Things to do in Rushaga after Gorilla trekking- Rushaga also is one of the gorilla trekking regions found in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Currently, there are five habituated gorilla families min Rushaga and this makes it these gorilla trekking Region in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park with the highest number of habituated gorilla families.

It is also believed that gorilla families in this sector are easy to trek because of the terrain of the region which slightly flat. One can access the Rushaga gorilla trekking sector through Kisoro and goes straight to the gorilla tracking point especially when you intend to start your Rushaga gorilla trekking from Kigali Rwanda.

The five gorilla habituated families of  Rushaga in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park include Mishaya, Kahungye, Busingye, Bweza, and Nshongi and all are available and open to tourist for gorilla trekking. There also other gorilla families in Rushaga and these include Bushaho and Bikyingi however these are reserved for gorilla habituation experience.

The Rushaga gorilla trekking as applies to other sectors offers a wonderful Batwa experience to explore their unmatched culture. Gorilla trekking is the most important activity and the major done in the Rushaga gorilla sector however, several activities in Rushaga are also done besides gorilla trekking and these include the following;

Gorilla habituation experience

Amongst the unique activities to do in Rushaga is the recently established activity called the gorilla habituation experience which allows visitors to spend 4 hours with endangered mountain gorillas. The activity allows only 4 people to go and see the gorillas that are still under habituation. Africa Adventure Vacations organizes tailor-made and customized gorilla habituation experience safaris that are conducted in Nkuringo and Rushaga throughout the whole year. The gorilla habituation permit in the Rushaga gorilla trekking sector costs USD1500 per person per trek and this includes the English-speaking guide, the park entrance fees, the trackers, and the guide’s fee. Remember that at end of the gorilla habituation experience you will get back to the starting point and then receive the certificate.

Birding in the Rushaga sector

Birding is an important activity carried out in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The park boasts over 350 bird species and Rushaga is one of the main birding destinations. While in Rushaga gorilla sector, you will spot several bird species that include While in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, You will be able to spot the following birds species among others; Black-billed, Strange, Banded Prinia, Crowned Hawk-Eagle, Black and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters, Dwarf Honeyguides, Blue-throated Roller, White-headed Woodhoopoe, Bronze-winged Pigeon, Kakamega, and Cabanis’ Greenbuls, Augur Buzzard, Ruwenzori, and Ross’s Turaco, Double-toothed, and Yellow-spotted Barbets, Red-chested Owlet, Jameson’s and Woodhouse’s Ant-peckers, Grauer’s Warbler, Western Violet-backed, Stuhlmann’s, among other activities

Nature walk safaris in Rushaga gorilla trailhead

After your gorilla trekking experience in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in this sector, you can engage in forest or nature walks to explore Bwindi’s different tropical rainforests that have stayed for long and have existed for over 250000 years. There are different ancient trees which some of these different species can only be found in only Bwindi Forest. The Forest is impenetrable due to its thick canopy making the forest so great for nature walk safaris. You will be given the good experience Uganda Wildlife Authority guide who is experienced with nature and he or she takes you to the waterfalls, the most trails rich in Bird species among others. Please contact us for more details of these safaris.

Batwa cultural experience

Explore the Batwa culture with the traditional way of life, learn how they live, eat, and listen to their stories of how they were once food gathers and hunters before they were evacuated from the park since the park is located within the Batwa community. You can as well reach out to community schools teaching young children and any kind of support or donation to such community development will be highly appreciated.

Bests time to go to Rushaga sector

Visitors wishing to go to Rushaga for gorilla habituation process and other tourist activities can do so during the gorilla  June to September and December to months and these the years will less rainfall fall and this makes the trails within the park accessible for visitors doing gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation experience, birding, and other activities as articulated.

How to get to Rushaga for Gorilla trekking?

Rushaga Gorilla trekking sector can be accessed by both road and air transport. By road, one can get to Rushaga through an 8 to 9-hour long road drive from Kampala or Entebbe via Mbarara city, Kabale Town, and then continue to Rushaga for Gorilla trekking. The drive is a lot but it entertains you with a lot of plantation farms and gets a chance to sport the Ankole long-horned cattle as well as a stopover at the equator. Still by road, one can access Rushaga for Gorilla trekking via Kigali International airport which is about 5hours’ drive to reach Bwindi through the Cyanika border or Katuna Border. This is the shortest route compared to the one using Entebbe internal airport.   By air, Visitors can also fly to this sector from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro or Kihihi airfields and then access Rushaga. There are chartered flights and scheduled fights that are present at Entebbe international airport and the most prominent ones are the airline companies operated by Aerolink and Fly Uganda. Visitors will need to plant and make an arrangement with their travel agency or tour operators for the possible transfer from the airstrip to the lodge.

Where to stay in Rushaga during gorilla trekking

Rushaga Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park has got various lodges where you can stay based on your interests and budget. Visitors on budget and a mid-range budget can stay at Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, Four Gorilla Lodge, you can as well stay at Clouds Mountains Gorilla Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, and Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge among other accommodation facilities.