Bwindi Impenetrable National Park:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the Kanungu District of south western Uganda. The national park covers an area of approximately 331 square kilometers (128 square miles) and is situated at an altitude ranging from 1,160 to 2,607 meters (3,806 to 8,553 feet) above sea level. Bwindi park is characterized by its dense vegetation, steep hills, and deep valleys, making it one of the most biologically diverse areas in Africa. Gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector requires a permit, which can be obtained through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) or authorized tour operators. The gorilla permit for trekking in Bwindi national park costs 700 USD for foreign non-residents, 600 USD for foreign residents and 250,000 Uganda shillings for East Africans. The permits are limited in number to ensure the conservation of the gorillas and their habitat. It is advisable to book permits well in advance, as they can be in high demand, especially during peak tourist seasons. The peak season is usually around July to October when many tourists visit Bwindi national park to see the gorillas.Rushaga Sector
Rushaga sector is one of the four sectors within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where gorillas can be seen. The other sectors of Bwindi are Buhoma sector, Ruhija sector, and Nkuringo sector. Rushaga sector is located in the southern part of the national park and is known for its high concentration of habituated mountain gorilla groups available for gorilla trekking activities. Gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector offers visitors a unique opportunity to observe and interact with these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Rushaga is also known for the gorilla habituation experience in Uganda. Rushaga sector is home to several habituated gorilla families, including Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Bweza, Busingye, and Rwigi. Each gorilla family has its own territory within the sector, and visitors can choose which group they would like to track based on availability and their interests when visiting Bwindi national park.Activities to do in Rushaga sector
In addition to gorilla trekking, Rushaga sector offers other activities for visitors to enjoy. These include gorilla habituation, nature walks and hikes, bird watching, cultural encounters with the local Batwa community, and exploring the beautiful scenery of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.- Gorilla trekking in Rushaga is a main activity that tourists take part in when visiting Bwindi national park. This activity involves searching for the mountain gorillas of Bwindi after a briefing at the park headquarters.
- Gorilla habituation in Rushaga is another unique and exciting thing to do when visiting Bwindi national park and it costs 1500 USD for foreign non-residents, 1000 USD for foreign residents and 750,000 Uganda shillings for East Africans. Habituation involves getting the gorillas used to the presence of humans in their habitat.
- Visiting the Batwa community in Rushaga involves getting to know more about the culture and way of life of the locals around Bwindi national park. The batwa are also known for being pygmies and are also forest dwellers. They welcome visitors with songs and dance and smiles during the community experience and many other activities including learning how to prepare local food, hunt and also visit the local medicine man to learn about the herbs.
- Bird watching in Rushaga can be done anytime of the year and some of the bird species of Bwindi national park include the Rwenzori Turaco, Tiny Sunbird, Dusky Tit, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Coppery Sunbird, Grey Apalis, Regal Sunbird, Handsome Francolin, Kivu Ground Thrush, Montane Masked Apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Strange Weaver, Evergreen Warbler, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Great Blue Turaco, Fork-tailed Drongo among others.
- Nature walks and hikes in Rushaga can also be done when visiting Bwindi national park following different trails and experiencing the nature around the destination. Some of the routes followed include the waterfall trail, the Kapata trail among others and this activity takes about 3 hours.
