RUSHAGA THE BEST GORILLA TREKKING SECTOR IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST

Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is centered within the four (4) major areas and most importantly Rushaga sector is one of them. Rushaga is famous as an highland for mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This area is situated in the southern side of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and it is also blessed with a series of Habituated Gorilla Families. Rushaga’s gorilla groups are frequently sought after by visitors and they include Nshongi, Bweza, Busingye, Kahungye and Mishaya. All these mountain gorilla families are dully habituated which means, tourists can go for gorilla trekking in any of them. Due to its strategic location, even tourists from Rwanda can still connect to Rushaga to see the rare mountain gorilla. Rushaga is also popular for stunning panoramic view of the Virunga Volcanoes, Lake Mutanda and Lake Bunyonyi together with its 29 islands.

MOUNTAIN GORILLAS AT RUSHAGA

Besides gorilla trekking, Rushaga area is also famous as the only place where tourists can visit for Gorilla Habituation Experience. Did you know about this? The Gorilla Habituation Experience is one of the remarkable experiences of a kind. No where else offers this kind of experience even if you checked other countries where mountain gorillas are protected. If gorilla tracking is a life time experience, then gorilla habituation experience rewards beyond imagination. Gorilla habituation experience offers tourists a total of 4 (four) hours to be with the mountain gorillas whereas gorilla trekking tourists are allowed to spend only one (1) hour. Gorilla habituation experience takes place in Bikingi gorilla group and Bushaho gorilla group near Nkuringo area. For gorilla tracking/trekking, the gorilla permits are purchased at $600 and for gorilla habituation experience, the permits are purchased at $1500. Gorilla trekking is also adventure for many tourists about 8 (eight) visitors per gorilla group unlike Gorilla Habituation Experiences where only 4 people are allowed per gorilla family per day.

While at Rushaga area, your expectations should go beyond seeing mountain gorillas because the area also offers a range of interesting activities like village walks and walk in the Buniga Forest where you will explore about the Batwa pygmies. Have you ever thought about encountering the first inhabitants of Bwindi Impenetrable rain forest? If so, then count visiting Rushaga a must! Your experience in the Batwa community is not just, staring at their heights yes they have incredible heights but your experience will involve lessons concerning their culture and traditions, life styles in the forest. Imagine they lived in the Bwindi's jungle for about 500000 years probably they never wished to get out of this forest but due to conservation, they found themselves out. They lived in the forest for centuries and to day the Batwa cultural encounters are much appreciated by visitors who get into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Combine your mountain gorilla safari with the Batwa Cultural Encounter. By so doing, you will have supported the Batwa Community greatly!

THE BATWA PYGMIES

What makes Rushaga area famous for mountain gorilla trekking? There is nothing more tiring like lengthy journeys. However, Rushaga’s accessibility is the major reason why it is regarded as the best gorilla trekking area in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The tourists interested in tracking the area spend only 3 (three) hours to drive from Kigali. You also use Aero-link and then fly up to Kisoro from Entebbe International Airport and this will takes a client only 45 minutes to connect to Rushaga.

Alternatively, you can drive from Entebbe-Kampala-Rushaga sector which will take you 9-10 hours. The interesting bit of long journeys is that, a tourist has opportunities to include or enjoy other incredible activities and fantastic products along the way especially from Kampala-Kibale Forest and then enjoy chimpanzee tracking or spend the whole day with Chimpanzees during the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience and as well, you have chance to stare at incredible tree climbing lions at Ishasha area-Queen Elizabeth National Park.

THE RARE TREE CLIMBING LION 

Lodging facilities in Rushaga:

For any one interested in tracking gorilla families at Rushaga area accommodation facilities are key. Rushaga has a range of Lodges right from budget to luxury and these include Chameleon Hill Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Nshongi Camp, and Gorilla Valley Lodge. Other lodging facilities for you to choose from include Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort for moderate choice, and travelers Rest Hotel for budget.

What else is required of you?

You can as well obtain an East African Tourism Visa and Yellow fever certificate and then you will ready for Gorilla trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience in Rushaga, Uganda.

Further more, tourists also have an opportunity to do hiking in and around the Rushaga sector. The hiking trails include the Kapata trail which takes about 3 (three) hours which also comes with nature, local history and culture.

The Kara ridge trail is another moderately hard trail which offers panoramic view of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Rubuguri. While in this trail, your experiences are centered on local cultures, traditions not forgetting the only ancient forest occupants the Batwa pygmies. Amazingly, your six hour trail is little challenging but you will appreciate the views at Congo, Rwanda and other surrounding areas within Uganda. You can also take trail via Bwindi Forest which starts from Kisoro or you can choose to end the journey at Kisoro and then include canoeing experiences across Lake Mutanda.

In conclusion, Rushaga area is the best sector for mountain gorilla trekking and also the only area for Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Visit Rushaga sector and you will appreciate the unique experiences that this area provides to the world. Enjoy Rushaga-Bwindi Impenetrable Forest-Uganda.

BWINDI THE AFRICA’S BEST NATIONAL PARK

Had you ever imagined about the best national parks in Africa? Do you love exotic destinations? Have you ever thought of meeting our close relatives in the wild? Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has all the answers for your questions, just at the valley mist in South-Western Uganda. For abundant species in Africa, explore Bwindi's natural wonders right from forest birds, butterflies to endangered species such as the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas.

THE MISTY JUNGLES OF BWINDI 

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a remarkable destination not just for visitors to admire its misty covered hillsides but a place to spark imaginations with our close relatives the “spectacular mountain gorillas.” Thousands of tourists, who travel to this destination, come to inspire the senses with exotic gorilla adventures that come once in a life time!  Currently, Bwindi boasts of over 400 wild gorillas which also represent half of the world’s mountain gorillas. When it comes to gorilla safaris in Uganda, Bwindi comes on top list with the most outstanding tourism products that for long have positioned Uganda on the world map as best destination. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is globally recognized for gorilla trekking/tracking and currently the park management has introduced a new and the most rewarding product called “Gorilla Habituation Experience”, an experience that visitors won’t find in any part of the world except in Bikingi and Bushaho gorilla families, Uganda. The gorilla habituation experience costs $1500 per tourist and visitors spend all the four hours observing the daily behaviors of these incredible creatures.

MOUNTAIN GORILLAS

Mountain gorilla experiences in Bwindi National Park don’t just come from nowhere but the 11 (eleven) Habituated Gorilla Families which visitors go to observe the mountain gorillas. Habituation process takes 2-3 years and this is meant to improve on the clients’ experiences while enjoying the product in the destination. The habituated gorillas mean that they are accustomed to human presence! The gorilla groups in Bwindi National Park are the basics for the tourists’ experiences in Uganda and it is from the eleven habituated gorilla families that the country’s economy revenue is realized after selling off the 88 gorilla permits for visitors to go for gorilla trekking. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park was recognized by CNN on 16^th/5/2017 among 5 Africa’s best national parks that tourists should travel to observe. Other national parks include; Kruger National Park in South Africa, the Virunga National Park in Congo, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya. This is good news for Uganda because your treasured adventure "gorilla tracking" is specifically sighted as the major tourist attraction which also generates revenue for the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Approximately, $15 per year counts as a direct sum of income that is realized from gorilla visits in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

DISCOVER THE NATURAL WONDERS OF BWINDI 

The Uganda Wildlife Authority is the overall body that manages all the ten national parks in Uganda and it is also sets tariffs for all the tourist activities in the park. For mountain gorilla safaris in Uganda, the gorilla permit costs $600 for each visitor who is interested in gorilla trekking.

$600 FOR YOU TO OBSERVE OUR RELATIVES IN THE WILD

Bwindi National Park has 4 (four) trailheads where tracking starts from and they include Buhoma sector, Rushanga sector, Ruhija and Nkuringo sector. Each of the sectors has got habituated gorilla families for visitors to see the mountain gorillas. Buhoma trail-head is the busiest area for gorilla trekking and it is comprised of the following gorilla families; Habinyanja, Mubare and Rushegura gorilla group. Ruhija sector includes; Oruzogo and Bitukura gorilla groups. Rushanga sector is recognized as the best area for visitors to do gorilla tracking/trekking and the only area where visitors can do gorilla habituation experiences in Uganda. The sector is composed of Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Busingye and Bweza gorilla family. Nkuringo sector is made up of only one habituated gorilla family “Nkuringo” and it is one of the challenging families in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. If you are interested in gorilla tracking in this gorilla family, then you must be a bit energetic to hike.

While planning a trip to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, you shouldn’t worry about accommodation facilities since they are several facilities that you take choice. Some of the notable facilities in Bwindi include the Cloud Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany springs and Bwindi Volcano Lodge.

Despite the fact that Bwindi Impenetrable National Park take a tourist about 9-10 hours on the road, still visitors can access the park by air (Aero-link Uganda) especially from Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi airfields and land in Kihihi and Ishasha airstrips in Kanungu district where they will be transferred to Bwindi National Park. On road, visitors can access the park from Queen Elizabeth National Park to the North which takes about 2 to 3 hours or Kabale to the South for about 1 to 2 hours and alternatively, from Kampala-Mbarara which takes visitors about 6-8 hours. Traveling on road is one of the incredible moments if you are targeting to reach Bwindi National Park, especially on stop over which gives a client an opportunity to enjoy the natural wonders en-route to the South-Western Uganda. Make a stopover the Equator area at Queen Elizabeth National Park or view the rare climbing lions as they blend themselves on the tree trunks.

In conclusion, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a true natural wonder where you can discover a lot about the world’s critically endangered Mountain gorillas in large numbers. Not just the mountain gorillas but also diverse forest species that come your way during the trek. Don’t miss the ultimate gorilla experiences in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park!

GORILLA TREKKING TARIFFS IN UGANDA AND RWANDA

Glancing at the eyes of our closet relatives the “rare mountain gorillas” in their wilderness is in deed some thing full of thrilling and inspiring experiences that come once in a life time. Unlike the normal nature walks, gorilla trekking hikes in Uganda and Rwanda are filled with magical miracles of nature. Just within an hour that you spend with the mountain gorillas is enough for you to spark your imaginations with natural wonders in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, South Western-Uganda and Volcanoes National Park, North Western-Rwanda. Think of any adventures in the world and you will agree that gorilla trekking experience is truly a special one that you must include into your list.

MOUNTAIN GORILLA

Globally, there are not more than 900 mountain gorillas that are still in existence and all of them live in only 3 countries. If you wish to see these beautiful creatures, then bring yourself to Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). But due to instability in the DRC, gorilla trekking is currently convenient in Rwanda and Uganda. In Uganda, there are more than 480 species of mountain gorillas while the balance is distributed within the Virunga Massif; of which Rwanda takes 62%.

MOUNTAIN GORILLAS

To go for the trek, the park management assigns tourists to only one Habituated Gorilla Family each day and only 8 visitors are allowed per gorilla group. In Uganda, there are 11 fully Habituated Gorilla Families for tourists to view the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and only 1 Habituated Gorilla Family can be booked for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. 

In Rwanda, there are 10 Habituated Gorilla Families for you to do gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park. Uganda in this case is out weighs Rwanda in terms of Habituated Gorilla Families. As well, Uganda has recently introduced Gorilla Habituation Experience for visitors which you won’t find in any gorilla destination in East Africa or even in the world except, visiting the Biking and Bushaho gorilla families-Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. While here, it is all about spending the whole day while enjoying 4 hours exploring the daily behaviors of these impressive primates. Only 4 visitors are allowed to be in these gorilla families with researchers or conservationists. Each gorilla family takes only two visitors each day and the gorilla permit for Habituation Experience costs USD1500.

SPEND $1,500 AND HABITUATE GORILLAS IN UGANDA

Like Gorilla Habituation Experience requires visitors to have a gorilla permit, gorilla trekking too is a must to hold a gorilla permit in order for you to attain such special moments in your life with these extraordinary primates. Here you ask yourself, much must I pay for gorilla permit in Uganda or Rwanda? 

In Uganda, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has maintained its price for gorilla permits for the year 2016/1017 at USD600 per visitor especially during the peak season. The peak season here starts between June and September; between December and February. During these months, it is a dry season and it is sunny in the gorilla habitats but this doesn’t mean that there won’t be any rain showers.  Mountain gorillas live in rain forests and so you to expect it to rain at any time of the day. During the low season which occurs in the months of March to May and October to November, UWA reduces on the gorilla trekking tariffs from $600 to $450 per visitor for foreign none residents and $400 for East African residents. During this period, it is wet season and the steep slopes also tend to be muddy hence making it difficult for visitors to hike. However, it is season when there is plenty of food in gorilla habitat and visitors can easily track the mountain gorillas within the foothills of bamboo forest while they are feeding.

Uganda has 88 gorilla permits each day for visitor to trek for the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and only 8 gorilla permits in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. In total, Uganda has 96 permits readily available each day for visitors who are interested in gorilla trekking. It is also important for you to note that only 8 visitors are allowed per day to go for gorilla trekking whether in Uganda or Rwanda. You are therefore requested to book for your gorilla permit in advance since the demand is high.

SPARK IMAGINATIONS IN UGANDA AT$600

GORILLA PERMITS DURING LOW SEASON IN UGANDA 

In Rwanda, the cost for the gorilla permit is so different based on the current increment by Rwanda Development Board on 6^th May 2017. If you are interested in gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park-Rwanda, the gorilla permit costs USD1,500 per visitor and this applies to all tourists. If you want to book for an entire family of rare mountain gorillas, the permit goes at USD15,000 and there are 80 gorilla permits that are available per day for you to track the mountain gorillas. At end of day you understand how much you are supposed to spend on particular destination.

TREK GORILLAS IN RWANDA AT $1500

In conclusion, gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is a special adventure experience where visitors get value for their money, highly distinct and authentic products that one can never find in any part of the world except in the rain forests of East Africa. Despite the price tag in the permits, the experiences here are never regrettable in any way. We hope you will enjoy your stay with us in East Africa!!

COMPARISON BETWEEN GORILLA TREKKING AND GORILLA HABITUATION EXPERIENCE, BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK-UGANDA

Do you love gorilla safaris? Do you know the difference between Gorilla trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience? Well, traveling to either Uganda or Rwanda to see the critically endangered mountain gorillas is some thing that every visitor yearns to achieve in life. However, many visitors face great challenge when it comes to distinguishing between Gorilla trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience hence a critical factor in decision making especially on tourism products in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Besides the famous gorilla trekking that has captured the eyes of most tourists in the world, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has also launched Gorilla Habituation Experience one of the spectacular products for visitors to spark imaginations with the world star attractions the “rare mountain gorillas.” In case you are planning your trip to Uganda, it is important to consider not only gorilla trekking but also Gorilla Habituation Experience in order to have a life time experiences. Gorilla trekking was introduced in 1993 in the Northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with its ancient Mubare Habituation Gorilla Group while Gorilla Habituation Experience was launched recently in 2015, South of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest-Rushaga. These two remarkable tourism products tend to confuse visitors but we can help you to understand them.

MIST AT BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST

Below is comparison between Gorilla trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience. We hope this will be of help to you as you plan your gorilla safari to Uganda.

TREK AND HABITUATE MOUNTAIN GORILLA

The cost of gorilla permits

If you are interested in partaking gorilla trekking experiences in Uganda, the permit costs $600 during the peak season. This price applies to visitors who wish to track the mountain gorillas from the months of June to September and December to February. It is during these months that gorilla tracking or trekking is said to be at its peak season in Uganda and several tourists travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park a reason why the price for the gorilla permit remains at $600. During the low season the price for the gorilla permit costs $450 especially from the months of March to May, October to November. The gorilla permit is very vital in for Gorilla trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience because it is what allows the visitors to interact with the mountain gorillas. These gorilla permits also include costs on park entrance, tour guide who will be there to make your trek fantastic. However, price for gorilla trekking is relatively cheaper. Whereas Gorilla Habituation Experience, the cost of gorilla permit goes at $1500 per person and this caters for the same costs like it is in gorilla trekking but the difference is a visitor is accompanied by Researchers whose duty is to habituate the wild mountain gorillas. Remember gorilla permit gives visitors over 95% golden opportunity to stare into the eyes of these impressive creatures. Get your permit and share your experiences with the rest of world because a handful of experts have managed to see these world stars in their jungle!

GORILLA PERMITS ARE ONLY $600 AND $1500 

To book the gorilla permit

The gorilla permit for habituation experience can be obtained on the ground whereas for gorilla trekking can be obtained at any authorized tour operator and in this case you can consult Maranatha Tours and Travel to help you book your permit in advance from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) head offices in Kampala.

The time spent in gorilla trekking and habituation experience

The cost of the gorilla permit is worth rewarding the senses with spark of imaginations mostly with the majestic mountain gorillas once in a life time as you spend only 1 hour with them during the trek. Depending on the Habituated Gorilla Group that will be assigned to you, but in normal cases visitors spend from 30 minutes to three quarters of the trek while looking for these astonishing wild creatures in their habitat. On the other hand, never miss to get an incredible experience during Gorilla Habituation Experience because visitors have all the 4 hours to be with the mountain gorillas in their wilderness, some thing that rewards beyond what you expected in life. If you are not on hurry and you want to spend much time or to explore the reality about the mountain gorillas, then consider Gorilla Habituation Experience in your list of experiential gorilla adventures to be encountered in Uganda. One most important thing to note is that Gorilla Habituation Experience is an all day experience that visitors have to spend while habituating the mountain gorillas with the researchers. This is an amazing experience indeed for scientists or researchers to grab to help them explore more on the feeding, nesting, mating and other unique features of the mountain gorillas in their wilderness.

SILVERBACK GORILLA

Where to go for gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience

Gorilla trekking can be perfectly done within the 4 trail-heads of Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Visitors are assigned one of the habituated gorilla groups that are set for tourism purposes in any of the four trail-heads. However, for Gorilla Habituation Experiences you will be at Rushaga area because it is the only place for you to inspire the senses. At Rushaga, there are only 2 gorilla groups that are set for visitors to do Gorilla Habituation Experience and this takes place in Bushaho and Biking. You should also bear in mind that only 4 persons are allowed to go for Gorilla Habituation Experience hence only 2 groups are allowed per day and there is no crowding unlike for gorilla trekking only 8 people are allowed to trek one gorilla family each day.

MOUNTAIN GORILLAS AT BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST

In conclusion, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park has got diverse opportunities for visitors to achieve their dreams on gorilla safaris. Visitors can now choose to do Gorilla trekking or Gorilla Habituation Experience where they will be acclimatize the mountain gorillas to human presence. Gorilla Habituation Experience is only found in Uganda, no where else in the world! However, if you fail to trek the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, then never miss to be at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for you to get fascinating gorilla experiences. Enjoy your gorilla safaris in Uganda!