The Rushaga Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | Gorilla Fields of Industry
One of the four sectors comprising Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which has the most mountain gorillas worldwide, is Rushaga. The southern portion of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park contains this sector. One can also hike this area across Rwanda and Uganda via the Kyanika border in Kisoro. Since gorilla trips in Rwanda are so expensive, the industry has suddenly become a popular one among visitors who want to view and spend time with the threatened animals. Increasing numbers of visitors linking from Kigali to Rushaga are rewarded with amazing views of the Virunga, Gahinga, Muhavura, and Lake Bunyonyi.
Rushaga is Said to have the most gorilla groups,
Nshongi gorilla group: Originally consisting of 36 members, this was the biggest gorilla group boosting in the period; over the years, the group has split twice to create different groups. The group currently consists of 25 members, with Nshongi, the dominant silverback, leading with three other sub-silverbacks, four blackbacks, seven adult females and six young ones with four newborns. September 2009 saw the founding of this group.
2010 saw the break-off of the sizable Nshongi gorilla group into Mishaya gorilla group. The silverback broke away with seven members and because of the group’s aggressiveness, more members—especially the women—have joined. For this group, the current count is twelve members with three newborns.
Along with separating from the Nsongi gorilla family, Bweza gorilla group also broke. With eight members, the lead member made it off with. There is just one silverback in the group today; two newborns; the rest are females and young adults.
Habituated in 2011 and available to visitors for trekking, the Kahungye gorilla family broke apart just after a year. The Busingye family emerged. There are 13 individuals in the group today; Rumansi is the main silverback.
Formed following a separation from the recently habituated Kahungye, Busingye gorilla group was The head silverback, Busingye, is renowned to pick battles that go against his moniker, so implying “peace”. Eight people make up the group for now.
Habituation for Gorillas
Only from Rushaga are visitors rewarded with a mountain gorilla habituation experience. Only in Bwindi’s Rushaga area are mountain gorillas taught to get comfortable with people before daily trekking permits are granted. These gorillas that are ready to welcome human presence only allow four visitors daily. Travelers are expected to pay $1,500 for foreign non-residents a valid gorilla habituation permit; $600 for foreign residents; UGX750,000 for East African citizens to be let to engage in this activity.
Trekking in the Rushaga gorilla area allows you to enhance your journey with breathtaking views of the Virunga Volcanoes and the deepest crater lake in Uganda, Lake Bunyonyi. While at Rushaga, one can also choose to undergo a gorilla habituation experience; permits must be obtained much in advance since it is also in great demand and yet only lets few people participate daily. Not missed should also be the forest hikes with the Batwa pygmies co-existing with the mountain gorillas for around 500,000 years. Along with your funding, the house visits, village walks and locally created handicaps might be tested out. That would help those families.
Rushaga is easily reachable from Kisoro airstrip, roughly one hour’s drive from the sector gate, as it is situated in the South of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Usually taking around one hour, chartered aircraft may be booked from Entebbe or Kajansi. Your driver-guide will then pick you up from the airstrip and deliver you to your park hotel. By road, the region can be accessed from Mbarara in an 8-9 hour drive that may be rather fulfilling through the several pauses made say for an equator experiment at Kayabwe among other activities or views one could come across. One can also arrange a gorilla trekking safari to Bwindi from Rwanda, which is really a shorter trip of 4-5 hours than when going from Kampala or Entebbe. Beautiful, hypnotic scenery abound on the trip from Rwanda to Rushaga in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Travelers must first buy gorilla trekking permits from Uganda Wildlife Authority in Kampala or through a reputable tour operator at a cost of $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents and UGX250,000 for East African citizens before hiking gorillas in Rushaga. Usually, one asks for proper identification to find their residential status. Travelers are recommended to all congregate at the UWA headquarters in Rushaga at 7:00 am where they will be briefed of what to expect and given guidance for the gorilla trek on the actual day of trekking. After that, they go off the journey in quest of the threatened mountain gorillas, whereupon they come upon visitors just given one hour with the gorillas. You are free to capture images or movies; but, keep in mind not to use flash cameras.
Sector of Rushaga Rushaga From the budget, mid-range, luxury and very upmarket accommodation, all of which serve guests with excellent meals, sleeping places, tranquilly and have the best professional and knowledgeable staff all eager to help the travellers have a wonderful and memorable experience. Sector Rushaga offers very many accommodation facilities.
Still not sure why you should pick the Rushaga sector; keep in mind:
- There are the most habituated families in the sector, thus you are most likely not to miss out.
- The trip in the sector is worth it; hills, valleys, and so much more are wonders.
- You will be able to see the volcanoes from far away.
- From Rwanda, you can trace quite easy!
- Actually, you may schedule for a gorilla habituation trip.
- Diversity of alternative pursuits available to you
- Numerous lodging options
Book a gorilla safari in the unique Rushaga gorilla sector and make sure to personally encounter the friendly mountain gorillas in their environment; you will be guaranteed to have amazing experience.
