Why you should combine gorilla trekking in Rushaga and Nkuringo sector of Bwindi

Combining gorilla trekking in Rushaga and Nkuringo allows tourists to experience the distinct opportunities in both sectors. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is a breathtaking activity that takes tourists through the dense forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, in the south-western part of Uganda. Both the Rushaga and the Nkuringo sectors are found in the southern part of Bwindi and are close to each other, which makes combining gorilla trekking in both sectors easy.

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The Rushaga sector is one of the four sectors in Bwindi and is home to habituated gorilla families. Many tourists want to visit the Rushaga sector because of the many habituated gorilla families and because it is the only place where one can go for the gorilla habituation experience. The Rushaga sector is closer to Kigali in Rwanda via the Cyanika border for all tourists who prefer to track gorillas from Rwanda.

The Nkuringo sector is also considered to be one of the best sectors to trek in the Bwindi trek sector in Bwindi. It is the best sector for tourists to have a boat ride due to its closeness to Lake Mulehe or Lake Mutanda in Kisoro District. It offers views of the Virunga mountains, Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo, which are located in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Nkuringo sector is considered to be more suitable for longer treks as compared to the Rushaga sector, which has steep trails.

Reasons why you should combine gorilla trekking in Rushaga and the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi

Below are some of the reasons why you should combine gorilla trekking in Rushaga and the Nkuringo Sector of Bwindi.

1. There are increased chances of seeing the Mountain gorillas

The Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors both have numerous habituated gorilla families that increase the chances of spotting the mountain gorillas and also have a large pool of families to trek from.

The Rushaga sector is also home to four habituated gorilla families and these include the Nshongi gorilla family, Mishaya gorilla family, Bweza gorilla family, Kahungye gorilla family, Mucunguzi gorilla family, Bikingi gorilla family, Bweza gorilla family, Busingye gorilla family and Rwigi gorilla family.

The Nkuringo sector, on the other hand, is home to three habituated gorilla families, and these include the Nkuringo gorilla family, the Christmas gorilla family, and the Bushaho gorilla family.

Each of these gorilla families has unique characteristics and behaviour which gives tourists a chance to experience what each of the gorilla families in each sector has to offer.

Tourists also get to experience other activities that are offered in Rushaga and Nkuringo after gorilla trekking, and these include guided nature walks, bird watching and enjoying the Batwa walk, among others.

2. Accessibility of the two sectors

It is easy to access both Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and this is one of the many reasons why tourists should combine the two sectors for gorilla trekking.

Tourists should combine the two sectors because it takes roughly an hour driving between Rushaga and Nkuringo which makes transportation easy.

Tourists can also trek mountain gorillas in Rushaga while sleeping in Nkuringo due to the many accommodation facilities that are found in Rushaga, making it the perfect combined safari for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, but you have to purchase permits for both Nkuringo and Rushaga.

3. The variety of accommodation

Both Rushaga and Nkuringo have a wide range of accommodation facilities that you can choose from and these range from budget, mid-range and luxury accommodation facilities. When booking accommodation, you have to make sure that the accommodation booked is found within the sector where you are trekking, that is, Rushaga and Nkuringo.

Rushaga accommodation: Some of the accommodation facilities you can use in the Rushaga sector include Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Bweza Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Hills Eco Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Gahiza Island Retreat, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Nshongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Resort and Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge among others.

Nkuringo accommodation: Accommodation facilities within the Nkuringo that you can use include Gorilla Heights Lodge, Albertine Gorilla campsite, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge and Lake Muhele Gorilla Lodge.

What you need to plan the combined gorilla trek safari in Rushaga and Nkuringo

To be able to combine gorilla trekking in Rushaga and Nkuringo, you need to plan for the trekking permits, transport between the two sectors, get appropriate trekking gear and plan for accommodation.

The gorilla trek permits: A gorilla trekking permit is extremely important when planning for the combined trek safari and this can be purchased with the help of Encounter Africa Safaris. You will, however, need separate gorilla trekking permits for Rushaga and Nkuringo, and this can be requested during the booking and purchase process. Note that a gorilla permit issued for Rushaga cannot be used in Nkuringo and hence the separate permits.

Permits have to be booked in advance at least 3 to 6 months before the trek date for proper planning.

The cost of the trek permit in Rushaga and Nkuringo is the same and it is $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents and UGX300,000 for East African citizens. There are no permit discounts in Uganda and no scammers should tell you otherwise.

Organise transport: Organising transport starts from Kampala or Entebbe to Rushaga or Nkuringo sector, depending on which sector you are going to trek first, and this can take 8 to 9 hours to get to the sectors. The drive is usually carried out using 4x4 safari vehicles, and these are the best since they can easily navigate the roads leading to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and between the two sectors.

The drive between Rushaga and Nkuringo can take 1 hour for a one way trip depending on the weather and road conditions on the trek of the trek. When travelling between the two sectors, you have to wake up early so as not to miss out on the trekking exercise.

The fastest way to get to Rushaga and Nkuringo is by chartering flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi Airstrip or Kisoro Airstrip, which is closer to Bwindi. The flight takes 1 to 2 hours and you get to connect to the park by road from the airstrip.

Other factors to consider: There are other considerations that you need to look at when planning a combined gorilla safari between Rushaga and Nkuringo sector and these are:

• Check your fitness levels, you need to be ready for the hike through Rushaga, which is steeper, and Buhoma because of the terrain that is made up of rocks, steep slopes and valleys, among others.
• You should get acclimatised because Bwindi is located at a high altitude to be able to enjoy the gorilla trek in Rushaga and Nkuringo
• Always follow all the rules and regulations that are given for trekking.
• Hire a porter to help you with the luggage.

The gorilla trekking experience in Rushaga and Nkuringo

The combined gorilla trekking in Rushaga and Nkuringo starts early morning with a briefing at the park headquarters where the lead guides will take you through the trekking rules and regulations, and thereafter assign habituated gorilla families to groups of 8 trekkers.

The trek starts officially after the assignment of the gorilla family, and it can take 1 to 6 hours, depending on the speed at which the trek is conducted and the location of the mountain gorillas on the day of the trek.

The trek will take you through the different trek trails within Rushaga sector and Nkuringo sector, and after locating the gorilla family, you have an hour with the gorillas watching them as they care for the young ones, protect, search for food and go on about their day.

After spending time with the mountain gorillas, you will head back to the lodge or park headquarters.

The gorilla trekking rules in the Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors

The trekking rules and regulations that were put in place to protect the mountain gorillas and the trekkers at the same time are to be followed by all tourists visiting the national park for gorilla trekking. The rules that have to be followed by trekkers during a gorilla trek in Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors include the following:

• All trekkers have to attend the briefing which is led by the park rangers and guides.
• Trekkers have to be at least 12 years old to be able to participate in gorilla trekking in Ruhija and Buhoma
• You have an hour with the mountain gorillas after locating them
• Only 8 trekkers are to visit an assigned gorilla family per day.
• No one will be allowed to access the mountain gorillas without a trekking permit
• Littering in Ruhija and Buhoma is prohibited to protect the natural habitat of the mountain gorillas.
• Human waste in both sectors has to be buried in a hole 30cm deep, and it should be covered well so that the gorillas do not dig it up.
• Follow all the guidelines from the lead guides and rangers.
• Do not wander off from the group because other wild animals live within the national park.
• Avoid spitting on the vegetation within the sectors, as it is food for the mountain gorillas.
• Keep a distance of 7 meters from the gorillas at all times to protect yourself and the mountain gorillas.
• Volunteer to stay away from the trek if you are sick especially if you have viral infections. This is to protect the mountain gorillas who are highly susceptible to diseases.

When to travel for gorilla trekking in Rushaga and Nkuringo

The  Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors can be visited throughout the year but the most preferred and recommended time is the dry season when the weather conditions are favourable. The dry months usually are June to September and December to February, and they are characterised by little or no rainfall, and the forest trek trails are easier to use since they tend to be less slippery and not muddy. It is also easier to access both Rushaga and Ruhija during the dry season, but you should expect weather changes from time to time because the park is a rainforest and the rains can come in at any time of the day. The downside of visiting during the dry season is the large crowds of tourists, which leads to an increase in the cost of the safari because of the increased cost of tourist services like accommodation and transport.

The wet season offers an opportunity for trekkers to explore both Ruhija and Buhoma sectors at a budget-friendly cost because of the discounts that are offered especially on accommodation. The wet season receives few tourists because of the heavy rains, and it is from October to November and March to May, which is the longest rainy season.

What to pack for the combined gorilla trek safari in Rushaga and Nkuringo sector

When you think about a combined gorilla trek safari in Rushaga and Nkuringo, the first thingneed is to secure a valid gorilla trek permit through a trusted tour operator. A valid gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is $800 for foreign non-residents per visitor, $700 for foreign residents per visitor and UGX300,000 for East African citizens.

Rushaga sector offers gorilla habituation and ,the gorilla habituation permits go for $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for African citizens and foreign residents and UGX750,000 for East African citizens permits have to be booked in advance at least 3 to 6 months before you can make the actual trip to trek gorillas in Ruhija and Buhoma sectors.

Other essential items that you can pack for the combined safari include the following.

• Clothes that should be in neutral colours, these include long-sleeved shirts and light-weight trousers.
• Warm clothes like sweaters, scarves, and ponchos
• Waterproof rain jacket for the rains that come in all year round
• Waterproof knee-length comfortable hike hikings
• Gardening gloves to protect your hands
• Socks, thesesed to keep warm and you can tuck your trousers into the socks to avoid insects from crawling up your legs
• A camera and it should come with extra batteries, lenses, memory cards and a waterproof camera bag to keep your equipment safe and dry.
• A pair of binoculars
• Waterproof rain jacket and coat to keep dry
• Insect repellent and sunscreen
• A sunhat and sunglasses
• A first aid kit
• Waterproof backpack.

Get in touch with us at Encounter Africa Safaris and let us help you plan a combined gorilla trek safari in Rushaga and Nkuringo.