Rushaga Vs Buhoma: Which is the Best Spot for Gorilla Trekking?
Discover the key differences between gorilla trekking in Rushaga and Buhoma: costs, accessibility, wildlife encounters, and which region offers the best experience.
Gorilla trekking in Rushaga and Buhoma sectors presents you with a great opportunity to explore more about mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Trekking mountain gorillas in either Rushaga or Buhoma is a must-do on a Uganda safari. Mountain gorillas exist in very few places. Visiting Rushaga or Buhoma to begin your trekking journey to witness these apes in their natural environment is a unique opportunity that comes once in a lifetime.
Whereas Rushaga and Buhoma both offer exhilarating gorilla trekking adventures, each sector has its advantages that position them at a certain edge. And it is no surprise that most visitors planning to track gorillas in Uganda ask, “Between Rushaga and Buhoma, which is the best or better sector to visit for gorilla trekking? Many factors can be put into consideration before you make a conclusive remark about gorilla trekking in either Rushaga or Buhoma. The factors present provide a comparison between gorilla trekking in Rushaga and Buhoma.
Location
The Rushaga sector lies in the Southern part of the lush Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Buhoma is located at the Northern end of Bwindi National Park. The two sectors both exist in different regions.
Rushaga sector is where the highest number of habituated gorilla families in the entire Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The habituated gorilla groups to explore in the Rushaga sector include Rwigyi, Busingye, Mucunguzi gorilla family, Busingye group, Bweza gorilla family, Nshongi group, Kutu family, Mishaya gorilla family, and Bikingi group.
Buhoma sector holds about 5 habituated gorilla families, including the Mubare gorilla group, the Katwe group, Muyambi, Habinyanja gorilla group, and Rushegura gorilla family.
Gorilla Families
Habinyanja gorilla group: Habinyanja derives its name from the Rukiga word ‘Nyanja’, meaning a place with water. Originally, the Habinyanja gorilla group had a composition of 25 individuals under the leadership of Mugurusi silverback gorilla. Unfortunately, Mugurusi died due to old age. When he died, there were succession disputes as potential leaders would fight, including the Mwirima, Makara, and Rwansigazi.
Rushegura gorilla family
This is one of the fully habituated gorilla groups to expect to explore in the Buhoma sector. This gorilla family separated from the Habinyanja group in 2002. Mwirima silverback gorilla, led a breakaway of this group from the Habinyanja. The group has had a continuous increase in the population of its members. Mwirima silverback died, and the leadership of the Rushegura gorilla family was succeeded by another male gorilla that was a blackback then.
Katwe gorilla family
Katwe is a newly established gorilla family and is open for gorilla trekking in the Buhoma sector. During the launch of this group, there were only 9 members, which included females, silverback gorilla, blackback, and infants.
Muyambi gorilla group
This is another newly habituated gorilla family officially opened for gorilla trekking in 2019. Muyambi was originally a member of the Mubare group. In 2019, it was opened for trekking and comprised 6 individuals.
Mubare gorilla family
Mubare is the oldest group of mountain gorillas set in the Buhoma sector. It officially opened for trekking in 1993, and back then, it had a composition of about 12 members.
Rushaga Vs Buhoma –Quick highlights
Gorilla families: Rushaga sector is where you can find the highest number of groups majority of which have completed the habituation cycle and are ready for trekking. This is not the case with Buhoma, with about 5 gorilla families.
Gorilla habituation experience. In addition to the normal gorilla treks, Rushaga is the only region in Bwindi to visit for you to experience the best of mountain gorilla habituation. The gorilla habituation experience mainly takes visitors on an active walk to search for the unhabituated gorilla families. The Buhoma sector doesn’t offer a gorilla habituation experience.
Hiking challenge. If you enjoy challenging hikes, then consider traveling to the Rushaga sector in the Southern end of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park. Buhoma is ideal for visitors who desire easier trekking adventures. The terrain in the Buhoma sector is slightly different from that of Rushaga.
Getting to Rushaga and the Buhoma sector
Rushaga and Buhoma can be accessed by road and also by air. Driving to Rushaga and Buhoma requires 8-9 hours from Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Kabale/Kisoro route. Visitors can branch off from the main Kisoro-Kabale route, take a right to find a huge signpost of the Uganda Wildlife Authority. From here, proceed to your respective accommodation property, ideal for your overnight stay before or after trekking gorillas in Buhoma.
Rushaga can be reached from the Kabale-Kisoro highway at Muko junction. Using air travel, visitors can make their journey shorter by taking a flight from the Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airstrip, where you can easily connect to the Rushaga sector. A flight to Kihihi Airstrip makes it easier for visitors to connect to the Buhoma sector. From the airstrips to Rushaga or Buhoma takes a shorter period.
Where to stay
Rushaga and Buhoma comprise diverse accommodation options to consider for overnight stays. The available accommodation alternatives range from budget, midrange, to luxury. The Buhoma sector has amazing places for overnight stay, including the Luxurious Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Orugano Lodge, Gorilla Bluff Lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, and Mahogany Springs Lodge.
While in the Rushaga sector, the various places for overnight stay include Nshongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Safari Lodge, Rushaga Community Campsite, Rushaga Camp, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, and Four Gorillas Lodge.
When to travel for gorilla trekking in Rushaga and Buhoma sectors
Buhoma and Rushaga, which are part of Bwindi, a gorilla safari destination that enjoys ideal weather conditions all year round. Regardless of its all-year-round weather conditions, the dry season features as the best time to travel to Rushaga or Buhoma to track mountain gorillas. The longest dry months extend from June to September, and the short dry months run from December to February.
Rushaga and Buhoma sectors can also be explored during a gorilla trekking tour around the wet season. There are also two phases of wet or rainy seasons which occur in the two sectors, with the longest often occurring from March to May, and another phase begins from October to November.
What to take for a tour in Rushaga and Buhoma
A well-planned gorilla trekking tour in Rushaga or Buhoma sector requires you to pack the right gear. Items to include on your list are long-sleeved shirts, a camera, a first aid kit, a daypack, a sweater, a rain jacket, and sunscreen. You may also carry a pair of binoculars, insect repellents, adequate snacks, bottled drinking water, a safari hat, gardening gloves, waterproof hiking boots, sunglasses, and additional camera batteries etc.
Generally, the best sector you choose to travel to track mountain gorillas varies depending on visitor priorities. Visitors seeking a longer trek yet offering complete immersion in the jungle can opt for the Rushaga gorilla sector. If you plan to enjoy easier gorilla treks and convenient access, then consider booking a gorilla tour tailored to the Buhoma sector.
In addition to Rushaga and Buhoma, visitors on a gorilla tour to Bwindi can also explore other sectors, including Nkuringo in the Southern part and Ruhija in the Eastern side. Like other sectors, Nkuringo and Ruhija also have great gorilla families worth exploring on the Uganda gorilla tour in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
