WHY RUSHAGA SECTOR IS ACTUALLY THE BEST AREA FOR GORILLA TRACKING IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
Bwindi Impenetrable is one of the four only National Parks where tourists can visit in the whole world to see the Mountains gorillas. This remarkable National Park is a home to over 400 gorillas representing about half of the world’s surviving Mountain gorillas. This Park was gazetted in 1991 and the first tourists to track these Giant Apes in Uganda visited in 1993. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is divided into four magnificent sector/regions that include; Buhoma sector situated in the Northern side of the Park, Ruhija sector in the eastern side, Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors in the southern sides of the Park. Did you know that Rushaga is actually the best sector for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park? If you didn’t know, then i assure you that this Southern sector will blow your mind when you visit it. The following are the reasons why this sector of actually the best for gorilla trekking;
More Habituated Gorilla Groups
Rushaga sector has the highest number of habituated Gorilla groups than the three sectors, and is a home 5 groups that include Mishaya group, Busingye, Kahungye, Bweza and Nshongi groups. With these three gorilla groups, 40 gorilla permits are sold per day by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the fact that few tourists travel to the sector, permits are always available most times.
Unique For the Gorilla Habituation Experience
What even sets this sector more part is the fact that it is one of the two only regions in the whole world where the Gorilla Habituation Experience (GHE) is carried out (the other place where it is conducted is Nkuringo sector). With this extraordinary experience, tourists get to spend up to four hours with a mountain gorilla group as it undergoes habituation to make it used to the presence of tourists. The gorilla group currently undergoing habituation in this sector is Bikingi Gorilla group. The Gorilla Habituation Experience costs only $1500 per person and allows you to spend quality time with the mountain gorillas.
It is easier to access from Rwanda
This sector is easier and more convenient to access from Kigali City than it is for other sectors especially Buhooma and Ruhija. The journey lasts only 3-4 hours to reach the sector. This makes it possible to combine a Ugandan and Rwandan gorilla trekking safari and achieve the most unforgettable safari experience in Africa. Do not worry about buying a Visa for crossing Uganda and Rwanda because with the East African Tourist Visa, you can cross the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya with one single visa that costs only $100 per person (for 90 days).
Several Lodging Facilities are Sprouting within the Sector and some of them include
- Chameleon Hill Lodge and Gorilla Safari Lodge for luxury facilities,
- Wagtail eco-safari Camp, Gorilla Valley, and Bwindi Jungle Lodge for midrange facilities
- Travelers Rest Hotel in Kisoro town for budget travelers.
Variety of Other Activities within the Sector
Rushaga sector is a home to several other activities that include hiking/nature walks such as the Kapata trail (3 hour trail) to explore culture and history of the people and some of the bird species butterflies and tree species within the sector, the 360 degree trail (6 hours) that allows tourists to explore the neighboring countries-DRC and Rwanda. Do not leave the sector without enjoying the Batwa experience that leads you to the lives of the ancient people of the forest and they display their hunting skills, harvesting of honey, traditional performances and demonstration of making bamboo cups among others.
Therefore, the Rushaga sector is one of the most riveting regions for gorilla trekking because you will enjoy the one hour gorilla trekking experience and the Gorilla habituation Experience, several hiking trails, the Batwa cultural encounter and Rushaga is also accessible from Kigali.