Planning a Rushaga gorilla trek from Kigali, Rwanda, to Uganda.

Planning a Rushaga gorilla trek from Kigali, Rwanda, to Uganda. When you go gorilla trekking in Uganda through Rwanda but prefer the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you must reserve the permits in advance. Although Rushaga area has the largest number of gorilla families open for trekking, the demand for these permits surpasses the supply.

In Rushaga area, the gorilla families present at the moment include Bwigi family, Kahungye family, Nshongi family, Mucunguzi family, Bikyingi family, Mishaya family, Bweza family and Busingye family. The list of gorilla families in Rushaga sector of Bwindi forest may change as gorilla families split and more families are under the habituation process. 

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You can enter Uganda via the Cyanika or Gatuna border from Kigali to Kabale, Kisoro, and the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where the Rushaga area is part. 

Even the accommodations you book for the gorilla safari adventure must be within the outskirts of the Rushaga sector. This is to avoid having to wake up at night to drive to catch up with the early morning briefing before the gorilla trekking adventure.

How to Organize a Gorilla trekking tour in Rushaga sector 

Secure a gorilla permit for Rushaga area

When your preferred choice is gorilla trekking in Rushaga area, check for permit availability and purchase your permit in advance. This is to avoid last-minute panic as you try to find the availability of the gorilla permits. Towards the high season, the availability of gorilla permits becomes harder, making it even harder to make a choice of your area of preference.

You can purchase the gorilla permit through an accredited safari operator like Encounter Africa Safaris. We have a team of professional and experienced tour consultants who can help plan a gorilla safari package for you, reserve gorilla permits, reserve accommodation for you to stay at while on gorilla safari and other amenities.

Procedure For Booking Gorilla Permit For Rushaga Area

Select a date when you wish to do gorilla trekking and the number of people traveling with in case you have company while on this African safari adventure.

Enquire about gorilla permit availability from a tour operator or Uganda Wildlife Authority. You must specify where you prefer your gorilla permit to be booked, the Rushaga area.

Upon confirming the availability of the gorilla trekking permits for Rushaga sector, we advise tourists to purchase theirs as soon as possible. This is to minimize the chances of not finding the availability of gorilla permits for the Rushaga area in the later days. The gorilla permit sells out on a first-come, first-served basis. None can be reserved without payment.

Forward personal details for identification like your full name as presented in the passport, date of birth, nationality, and expiry date. These are included in the gorilla permit card and later retrieved upon presenting this card.

Reserve Accommodations In Rushaga Area

Upon securing the gorilla permit for Rushaga, book accommodation within or closer to Rushaga area. This is to avoid having to rise in the dark from another area to drive in order to catch up with the briefing in Rushaga area. 

The Rushaga area has different categories of accommodations ranging from Luxury and mid-range to Budget facilities. As the peak season draws closer, options of accommodations to use during gorilla trekking narrow down.

Since the Nkuringo area is a small distance from Rushaga, you can overnight in Nkuringo area.

Rushaga accommodation: 

Clouds Lodge, Wagagai Eco safari Camp, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Backpacker’s camp, Nshongi Camp, Chameleon Hill Camp, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Lake Mutanda Resort.

Book Transport to Rushaga area

Reserving a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle is the best recommendation during a gorilla safari to Rushaga area. The countryside roads are sometimes messy, especially in the severe rainy season, normally March, April, May, and November. They get slippery and muddy, so do not expect a smooth ride. 

You can navigate to Rushaga area from Kigali by road through Kabale and Kisoro to the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, about 202.6 kilometers away. 

At Encounter Africa Safaris, reserve professional and experienced tour guides knowledgeable about how to drive through Rwanda and Uganda.

Secure additional activities to Combine with Gorilla Trekking in Rushaga area

Gorilla habituation Experience

While in Rushaga area, you can take extra time with the mountain gorillas by participating in the gorilla habituation experience. The gorilla habituation experience is an adventure where tourists follow a team of researchers and trackers to escort a semi-habituated gorilla family to help them get used to human presence without altering their nature.

Two gorilla families are open to the public for gorilla habituation experience. Only a maximum of four permits are open to the public to book per day.

Gorilla habituation experience permits cost $1500 per person per trek for foreign nonresidents, $1000 for foreign residents and 750000shs for East African residents. Booking is required since gorilla permits are limited to 4 per gorilla family.

Birding In Rushaga Area

Just from your balcony, you can spot several bird species that love gracing the nearby bushes. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the prime Uganda birding destination, no matter where you are. While doing gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience, there are higher chances of identifying over 100 bird species, including the rare Albertine rift endemics.

Some birds you may come across while searching to locate the mountain gorillas include the Western Green Tinkerbird, African Hill Babbler, Rwenzori Batis flycatcher, Mountain Masked Apalises, Collared Apalis and others.

Even without organizing a birding safari, keen birders on a gorilla safari in Rushaga area have plenty to see.

Other activities to do on Uganda safari after gorilla safari

Game drives, launch trips, and chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park which is about 3 hour to 4 hours away. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, game drives, and boat trips in Lake Mburo National Park. You can do these Uganda safari activities before or after gorilla safari depending on the flow of your safari itinerary.

Murchison Falls National Park can also be added for superb game driving along the banks of the river Nile, which is the park’s lifeblood. A launch trip to Murchison Falls is splendid as you watch the River Nile water squeeze through a 6 meters gorge vigorously burst out, forming a cloudy appearance.

How Sure Can I Be to see the Mountain Gorillas In Rushaga area?

The chances of seeing mountain gorillas in Rushaga area is 98% as they are first habituated to human presence for about 2 years and over until they are fully ready for public visits. Even when you visit the gorilla family, they remain busy with their day-to-day activities as though saying you, it is you again.

Mountain gorillas occupy a particular area for some time and only move if necessary. Mountain gorillas relocation when food is completed and they need to find new feeding ground in case of a fight with another gorilla family and they lose, death of a family member and others. This guarantees finding the mountain gorillas in a certain location for at least some time.

Each day, a team of trackers follows the mountain gorillas and establish where they might have spent the night or possible hangout point for the day. The park rangers escorting a team of tourists use these clues so that tourists do not get so tired searching to locate the mountain gorillas.

When Do You Find The Rushaga Mountain Gorillas During Gorilla Safari?

Some tourists may locate the mountain gorillas in two hours, while others take three-quarters of the day. Note that the mountain gorillas are free primates without restrictions of where to go or stop. This is one of the reasons why it is hard to determine the easiest gorilla family to trek, as the one that was closer the previous day may be the furthest the next day.

You must have some patience while searching for the mountain gorillas and keep your mind open to seeing other interesting features in the wilderness. Follow gorilla trekking rules so as not to agitate the mountain gorillas, as this would push them further. 

Upon finding the mountain gorillas, only one hour is allowed in the presence of the mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking and four hours during gorilla habituation experience. This time is minimized to allow mountain gorillas time to carry on with the running of their day-to-day life.

What Guarantees Safety During Gorilla Safari In Rushaga Area?

Professional ranger guides carrying protective gear like a rifle and machete lead each group on a gorilla safari. These are used in case an emergency attacks arises, and this ranger are also on constant radio calls with security on the ground in case additional support is needed.

Other Uganda security agencies back in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park security to provide law and order in this area.

As a tourist, we advise you to be keen with personal security by keeping closer to the people you are allocated to do gorilla trekking with. This is to keep you safe from getting lost in the thick jungle where there are no communication signals in case you are lost. The ranger guide follows the pace of the slowest trekkers, but do not sneak away unnoticed to do your adventure.

What Is The Age Limit For Gorilla Trekking In Rushaga Area?

15 years is the age limit for gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience because of the nature of the terrain where mountain gorillas live, a child below 15 years may not withstand hiking in case the mountain gorillas are at the slopes.

Even the time of finding the mountain gorillas is still being determined, which may cause some tourists to get exhausted before locating the mountain gorillas. It is even worse with children below 15 years as they easily give up when tired. This may delay the rest of the gorilla safari group, causing disagreements amongst the gorilla trekkers.

Are Mountain Gorillas Aggressive?

Mountain gorillas are naturally calm and shy despite their huge body structure and scaring outlook. At a glance, they may seem aggressive but by the end of time allowed with them by departure time, you get a sense of belonging.

These gentle giants are calm may have family feuds but don’t usually escalate to include their visitors. When angry, mountain gorillas thump hard on their chest, hoot, pull grass around them, and dash into hiding.

Whenever you witness such behavior doesn’t mean they are angry with you. Wait for the ranger guide to establish the root cause of the matter before dispersing in the forest. Follow the ranger guides' instructions to prolong your stay with the mountain gorillas.

Is Gorilla Trekking in Rushaga Difficult?

As the nature of the Virunga area where mountain gorillas live is volcanic, expect to hike in case the mountain gorillas are spending their time up the highlands or deep in the valleys. This area has ridges and plateaus draped by tangled vegetation that is quite hard to walk through sometimes.

You must have the relevant gorilla trekking gear that can protect you from getting hurt while you trek to find the mountain gorillas. You can wear a long-sleeved shirt and trousers that protect you from stinging nettles.

Hiring a porter before starting the gorilla safari who can lift your bags so you stay energized while searching for the mountain gorillas.

Carry a walking stick to give you extra support in the jungle in case you need it. The ranger guide may get one for you along the way.

The joy of being about 8 meters from the only leftover mountain gorillas in the world and emerging from the gorilla trek is unmatched. This is a dream come true African safari experience in Rushaga area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda.

Contact us for more information.