Rushaga Gorilla Permits – Rushaga Sector is one of the four sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in the southern part of the park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is situated in southwestern Uganda, within the districts of Kisoro, Kabale, and Kanungu.
Rushaga Sector has the highest population of mountain gorillas, and it is home to 8 gorilla families: Nshongi Gorilla Family, Mishaya Gorilla Family, Kahungye Family, Busingye Gorilla Family, Bweza Gorilla Family, Bikingi Gorilla Family, Rwigi Gorilla Family, and Mucunguzi Gorilla Family.
Gorilla trekking in the Rushaga Sector begins in the morning, where tourists are briefed about the rules and regulations at the park headquarters. Tourists are later divided into groups of 8, as only 8 people are allowed to trek a particular group. Trekking in Rushaga takes about 2 to 7 hours, depending on the location of the gorillas.
Rushaga Gorilla Permits
Gorilla permits are documents that allow people to participate in gorilla trekking in Bwindi.
The Rushaga Sector offers 64 gorilla permits for sale per day, as it has the highest number of gorilla families, allowing 64 visitors to visit this sector daily.
Rushaga permits are secured through the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Cost of Rushaga Gorilla Permits
- USD 800 for foreign non-residents per person per trek
- USD 700 for foreign residents per person per trek
- UGX 300,000 for East African nationals per person per trek
Best Time to Visit Rushaga Sector
The best time to visit Rushaga Sector is during the dry season, which falls between the months of June to August and December to February.
However, the sector can be visited throughout the year. The dry season is ideal because the trails are dry, making it easier to trek the gorillas in the jungle.
How to Access Rushaga Sector
By Road: Rushaga Sector can be accessed by road from Entebbe or Kampala using a 4×4 Land Cruiser or bus, traveling via the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Kabale highway, and then connecting to Rushaga. The journey is about 340 km and takes around 10 hours. Tourists from Rwanda can access the sector via the Katuna border and travel for about 3 to 4 hours.
By Air: Tourists can also travel by air from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield, landing at either Kisoro Airstrip or Kihihi Airstrip, and then continue by road to the Rushaga Sector. Simultaneously, Rushaga gorilla permits are the only true way to start exploring the mountain gorillas in Rushaga.