Rushaga sector

Rushaga Sector is another of the 4 Gorilla Trekking sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where the famous gorilla species are habituated in Uganda.

Activities to do at Four Gorillas safari lodge

Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in south western Uganda and harbors the highest number of endangered mountain gorillas which are found in the four sectors including Rushaga, Ruhija, Buhoma, and Nkuringo sector.

Rushaga sector one of the four sectors situated in the southern part of Bwindi national park in Kisoro district where the endangered mountain gorillas can be trekked. Rushaga sector is dominated by high hills and because of this factor gorillas keep on sub-dividing into other families to take up different hills in the area and is greatest destination for scenic views of beautiful hills, the Virunga volcanoes including Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura in Mghanga national park, Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke in volcanoes national park and lake Bunyonyi the deepest lake in Uganda and second deepest in the world.

Rushaga sector is the best destination for gorilla trekking due to the highest number of habituated gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable national park which gives the visitors an opportunity to choose a gorilla family they want to trek and this is done depending on the physical fitness because the gorilla families are located in different areas. Gorilla families in Rushaga sector include

Nshongi family, this family derives its name from a river close to where it was first sighted and was the largest family with 35 members at the time of habituation experience in 2006, but currently is comprised of 7 members including 1 silverback, 3 adult females, 1 sub-adult, 1 juvenile and 1 infant, after Mishaya silverback ran away with 10 members to form his own family.
Mishaya gorilla family, this group split from the Nshongi family in 2010 due to disputes under silverback Mishaya which went away with other females to form his own family which is composed of 12 members. Mishaya silverback was known for fighting other wild gorillas in order to grab females to his own group hence was known as the strongest silverback. Mishaya later died in 2014 at the age of 28 years and the family is now dominated by Mwinne silverback.
Kahungye gorilla family, the group was habituated in 2011, derives its name from a hill in rushaga area where the family was first sighted and before separation to create a new family called Busingye, the family had about 27 members. Kahungye family is now comprised of 17 members with 3 silverbacks, 3 black backs, 3 adult females, 3 sub-adults, 3 juveniles, 2 infants and Rumanzi is the leader of the group, followed by Gwigi and Ruhamuka silverback.
Busingye gorilla family, this group derived its name from a local word which means peace and was named after the dominating silverback Busingye that is found of fighting fellow wild gorillas so as to take females to add in the family. The group separated from Kahungye family in 2012 and is comprised of 9 members including 1 silverback, 3 adult females, one juvenile and 4 infants.
Bweza gorilla family, this family is composed of 12 individuals including 2 silverbacks, 4 black backs, 3 adult females, 1 sub-adult and 2 infant and is dominated by silverback Kakono. The group split from Nshongi family due to many fights within the family and was habituated in 2012.
Mucunguzi gorilla family, this is a new gorilla family in Rushaga and the name means savior and was the third in command and youngest silverback of Bweza which split off after a fight. The family is made up of 8 individuals.
Rwigi gorilla family, this is a new gorilla group to trek in Rushaga Bwindi national park, it was split from Kahungye family. The family is comprised of 6 members including 1 baby, 2 juveniles, 3 adult females and is dominated by Rwigi silverback.
Bikingi gorilla family, is also found in the Rushaga sector and was previously under habituation experience but is currently open for gorilla trekking. It is comprised of 15 members.

Rushaga sector is known for gorilla trekking activity with about 64 gorilla trekking permits which are available daily and a single gorilla trekking permit costs $600 hence should be booked 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date to avoid competition and each gorilla family allows a maximum of 8 people to trek daily for a maximum of one hour with the gorillas. The gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi national park are offered to adults above the age of 15 years.

Apart from gorilla trekking, Rushaga sector offers other activities that visitors on a safari in Bwindi national park in Uganda can participate in including:

Gorilla habituation experience, gorilla habituation experience is a process that is conducted by researchers, guides, visitors where the gorillas are trained to get used with the human presence for trekking. Rushaga sector is the only place with gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park. Kutu gorilla family is the family that is under habituation and is comprised of 8 members. The gorilla family is visited by a group of 4 people daily and allowed to spend 4 hours with the gorillas learning their behaviors, lifestyles among others unlike gorilla trekking activity which allows 8 people maximum and 1 hour with the gorillas. Gorilla habituation experience permits cost $1500 per person, offered to adults above the age of 15 years are booked either directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority or through Achieve Global Safaris the leading tour operator in Uganda.

Nature walks / hiking, this is another activity done in Rushaga sector in Bwindi national park where you follow deferent trails like the Kara ridge trail which offers great panoramic views of Bwindi national park, Rubuguri town where you will interact with the local communities and the Batwa people, the Kapata trail which is an easy trail that takes around 3 hours and the famous trail through Bwindi forest which connects you to Lake Mutanda where you explore in a wooden dugout canoe and the trail ends in Kisoro. During nature walks in Rushaga sector you will be able to see different primates like the Red tailed monkeys, Black and White colobus monkeys, Olive baboons, Vervet monkeys among others and animals like bushbucks, warthogs, forest elephants which are rarely seen, giant forest genet, African civet, bush pigs among others.

Bird watching, Bwindi national park is a home of over 348 bird species which are found in the four sectors. Bird watching is carried out early in the morning along Lake Mutanda and in Bwindi forest in Rushaga sector where bird lovers will be able to view different bird species including Grey cuckoo shrike, Finely banded woodpecker, Bar-tailed trogon, Kivu ground, African wood owl, African green broadbill, Green tinker bird, Mountain yellow warbler among others which give bird lovers a great experience on the safari.

Cultural encounters, Rushaga sector is comprised of the Bakiga community and the Batwa community who were the original people of the forest. During the cultural encounters you will take the Buniga forest walk and the village tours where you will interact with the local people, meet the blacksmith, traditional healers who treat different diseases with traditional herbs, learn more about the Batwa people, how they used to hunt in the forest, gather fruits and honey, visit craft shops where they make art and craft items like baskets, mats, hats, bags, sandals among others, take part in local performances and entertainments like the dances, songs, stories, drumming among others which gives you a great experience about others cultures and traditions.

Boat ride on Lake Mutanda, this one of the lava dammed lakes in Uganda where you will enjoy a ride on a wooden dugout canoe to the surrounding areas. This is a great adventure where you will be able to see different animals, bird species, primate species among others while on the ride which makes your safari more fun and exciting.

Where to stay in Rushaga Sector

Rushaga sector is located in southern part in Bwindi national park and contains various luxury, midrange and budget accommodation facilities where visitors will stay during the safari in Rushaga sector including gorilla safari lodge, chameleon hill lodge, Rushaga gorilla resort, Rushaga gorilla haven lodge, Rushaga gorilla camp, wagtail eco safari camp, gorilla valley lodge among others which offer quality local and international dishes, comfortable beds, beautiful views of the landscape among others hence gives visitors an opportunity to chill out and relax after a gorilla trekking activity, or gorilla habituation experience in Rushaga sector.

How to get to Rushaga Sector

Rushaga sector can be accessed by both air and road, by air transport you can book a scheduled flight from Entebbe international airport to Kisoro airstrip then connect to Rushaga sector, you can also fly to Kigali Rwanda and connect to Rushaga by road through Cyanika border which takes around 3-5 hours drive. By road from you drive from Kampala through Mbarara then kabala- Kisoro road which takes about 9 to 10 hours drive, it’s a bit long and tiresome but it’s an adventurous drive that will be enjoyed.

Best time to visit Rushaga Sector in Bwindi National Park

Rushaga sector is the best destination in Bwindi national park with the highest number of habituated gorilla families and can be visited all year round but the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, December, January, and February when the rainfall is less and the grounds are not muddy or slippery though Bwindi is a tropical rainforest and can rain any time even if it’s a dry season.

Rushaga sector is the best destination in Bwindi national park which provides thrilling and exciting moments of gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation experience hence giving you lifetime memories on your safari in Uganda.