Gorilla Trekking in Rushaga from Entebbe
Explore an ultimate guide to gorilla trekking in Rushaga from Entebbe. It includes gorilla families to visit, the best time to visit, Rushaga gorilla permits, accommodation in and around Rushaga, how to get there, etc.
Gorilla trekking in Rushaga from Entebbe takes you to the Southern end of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to track mountain gorillas. Connecting from Entebbe to the Rushaga sector to trek gorillas is an ideal option for tourists who opt to fly in Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. Rushaga is known to hold the highest population of gorilla families that have been opened for tourism. Visiting Rushaga from Entebbe offers more opportunities to engage in the gorilla trekking adventure than any other sector.
Location of Rushaga region/trailhead
Rushaga trailhead or sector is among the prominent gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi. It is located in the Southern part of Bwindi, Southwestern Uganda. Its strategic location to the South even makes it possible for tourists from Kisoro or Mgahinga National Park to connect and explore the Rushaga gorilla families.
Rushaga Gorilla Trekking Experience
Rushaga gorilla trekking experience primarily focuses on visiting mountain gorillas in the wild. The day with the Rushaga mountain gorillas start with an early morning briefing on the rules and regulations, as well as allocating gorilla groups. The park officials also use the morning briefing session for allocating ranger guides from Bwindi to guests.
The actual Rushaga gorilla trekking adventure begins at around 8:00 am. Trekking takes between 2 and 7 hours. To find the Rushaga gorillas, expect to spend a long time navigating the rainforest with an experienced guide. The ranger guide takes responsibility to ensure that everyone on the gorilla trekking session is safe. He or she offers an in-depth knowledge of the gorilla behaviors.
When you plan to explore the Rushaga gorillas, be prepared for a thrilling trek. Prepare yourself enough to conquer the high elevation. This sector also has dense jungles as part of your journey to find the family of mountain gorillas. The guidelines or regulations should also be respected at all times while in the jungle and this is aimed at to reduce any risk of transmitting infectious diseases to gorillas. The park official shall ensure that everyone maintains a safe distance of between 8 and 10 meters from a group of mountain gorillas.
Enjoy more than the normal gorilla trek.
Rushaga gorilla safaris promise more than the usual treks with mountain gorillas. Rushaga is one exceptional region or sector to consider for you to experience the best of mountain gorilla habituation. Gorilla habituation experience in Rushaga takes visitors to explore the semi-habituated gorilla groups. During the magical encounter, gorilla habituation offers 4 hours for visitors to appreciate the different behaviors and taking pictures of gorillas. This is more than double the one hour visitors get during the normal gorilla treks.
Rushaga’s Habituated Gorilla Families
Rushaga region/trailhead has a long list of habituated gorilla families. They include, among others Bikingi, Bweza, Busingye, Mucunguzi, Kahungye, Nshongi, and Kutu gorilla families, etc. On the actual trek with the Rushaga gorillas, each group is visited by up to eight guests.
How much is a gorilla permit in Rushaga?
A single Rushaga gorilla trekking permit is USD 800 per visitor if you are visiting as a foreign non-resident. USD 700 for foreign residents, and UGX 300,000 for all East African citizens.
On the other hand, gorilla habituation permits can be booked at USD 1500 by foreign non-residents. USD 1000 per person (foreign residents) and Ugx 750,000 (East African citizens).
Booking a gorilla permit doesn’t require you to be physically present in Uganda. Your reliable and trusted expert takes responsibility to assist you in securing a permit. We don’t stop at booking permits. We go further to book lodges or camps, transportation logistics, and other amenities or services you require on the actual Rushaga gorilla tour or habituation experience. Book your Rushaga gorilla permits now. Don’t wait for the last minute. The demand for permits is high even though Rushaga has many gorilla groups. We recommend our guests to have their permits or a gorilla tour booked 2-6 months earlier.
What is the best time to visit Rushaga to see gorillas?
Rushaga is open for gorilla tourism at any time of the year. However, the best time to travel to this region to enjoy less disruption from rains is during the peak dry season, which is recorded around June, July, August, and September. You may also opt to plan your Rushaga gorilla tour in December, January, and February –the peak dry months, and they mark the shorter peak season in the Rushaga sector or entire Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Gorilla safaris to Rushaga do not only restrict guests to the peak dry season. There is a possibility of traveling to explore the Rushaga mountain gorillas during the wet or off months of the year. The wet season or off-months offer budget visitors a chance to track gorillas in the Rushaga. To enjoy budget gorilla safaris, consider planning your gorilla trek in March, April, May, October, and November.
Where can I stay in Rushaga?
Rushaga comes with a wide selection of lodging options, including the Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, and Gorilla Heights Lodge. Additional camps and lodges to book for overnight stay in the Rushaga include Mutanda Lake Resort, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Wagtail Eco Safari Camp, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Bweza Gorilla Lodge, and Gorilla Leisure Lodge.
How to reach the Rushaga trailhead/region
The available options on how you can safely reach the Rushaga sector include road transportation from Entebbe/Kampala or Kigali, and air travel. From Entebbe, you can drive via Masaka –Mbarara to Kabale to Rushaga, and overall, this can take you at least 8-9 hours. On your way to the Rushaga sector, expect to branch off to the Kayabwe Equator crossing for photography and relaxation.
The other alternatives that can get you to the Rushaga sector include traveling from Entebbe International Airport by air and land at Kisoro Airfield. From Kisoro Airfield, you have at least 30 minutes to drive to the Rushaga region. This makes your journey shorter than expected. Alternative road travel options include the Kigali-Chanika-Kisoro route, which takes you 4-5 hours to get to the Rushaga region in Southern Bwindi National Park.
What else to do in Rushaga besides gorilla adventures
At Rushaga, expect to indulge in many other experiences, including birding tours, nature walks, the Batwa cultural experience, and others.
Items to carry/pack on your gorilla trekking in Rushaga from Entebbe
Once you have made up your mind to visit Rushaga for gorilla trekking, consider packing the right items, including a rain jacket, a safari hat, long-sleeved shirts, bottled water, garden gloves, long pants, a waterproof daypack, and sturdy/waterproof hiking boots.
How to book the Rushaga gorilla trekking tour in Uganda
Book your Rushaga mountain gorilla trekking tours through a trusted tour operator like Native Africa Tours. They can create a thrilling primate adventures and African wilderness experiences. We work as a team and our response to every guest’s inquire is always quick, thus enabling us to meet your travel desires. Talk to us early to book your tour earlier, and you won’t be left out, given the high demand.
