, and tourists have an amazing time with the giant apes in the wild.
