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Unforgettable!

Allow us to host you to unforgettable luxury gorilla safari experiences in Uganda. Brace yourself for a dedicated professional service staff, a soothing aromatic massage or an outing to discover the local Bakiga and Batwa Pygmy cultures!

Surrender to the wild, ancient allure of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, the land of the endangered mountain gorillas, at Gorilla leisure lodge.

Exclusive Safari Lodge

An awesome dose of luxury

Our gem is an exquisite testament to opulence and natural beauty. With its elegant design, unparalleled comfort, and breathtaking views of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. It provides an unparalleled retreat for travelers seeking the ultimate in relaxation and indulgence. 

Environmentally Friendly

Standing as a pioneer in the realm of eco-tourism.

Championing the causes of local cultures, nature conservation and protection of endangered species like gorillas, chimpanzees & others. Our lodge actively contributes to nature conservation efforts by safeguarding the ecosystems. We believe in the power of reforestation, planting trees to combat climate change. Through our eco-tourism initiatives, we offer guests the opportunity to experience these remarkable efforts while enjoying a luxurious and sustainable safari experience

Step into Relaxation & Luxury at Gorilla Leisure Lodge

Don't Go Hungry

Our restaurant takes the meaning of eco-friendly to the next level. It was built using local materials that existed at the lodge’s current location when it was still within the park’s boundaries. This includes volcanic ash, rocks, and eucalyptus as harvested by locals. All decor is handmade and colourful. The usage of basket reeds to thatch its ceiling is inspired by a traditional architectural style of the Bakiga tribe that dates back to prehistoric times. The result is an inviting guest lounge and a dining area with a spectacular atmosphere.

Monday – Sunday

06 am – 22 pm

What To Do While At Gorilla Leisure Lodge

A truly rejuvenating experience for the senses

Leave stress behind, rediscover inner balance in a setting that inspires the senses. Relax and rejuvenate. Each treatment & therapy leaves you feeling completely pampered and indulged

SPA & WELLNESS

General lodge information.

Gorilla Leisure lodge is tranquil, hushed and framed by Bwindi forest, and the rolling, volcanic landscapes of the deep green Kisoro hills. 

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To make a booking, please complete this form, one of our sales consultants will contact Alternatively, send us an email on [email protected]

• Ruhija Sector
• Rushaga Sector
• Getting There
• Conservation
• Gorilla Permits
• Weather & Climate
• Batwa Experience
• Bird Watching
• Gorilla Trekking
• Gorilla Habituation Experience
• Munyaga Trail
• Flora and Fauna
• Primates of Bwindi
• The Batwa Trail
• Accommodation
• Packing List
• Tour Operators
• When to Visit

Rushaga Gorilla Safari Lodge

• February 25, 2022

Description

Gorilla Safari Lodge is synonymous with Jungle Paradise and as one of the most secluded and exquisite accommodation facilities in Rushaga sector, there is a chance of seeing one of the nine Gorilla Families here. It is sprawled within the Bwindi Jungle treetops and offers visitors with stupendous accommodation in the 18 commodious Cottages, each named after a gorilla group in Bwindi and comfortable for unwinding after a hectic day of searching for the mountain gorillas.

Each of the cottages is decorated with a touch of African print and features solar-powered lighting, secluded bathroom with cold and warm water as well as flush eco-toilets, private balcony looking into the impenetrable forest. Delicious meals are normally served at the restaurant in the main Lodge while other services include a spa and massage center, shared lounge area, well-stocked bar and so much more.

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Welcome to Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, where you will experience a heavenly escape from the ordinary.

Rushaga Gorilla Lodge is the ultimate destination for your travel aspirations. Immerse yourself in the luxury of our spacious accommodations, accompanied by our highly trained and dedicated hospitality staff. Unwind and indulge in all the amenities meticulously provided to ensure your utmost comfort during your stay with us. Renowned as one of the most exceptional lodges in the country, Rushaga offers a secure sanctuary for those seeking solace and tranquility. Allow Rushaga to become your haven away from home.

  download fact sheet, our accommodation, hakuna matata. welcome to paradise.

Standard Rooms

Experience comfort and intimacy in a warm, rustic ambiance that transports you to the heart of the continent.

From $100 USD

Check Availability >

Luxury Cottages

Adorned with exquisite African décor, our rooms provide an authentic experience that truly captures the essence of the local culture.

From $170 USD

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Open up your mind to new realities. This is the place where your dreams come true.

Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

Kabale , Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Bugambira, Uganda – Excellent location – show map

Cleanliness

Value for money

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this was one of my favourite lashes in the world. I can’t pick. staff, locations and it was so clean. it was perfect.

Food was great, grounds were beautiful, staff was great, very close to park entrance, though I entered through a different entrance for my activity.

- Amazing location, right next to the gorilla tracking starting point - Dinner was quite good, especially good bread rolls - Spacious room - Friendly team - We saw gorillas from the lodge!! This was an amazing experience (March - and staff said this was quite common during the rainy season)

EVERYTHING. It was in an amazing location overlooking Bwindi, with astonishing views. The rooms were exceptionally clean, the staff, Jennifer in particular were amazing. I even got a push start when my battery went :) The food was delicious. If you are considering booking here, then please do! It was the best place we stayed in the whole if Uganda & Rwanda. Dan & Veebs

Fab views, nice rooms , friendly & helpful staff

The views were amazing! Absolute stunning scenery. For the rest: people are so nice and helpful, the room was really nice and clean. The weather can be quite cold but they will keep you warm with a hot water bottle in bed.

The best room we had on our Uganda adventure. We loved the bungalow with its treetop view, wrap around balcony and glazed walls. It was such a cosy, comfortable, spacious and clean room. I personally loved the delivery of hot water bottles at 8pm, such a delightful surprise! The staff were wonderful, but I must give special mention to Simon for his attentive service (P.S. we made it to Fort Portal following your route recommendation!). Food was very good, although a little light on portion size for some perhaps I’d say. I’d highly recommend a stay here, it was so atmospheric; we stayed in rainy season and were above the clouds!

Very friendly staff, very helpful! Great and clean room and the location was perfect for our gorilla tracking.

Really nice spot. Nice surroundings, facilities were great. Quite decent Wi-Fi and hot shower. Rooms are clean. We had an issue with the payment and the manager solved it quickly.

Amazing Food, well organized and good communication. It is very close to the Rushaga UWA headquarter from where the trekking starts (Max. 5min drive) which is very convenient in the morning

Excellent location!

Rushaga Gorilla Lodge Reserve now

Lock in a great price for Rushaga Gorilla Lodge – rated 8.6 by recent guests!

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Located in Bugambira, near Rushaga Gorilla Tracking, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge provides free WiFi, and guests can enjoy a garden and a terrace. Free private parking is available on site. A terrace with garden views is offered in every unit. A Full English/Irish breakfast is available every morning at the property. Both a bicycle rental service and a car rental service are available at the lodge, while cycling can be enjoyed nearby. Bwindi community Hospital is 9.9 mi from Rushaga Gorilla Lodge.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.5 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

• Outdoor swimming pool
• Airport shuttle
• Non-smoking rooms
• Fitness center
• 2 restaurants
• Room service

Property Highlights

Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.6)

Free Private Parking Available On Site

Saved to 483 lists

Availability

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Restaurants 2 Restaurants On Site

• Cuisine American • Dutch • British • Italian • Spanish • Steakhouse
• Open for Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner • High tea
• Ambience Traditional
• Dietary options Vegetarian • Vegan • Gluten-free
• Cuisine Grill/BBQ
• Open for Brunch • Dinner • High tea
• Ambience Romantic

Amenities of Rushaga Gorilla Lodge Great facilities! Review score, 8.7

• Toilet paper
• Outdoor fireplace
• Picnic area
• Outdoor furniture
• Live sports events (broadcast)
• Walking tours Additional charge
• Evening entertainment Additional charge
• Fruit Additional charge
• Wine/Champagne Additional charge
• Special diet meals (on request)
• Breakfast in the room
• Invoice provided
• Baggage storage
• Currency exchange
• 24-hour front desk
• Board games/Puzzles
• Daily housekeeping
• Ironing service Additional charge
• Laundry Additional charge
• Fax/Photocopying Additional charge
• Meeting/Banquet facilities Additional charge
• Fire extinguishers
• CCTV outside property
• CCTV in common areas
• 24-hour security
• Shared lounge/TV area
• Packed lunches
• Family rooms
• Airport shuttle Additional charge
• Open all year
• Adults only
• Pool with view
• Pool/Beach towels
• Beach umbrellas
• Full-body massage
• Hand massage
• Neck massage
• Spa/Wellness packages
• Spa lounge/Relaxation area
• Beach chairs/Loungers
• Spa Additional charge

Property practices

See availability house rules.

From 8:00 AM to 11:30 PM

From 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Cancellation/ prepayment

Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodations type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room.

Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

The number of cribs allowed depends on the option you choose. Check your selected option for more info.

There are no extra beds available at this property.

All cribs are subject to availability.

No age restriction

There's no age requirement for check-in

Pets are not allowed.

Accepted payment methods

Cash Rushaga Gorilla Lodge accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival.

FAQs about Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

What is there to do at rushaga gorilla lodge.

• Evening entertainment
• Walking tours
• Swimming pool

What type of room can I book at Rushaga Gorilla Lodge?

• Twin/Double

What are the check-in and check-out times at Rushaga Gorilla Lodge?

Check-in at Rushaga Gorilla Lodge is from 8:00 AM, and check-out is until 11:00 AM.

Does Rushaga Gorilla Lodge have a restaurant on site?

• Restaurant #1
• Pool Restaurant

How much does it cost to stay at Rushaga Gorilla Lodge?

The prices at Rushaga Gorilla Lodge may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

Does Rushaga Gorilla Lodge have a pool?

Yes, this hotel has a pool. See details about the pool and other facilities on this page.

Is Rushaga Gorilla Lodge popular with families?

Yes, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge is popular with guests booking family stays.

How far is Rushaga Gorilla Lodge from the center of Bugambira?

Rushaga Gorilla Lodge is 1.1 miles from the center of Bugambira. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.

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Gorilla Safari Lodge is located in a prime position for a gorilla trekking safari. It's a mere 5 minute walk  to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the starting and briefing point for the gorilla tracking/trekking or habituation experience. 

Gorilla Safari Lodge

Gorilla Safari Lodge-Rushaga Sector, Uganda

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‎ Phone +256 39 3255214 /‎+256 200 909463

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Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

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Booking Gorilla Permit for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Guide to Wildebeest Migration Safari 2023-2024

• Uganda Gorilla Safaris
• gorilla tour to bwindi

Rushaga Gorilla Lodge is a mid-range Lodge located in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Rushaga sector. You can stay here if you are trekking gorillas at Rushaga gate or the Nkuringo sector. Rushaga Gorilla Lodge which is also known as Rushaga Gorilla Camp is located 10 minutes walk away to the start point of gorilla trekking in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Rushaga Gorilla Lodge has 20 beds in total. Rooms include standard room/cabin, family cottages, luxury tents and mobile tents with a heater in every room, a fan towels and toilet

Luxury tents and suites, Standard rooms and cabins, family cottages and camping grounds are available.

Facilities include;

• Dining and bar
• Leisure club yoga, relaxation therapy and massages.
• Swimming pool
• Massage plateau

Things to do in Rushaga Gorilla Camp after the gorilla trekking day tour and these include;

Batwa Cultural Experience

On Batwa cultural experience tour you will be guided by one of the Batwa guides giving you an opportunity to learn about the traditional forest life of the Batwa in Bwindi Forest which is historically the home of the Batwa, you will also enjoy the traditional dances of the Batwa and Stone Age including making traditional fire among others.

Nature walk

The Nature walk is done in Bwindi forest it is a very exciting activity to do apart from gorilla trekking which gives you an opportunity to learn more about tree species as well other wildlife species in the forest.

Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park is one the best birding spots in Uganda home to an impressive 350 species and the main birding area in Nkuringo is the pocket forest known as Nombe is located some 5km and Buniga forest 300meters from Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge. We recommend you carry your birding book in case you have limited safari time and you will identify some birds that visit the gardens at Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge.

Local community visits through local villages which provide insights into the lives of the Bakiga and Batwa pygmy people living beside the Bwindi forest. Other activities include yoga at the Lodge, Mountain bicycle ride, volunteering which is done in the local community schools and projects and Butterfly watching which is done at night among others.

What is the best time to visit Rushaga sector for Gorilla trekking

The best time to visit Rushaga for Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is during the drier months of January, February, June to early September, this is makes it easier to travel to the park and gives a clear view of mountain gorillas given the vegetation cover is not too much high grown

How to get to Rushaga for Gorilla trekking

By Road; Rushaga can be accessed through the main high-way road from Entebbe/Kampala which approximately 8-9 hours drive. You will pass through Kabale town and proceed to Rushaga. The Park can also be accessed from Kigali, Rwanda which is approximately 4-5 hours drive.

By Air; You can fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala’s Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro airstrip to access Rushaga. Scheduled and chartered flights are available and operated by domestic airline operators of Aero link and Fly Uganda. You will need to plan with your tour operator for a transfer from the airstrip to your Lodge you are booked for your stay.

Why book your stay at Rushaga Gorilla Lodge with Eco Adventure Safaris

Eco Adventure Safaris will help you book your gorilla trek in Rushaga contact us and we advice you on the booking process. We as well have different gorilla safari packages to Rushaga sector of Bwindi ranging from budget, mid-range to luxury options that we can book for you including the gorilla permits. Feel free to check out our TripAdvisor reviews and read from a community of happy satisfied clients. With us, you can be rest assured of a memorable Uganda safari holiday. We are devoted to providing excellent service and customer satisfaction. Our team of excellent tour consultants is always willing to help answer all your safari questions. Contact us here about the other Things to do in Rushaga region after gorilla trekking

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GORILLA SAFARI LODGE, BWINDI – UGANDA  GORILLA TREKKING, RUSHAGA SECTOR

Gorilla Safari lodge is a luxury accommodation at the edge of  Bwindi Impenetrable national park in Rushaga and is close to a briefing point for Uganda gorilla trek. This nice Safari lodge is managed Crystal lodges Uganda.

This Gorilla Safari lodge is located at the edge of the park just in Kisoro Region, close to a briefing point of Uganda gorilla trekking in Bwindi. The lodge is set up in one of untouched region which are famous for primate population and array of birdlife.

Bwindi Gorilla Safari lodge has 18 individual units built to look like stand-alone log cabins with cobbled paths joining them and main house. All rooms are either double or twin and are named after the individual gorillas or gorilla families.

They are solar powered, have an en suite bathroom with hot and cold water, flush toilets. Each room has a private balcony overlooking the wilderness and two of which are easily accessed by disabled guests..

The main area has a dining area/ restaurant, tea/coffee station, spa treatment room and wellness center, curio shops and a fire place that is lit in the evenings adding to the ambiance of the lodge. The lodge also offers baby-sitting services and allows walk in guests.

This nice lodge is built in a very remote area where your journey to the paradise may take you long but eye opening and most scenic for best photographs.

Activities that you can do while staying at Gorilla Safari lodge include;

• Gorilla trekking adventure
• Gorilla Habituation Experience
• Community walks
• Forest walks
• bird watching.

Accessing this lodge is quicker by Air to Kisoro Airstrip: Guests can fly in to Entebbe International airport in Uganda and take a connecting scheduled flight (domestic flight) to Kisoro where a well trained and skilled drive will pick and begin a 2 hour road trip to the lodge.

This short drive will take you on a meandering road by hills sides good for photogaraphy and rural villages, tropical vegetation and pristine landscape while you enjoy the views. Alternatively Fly in Kigali and take a road trip from Kigali to Bwindi for Gorilla trekking and stay at this Gorilla Safari Lodge.

Another quite interesting but long journey by road to this Lodge is by setting off from Entebbe or Kampala on road trip through mbarara to the south of Bwindi Impenetrable forest at Rushaga.

Rushaga Sector: Where To Spend More Time With Gorillas

Rushaga Sector: the only place in Uganda for gorilla habituation experience—where you spend more time with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Rushaga sector, in the south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park , is one of the four trailheads where daily gorilla trekking safari excursions start in Uganda. Rushaga trailhead is popular with tourists for its gorilla habituation experience , allowing trekkers to spend more time (at least four hours) in a day with a wild gorilla family.

In Uganda’s southwestern rugged region, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of two mountain gorilla habitats globally. The rainforest reserve protects almost half of the global mountain gorilla population, with approximately 200 gorillas fully habituated for tourism and research in four sectors around the park.

The 331 sq km (127 sq mi) Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is too large to trek or monitor. So UWA subdivided the sanctuary into four sectors to make it easy for tourists and researchers to access the habituated gorilla families. From the north, trekkers can see gorillas in the Buhoma sector . Ruhija is east of the park, while in the south is Nkuringo, and 18 km (11 mi) away is Rushaga.

Rushaga Sector is beautifully sitting on a hill, looking across the vast, rugged rift valley landscapes with all the Virunga Mountains vista insight. It’s a spectacular sight to see sitting on top of any ridge in this area. It will leave you spellbound and make you feel like you are in paradise. If the gorillas don’t bring you to this side of the country, then the envious landscape right out of storybooks should!

• Rushaga’s Gorilla Groups

Gorilla Trekking in Rushaga Sector

• Gorilla Habituation Experience
• Gorilla Trekking Vs. Habituation Experience  

Other Activities in Rushaga

Best time to go, what to carry.

• Where To Stay in Rushaga

How To Get To Rushaga

Rushaga sector’s gorilla groups.

The Rushaga sector has eight gorilla groups available for gorilla trekking and two reserved for research and habituation experiences. Rushaga has more fully habituated gorilla groups than any other sector in Bwindi and is currently the only sector offering habituation experiences. 

When you buy a gorilla permit for Rushaga trailhead, it does not indicate which gorilla group you’ll track. However, during the briefing at the sector’s UWA trailhead office, you’re assigned any one of these gorilla groups based on your physical ability. So knowing the gorilla groups in the Rushaga section will help you make that decision during the briefing.

Note that only eight tourists can track one gorilla family per day in the Rushaga sector and spend up to one hour with the gorillas at a safe distance of 32 ft (10 meters) and wearing a facemask. For more hours with the gorillas in Rushaga, buy a ‘habituation permit’, which is more than double the price of the trekking permit.

Gorilla groups in the Rushasha sector include:

• Nshongi Gorilla Family  
• Mishaya Gorilla Family
• Busingye Gorilla Family
• Bweeza Gorilla Family
• Kahungye Gorilla Family
• Bikingi Gorilla Family
• Mucunguzi Gorilla Family
• Rwiigi Gorilla Family.

1. Nshongi Gorilla Family — 8 Members 

Shongi gorilla group, one of the Rushaga sector’s fully habituated gorilla groups, has eight members under the dominant leadership of Silverback Bweza.

Initially, the Shongi gorilla group size was as large as 34 members, including several males, but over time intra-male rivalry caused notable dispersals of individual males as well as fissions. In July 2010, the Shongi family split to form the Mishaya family and again fissioned to form the Bweza group in August 2012. 

Today the Shongi gorilla family is composed of 8 members, including; 

• 1 Silverback, 
• 1 Blackback, 
• 3 Adult females, 
• 1 Sub-adults 

The name Nshongi is adopted from the Nshongi River, found in the range where the group forages. Nshongi group is available for daily gorilla trekking excursions in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest’s southern section.

2. Mishaya Gorilla Family — 10 Members

Mishaya gorilla family is a new group available for gorilla trekking in the Rushaga sector. The initial formation of the Mishaya group happened in July 2010 when the Shongi group split to form another family led by Silverback Mishaya. 

On 3rd February 2014, Mishaya’s sole dominant silverback, ‘Mishaya,’ died from an obstruction of the intestinal gut, resulting in an unmonitored dispersal of the remnant group members as they had no other adult male to guide and protect them through thair jungle foraging excursions.

Some of the members sought solace with the Bweza gorilla family, and others joined the Bikingi group while researchers could not immediately trace the whereabouts of more others. In May 2018, researchers re-discovered Mishaya’s group remnants under the leadership of Silverback “Tinfayo” – a former member of the Shongi gorilla family. Tinfayo left the Shongi group in 2012 with one Adult female (Shida) and her infant (Rotary). 

Re-habituation of the newly rediscovered Mishya group members became inevitable to keep monitoring the already habituated members.  Mishaya gorilla group is the latest addition to the Rushaga sector gorilla groups available for daily gorilla trekking excursions.

Mishaya is currently under the leadership of the dominant Silverback “Tinfayo,” known for his carefree demeanor and brutal encounters with other silverbacks in the Bwindi jungle. In the local language, his name, Tinfayo, means unconcerned (or calm, cool, collected, composed, indifferent, laid-back, or casual.)

Mishaya gorilla family is composed of 10 members, including:

• 1 Silverback
• 1 Blackback
• 4 Adult females
• 1 Sub-adult female

3. Busingye Gorilla Family — 12 Members

Busingye gorilla family is one of the fully habituated gorilla groups available for gorilla trekking in Rushaga southern tourism sector of Bwindi. Founder and dominant Silverback Busingye leads the group under the dense misty jungle canopy. 

His name, Busingye, is from a local dialect word that means ‘peaceful’ (or conflict-free, calm, restful, composed, or noiseless), but his demeanor is quite the opposite. Busingye has been observed to lead brutal attacks on other gorilla families to expand his family size.

Almost all Busingye gorilla family members initially habituated in the Kahungye gorilla group before the fission in 2008. In March 2012, Silverback Busingye led a splinter from Kahungye to form the Busingye group. 

The group is fondly known for foraging within the inner forest with infrequent access to the park edges. Busingye gorilla family is composed of 12 individuals, including; 

• 1 Silverback 
• 1 Black back
• 5 Adult females
• 3 Juveniles

Busingye group is one of the most entertaining gorilla groups in the Rushaga sector. Its five young ones are exceptionally playful, and their father lets them play around him where he can watch closely. I guess that’s why he’s called Busingye.

4. Bweeza Gorilla Family — 11 Members

Bweza gorilla group, led by dominant Silverback Kakono, is one of the fully habituated gorilla groups available for gorilla trekking in the Rushaga sector. 

In 2013, some of the Shongi gorilla family members trusted Kakono to lead them from Silverback Bweza’s leadership and fissioned to form their own family. To clarify, Silverback Bweza leads the old Nshongi group, which split to form the Bweza group, while Silverback Kakono leads the new Bweza group.

Bweza group is famous for foraging on community land adjacent to the park (where vegetation is more disturbed) than deep inside the canopy. It has 11 members, including; 

• 3 Silverbacks

Bweza is one of the most manageable gorilla groups to track in the Rushaga tourism sector. Only six tourists can visit this family per day and spend only one hour with them at a safe distance of 32 ft from the gorillas.

5. Kahungye Gorilla Family — 13 Members

Silverback Ruziika dominates the Kahungye group, with total family members of thirteen individuals.

From historical findings among gorilla families in Bwindi, this group may not stay that many for long. Silverback doesn’t like sharing family (specifically sharing females), so they break off to start their troops at maturity.

UWA started this group’s habituation process in 2008 with about 29 individuals, including 3 adult males (Silverbacks – Riziika, Busingye, and Rwiigi) who liked getting involved in the frequent intra-male rivalry. In March 2012, mature Silverback Busingye started the fission that split the members to create the Busingye gorilla family (mentioned earlier). Busingye left the group with 19 family members. Not long after, Silverback Rwiigi too split away with some females to create his troop.

Kahungye is one of the most revered gorilla groups to watch in Rushaga.

6. Bikingi Gorilla Family — 10 Members

Bikingi gorilla family’s founder, Silverback Bikingi, died on 9th June 2018 after a brutal encounter with a lone wild silverback around the Rushaga sector. The group is now led by this unnamed silverback and available for gorilla trekking in the Rushaga southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Before the death of silverback Bikingi, the solitary male silverback occasionally attacked the group, violently seeking dominance. The last fight fetched his leadership, leaving the powerful fighter (Bikingi) down for good. After the death of the dominant silverback Bikingi, many of the group members dispersed, joining other groups, like the 7 individuals who joined the Mucunguzi group. 

However, an intensive search found the lone (unnamed) silverback retained 9 members royal to his leadership. UWA decided to maintain their original name Bikingi and closely monitor the gorilla family.

UWA launched the Bikingi gorilla family’s habituation process in early 2012 as a follow-up exercise of the disintegrated Mishaya group. Indeed, they discovered that several members from the Mishaya group lived alongside other non-habituated members in the group. UWA later declared the Bikingi group for the habituation process and to keep a close eye on the formerly habituated members.

Bikingi gorilla family has 10 members, including 

• 1 silverback
• 1 black back
• 4 adult females
• 2 juveniles
• 2 infants 

7. Mucunguzi Gorilla Family — 12 Members

Mucunguzi gorilla family gets its name from its dominant male, Silverback Mucunguzi, whose name means ‘redeemer’ in the local dialect. 

Silverback Mucunguzi left the Bweza family at maturity to roam the jungle on his own. After a few solitary years, he attacked the Bikingi gorilla family and snatched away enough females to start his own family. 

Mucunguzi gorilla group currently has 12 members and is available for gorilla trekking in the Rushaga sector .

8. Rwiigi Gorilla Family — 10 Members

Rwiigi gorilla family is a new troop formed from a separation from the Kahungye gorilla family. The group gets its name from the dominant Silverback’s name. Rwiigi, in the local dialect, means an entrance or door.

All members in the Rwiigi group were already fully habituated in Kahungye before creating Rwiigi. So the group didn’t go through another habituation process, but UWA closely monitors its movements. It is available for gorilla trekking in the Rushaga sector.

Rwigi group currently has 10 members with:

• 5 Adult Females
• 2 Juveniles

Gorilla trekking in the Rushaga sector begins at the head office for briefing and allocation of gorilla groups, then spreads out to various trailheads leading to the gorilla groups scattered around the southern Bwindi sector. But before you make it to the Rushaga starting point, you must have a gorilla permit.

Rushaga sector has eight gorilla families available for gorilla trekking. If only eight tourists can track each group, that means Rushaga can issue only 64 gorilla permits per day. Like all other sectors in Bwindi, a gorilla permit to track Rushaga gorillas costs $700 per person for foreign non-residents. Foreign residents pay $600, and East African nationals pay 250,000 Uganda Shillings. 

Only adults above 15 years old can track gorillas in Uganda. You can purchase your permit directly from UWA offices in Kampala or use a licensed tour operator. However you get the permit, you’re ready to track gorillas when you show up at the Rushaga trailhead.

UWA guide assigns each gorilla family to a group of eight tourists based on their physical ability (or requests), with two armed rangers for security and an expert tracker guide to lead the tourists into the impenetrable misty jungle and find the gorillas.

At the briefing point, guests must be wearing a facemask, keeping physical distance between each other, and should have disinfected their shoes and hands before heading into the jungle. One of the Uganda entry restrictions is testing negative for COVID-19 so that every trekker will be checked for any signs of respiratory symptoms. Guests are advised to stay away if they’re not feeling well.

Through the thick vines and bushes, your guide and rangers will be making way with a machete, matching the slowest trekker’s pace. They’ll be communicating with a group of rangers that stay with the gorilla troops to get the troop’s bearings. The jungle’s enchanting magnificence distracts you away from time consciousness, and when you least expect to find them, there they are. Dark bodies are moving about in green foliage, scattered in a determinable area and minding their business. 

For a moment, your presence is heavily ignored as they continue munching away leave, napping or youngs ones playing ruff and tumble near their dad’s watchful gaze. They seem to be used to this sort of thing, where visitors come, hang around with their snapping gadgets, and then quietly leave for precisely the same duration. They know you mean no harm; that is what habituation is about.

How you spend your time with a mountain gorilla family is entirely up to you. The best advice is to use half the time to connect with the gorillas and their environment in meditative quietness, and then you’ll find your photo moments when you’re one with your host. However, there’re some golden rules that you must observe.

• The visit must not exceed one hour to prevent agitating the welcoming state of the wild gorillas.
• Visitors should keep a safe distance of 32 ft (10 m) away from the gorillas. Gorillas, especially juveniles, may not observe this rule but follow the guide’s instructions to avoid contact at all times.
• By all means, avoid flash photography; it ticks off the gorillas.
• You’re not allowed to eat anywhere near the gorillas.
• Do not panic or try to run when a silverback approaches you. However aggressive the silverback may seem, follow the guide’s instructions to get out of any dilemma.

After spending your time with Rushaga gorillas, you’ll slowly move away from the gorillas and follow a trail back to the trailhead. You may have packed lunch anywhere in the forest, but avoid litter and carry back everything you came within your backpack.

Gorilla trekking in the Rushaga sector is a rewarding experience, and at least everyone gets to meet the gorillas. It’s not difficult to track Rushaga gorillas; besides, guests can choose to trek the easiest of the eight gorilla groups available for gorilla trekking in the Rushaga sector.

For a more intimate time with Rushaga’s gorillas, opt-in for the gorilla habituation experience, where guests can join the typical research team in staying with the gorillas for at least four hours.

Recommended reading for you

• Everything you need to know before booking a gorilla safari
• Facts and information about mountain gorillas
• Is Uganda really good for Africa safari

Gorilla Habituation Experience in Rushaga

The exclusive gorilla habituation experience in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers a fantastic opportunity to spend up to four hours with remarkable wild primates . Rather than spending an all-too-brief hour with them, connect, observe and photograph them at a gentler pace.

Unlike the gorilla trekking experience, the habituation experience offers a more extensive, intimate, and powerful connection. The unrushed habituation process gives more time to relax and understand the everyday gorilla family life. It also presents photographers with a more relaxed environment to capture great shots in a challenging wild scene. 

Expect to find gorillas not so relaxed around humans than in a usual trek. But the raw wild experience is what the gorilla habituation experience in Rushaga is all about.

Rushaga tourism sector in the south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the only trailhead that offers gorilla habituation experience in Uganda. There are only two gorilla groups reserved for research and habituation experiences in the Rushaga sector. 

The Experience

Highly trained trackers and guides lead tourists deep into the trees very early in the morning before sunrise. They pick up gorilla spoor and clues that gorilla left on the trail as they roam through the jungle. The search begins when you find the gorilla nests from the night before, and, given your early start, you usually see the gorillas soon after finding the nests.

Mountain gorillas build new nests (usually on the ground or occasionally in a tree) every night; they never use the same nest. Infants that are too young or don’t have the skill set to construct a nest of their own share with their mother. Since gorillas on average move less than one mile each day, they are never too far away from their previous night’s nest.  

Eventually, when you reach the family’s location, approach cautiously. Getting close to these powerful yet intelligent mountain giants can be intimidating for a first-timer. Your guide will instruct you on how to use non-threatening body language to put the dominant silverback at ease and allow him to assert his dominance.

Stay amongst the wild gorilla family company, watching as they slowly relax to the presence of humans and move with them when they decide to relocate. Still not familiar with your presence, they may display unexpected behavior, which your guide will most probably know how to handle. It is only through this time-intensive approach that they will eventually become entirely comfortable in the company of tourists.

What the experience of spending a day with the huge gorilla silverback and his family is like.

The Habituation Experience in Uganda.

Habituation Permit

A gorilla habituation permit in Uganda costs $1,500 per person, and they’re only available for the Rushaga sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The price is undoubtedly high but considering Rwanda charges the same for a mere gorilla trek, the cost of habituation experience in Uganda is worth it.

Foreign residents and East African nationals get discounts on the habituation permit. Foreign residents pay $1000, and citizens pay 750,000 Uganda Shillings.

You can get your habituation permit from the UWA office or a licensed tour operator. The age limit of habituation is above 15 years.

Gorilla Trekking Vs. Habituation Experience 

Whether you’re trekking fully habituated mountain gorillas or taking the gorilla habituation experience, no gorilla experience is ever the same. With so many day-to-day variables involved, it’s tough comparing gorilla trekking with habituation experience. 

On one particular trek, the gorillas could be sleepy and lazy, but the same group could be excited and active the next day. They could be hiding in dense jungle bush and playing in clear forest dale on another occasion. 

Keeping all these day-to-day variables in mind, how does the gorilla habituation experience compare to a standard gorilla trekking in Rushaga? 

Firstly, unlike on a standard gorilla visit, where your time with the giant primates is limited to one hour, you get four hours with the wild mountain gorillas. Secondly, up to eight tourists (plus guides and rangers) can visit each gorilla group in a typical gorilla trekking visit. Still, on a habituation experience, only four tourists are allowed per gorilla family. It provides a more private and intimate jungle experience.

Can you do both gorilla trekking and habituation experience? Yes, one can do gorilla trekking and join the habituation experience the next day on the same Uganda gorilla safari . UWA allows a tourist to book a gorilla trekking permit and habituation permit on different days because both start early in the mornings.

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After seeing gorillas, several activities around the Rushaga area engage tourists, including cultural encounters, village community walks, birding trails, and nature walking trails, among the many.

Meet the Batwa Forest People (3-5 hrs)

The Batwa lived in the Bwindi forest for many centuries before they were forced out to pave the way for conservation. Their cultures are deeply rooted in the rainforest jungle. Today the Batwa occupy villages in the outskirts of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and offer tours to visit their cultural sites and experience their significant cultural values.

The Batwa cultural visit in Rushaga is one of the profoundly captivating activities you can do after trekking the mountain gorillas. A visit to the Batwa site in Rushaga will reveal a rich history of Batwa interactions with the forests, indigenous knowledge, and a deeply rooted culture of forest dependence. 

Batwa traditional practices and belief systems are linked to forest plants, animals, and sites. Although the Batwa tribe no longer lives inside the forest, they attach cultural importance to the forest’s resources which sustained the lives of their forebears. As such, they consider forest plants and animals, including tubers, herbs, vines, fruit trees, duikers, flying squirrels, bushbucks, and cane rats, as part of their natural world and culture. 

In addition, Batwa people attach considerable cultural importance to forest sites, including caves, hot springs, swamps, rivers, hills, giant stones, and pits. Many of these sites have spiritual values which they believe helped their ancestors to live for many years. 

A Batwa elder will narrate a detailed account of forest myths, taboos, totems, and folklore on the trail. You’ll visit a homestead, dance to their music, taste their beer, and speak their language on this cultural trail.

Walking Trails (2-6 hrs)

There are two major engaging trails for tourists in the Rushaga sector, including the Kara ridge trail and the Kapata trails. The Kara Ridge Trail showcases the picturesque landscapes around the Rushaga area extending as far as the Virugans with sweeping views across the rugged western Uganda region. It’s the best for photography.

The 3-hour Kapata trail is a much easier one, taking you through a village homestead, showcasing agriculture, plant species, and a honey firm.

The most engaging nature trails require driving at least 10 km away from Rubuguri, in Nkuringo, Buhoma, Lake Mutanda, and around the stunning Lake Bunyonyi islands and shores. In Buhoma or Nkuringo, you can join the trails into the Bwindi jungle or across the imposing rainforest. 

At lake Mutanda, one can take a canoe ride across the lake in a traditional dugout canoe. The enchanting Lake Bunyonyi presents many active and leisurely attractions that will keep you busy for a day or two.

Bird Watching in Rushaga (2-6 hrs)

Rushaga sector, south of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, offers some of the best montane-forest birding in Africa. A birding foray of 350 species that fly through and up the Bwindi forest canopy will be a delight for birding nads in ticking off their list on a 2-3 hour excursion that is hosted by an expert guide. 

It is a journey of discovery, traversing along a winding trail framed by exotic and emerald vegetation through this ancient jungle and outside undulating terraced farms on the slopes of rugged western Uganda. 

Winding through evergreen and montane marshes that intertwine across the lush forest floor, Rushaga birding trails lead you to enchanting falls, booming out a thunderous roar of pristine river water crushing against enormous rocks. Set in exquisite verdant terrain, the waterfalls that rumble in the Bwindi jungle is truly a sight to behold. Prolific with birds, the cacophony of chatter, and the cascading falls is a magnificent sound that will vibrate through your eardrums and bring life to your unconscious body.

Ambling along a Bwindi river trail, be sure to look out for the White-tailed Ant Thrush and dapper francolin, the splendid Black Bee-eater, Yellow-eyed Black and African Sooty Flycatchers along the river. 

Venture to the Mubwindi Swamp trail in Ruhija, where sightings of the endemic and localized African green broadbill are frequent. Gaze up at the treetops and keep your binoculars handy to spot the Short-tailed Warbler and Blue-headed Sunbird as well as the African Green Broadbill and Shelley’s Crimsonwing.

Reading recommendations for later

• The alternative primate safari that does not include gorillas
• Other primates are found in Uganda
• List of endemic birds found in Uganda

Rushaga Sector is open for gorilla trekking all year round, but the best times to go are from June to August and December to February. At these times, the jungle trails are drier, less slippery, and your chance of not getting wet while viewing the gorillas is higher during these months. Also, the dry season gives a better experience, especially with photography.

However, the dry seasons of June to August and December to February are peak seasons in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Uganda as a destination. Gorilla permits for the Rushaga Sector are in high demand during the peak season, and I would highly recommend booking your permit months in advance. Or take advantage of the low season numbers, especially if you’re traveling to Uganda on a budget.

During March, April, May, October, and November, roads to Rushaga may be challenging for some cars during the wet seasons of March, April, May, October, and November. However, the roads have been improved, and a moderate 4×4 can navigate the 43-km dirt road between Muko and Rushaga with less trouble.

Gorilla trekking excursions in the Rushaga sector go out every day throughout the week irrespective of the weather or public holidays. Besides, the tropical rainforest weather around Bwindi is quite unpredictable—it could rain any minute in and around the jingle. So, if you don’t mind the showers, visit Rushaga and track mountain gorillas on any date on your calendar.

Rushaga sector sits in Uganda’s wettest tropical regions, which means that your first items to carry should be things that will keep you dry during your gorilla safari or hiking adventures.

• Walking books, preferably waterproof, to keep that muddy water off your toes. 
• A poncho or light rain jacket will help prevent rain from drenching you while walking under the forest canopy.
• Dressing to cover your arms and legs. I suggest light trousers and long-sleeved shirts. You’ll be walking through an impenetrable jungle, cutting your way through thorny branches, and stepping on angry bugs that could retaliate on your yummy skin. Throw in a pair of hiking gloves. Cover up!
• A decent sweater to keep you warm during the cold evenings
• A tiny insect repellent spray is a great idea—it will help keep away the forest flies.
• Two facemasks (N95) for the gorilla trek
• Your light backpack should have some energy bars and a flask of drinking water, plus your photography gadgets.

Remember to pack light because you may be walking for hours a day, and a heavy backpack will slow or cut your expedition short.

Recommended for you

• Packing list, things that should make it into your luggage
• Suggestions on what you can wear on a gorilla safari
• What you should know planning your first gorilla safari

Where To Stay in Rushaga sector

The most outstanding luxury accommodation for tracking gorillas in Rushaga is a few kilometers (averagely 14 km) outside the sector. The more available places to stay around Rushaga are low budget with moderate service quality.

Quality Accommodation

• Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge — $230 pp/n, 14 km from Rushaga in Nkuringo
• Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge — $831 pp/n, 14 km from Rushaga in Nkuringo
• Mutanda Lake Resort — $155 pp/single, 19 km from Rushaga
• Chameleon Hill Lodge — $130 pp/sharing, 16 km from Rushaga

Budget Accommodation

Budget accommodation around the Rushaga section is readily available. For about $20 to $180 per night, you can get a decent bed, bathroom, and breakfast. 

• Rushaga Gorilla Camp
• Gorilla Valley Lodge
• Nshongi Camp
• Gorilla Safari Lodge
• Wagtail Eco Safari Camp
• Bwindi Jungle Lodge
• Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

Rushaga sector is located on the southern Bwindi Impenetrable National Park border, a few kilometers from the DRC border, at the Edge of the Albertine Rift. It is about 34 km (1.5-hour drive) from Kisoro Town (Kisoro airport) and about 83 km (2.5-hour drive) from Kable Town at coordinates 1°07’09.4″S 29°42’36.7″E.

Entebbe – Kabale – Rushaga: The Entebbe, via Kabale and branching off at Muko (2 km from Lake Bunyonyi on Kabale-Kisoro road) to drive 38 kilometers on a dirt road to Rushaga is the easiest road route to the Rushaga sector. The route is 497 km (297 mi) with only 34 km (21 mi) on a dirt road easily navigable with a 4×4 vehicle in approximately 10 hours.

Entebbe – Kisoro – Mutanda – Nkuringo: Entebbe, Via Kabale, Kisoro, and then Rushaga is the longest route from the International Airport. It covers about 527 km (327 mi) with just about 34 km (21 mi) on a dirt road from Kisoro Town and will take close to 11-hours of driving time. 

Travelers can also join this route at Kisoro from Rwanda via the Cyanika border in the south and DCR via the west Bunagana border. Both border entry points are about 19 km (11 mi) from Kisoro Town.

If you’re using the Katuna (Gatuna) border from Rwanda, drive 24 km (14 mi) on a paved smooth road to Kabale and then join the Kabale-Kisoro road. Then turn off at Muko (2 km from Lake Bunyonyi on Kabale-Kisoro road) to join the 34-km (21-mi) dirt road to the Rushaga sector.

Ishasha Sector in Queen Elizabeth NP – Kihihi – Rushaga: From the Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park , you can drive through Kihihi (airstrip) via Kanungu, Rutoma, and join the Kabale-Kisoro Highway at Rubanda and continue up to Muko, where you branch off the highway. This route is not paved and would need a 4×4 safari truck to navigate. This route is about 160 km (99 mi) and would take approximately 5-hours of driving time.

Alternatively, you can drive into Buhoma and go round the Bwindi Forest via Ruhija Sector for 148 km, which would also take about 5-hours of driving time on a dirt road.

The quickest air transfer to Rushaga Sector from Entebbe International Airport is at Kisoro Airport, about 34 km (21 mi), an hour’s drive on a dirt road. Aerolink operates daily scheduled and chartered flights between Kisoro and Entebbe.

If you’re connecting flights to Masai Mara or Serengeti, you’ll fly from Kisoro to Entebbe then connect to the other destinations in the region. Also, flights connect to Kasese (Queen Elizabeth NP), Semiliki, Murchison Falls NP, and Kidepo NP. Ask your operator for available flights.

The alternative airport is at Kihihi, about 125 km (77 mi), a four-hour drive. Usually, Kihihi Airstrip is not a great option if you can fly to Kisoro. You can use it if you intend to take the Buhoma-Nkuringo trail across Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Walking/Hiking

Buhoma – Nkuringo (across Bwindi) – Rushaga

If you’re pondering an outdoor adventure to include on a journey to Nkuringo to see the mountain gorillas , the Buhoma-Nkuringo walking trail is one I would recommend. It is Bwindi’s most famous hiking trail crossing the impenetrable jungle via Kashasha or Ivy Rivers. 

There’s about 120 km of bone-jarring dirt road between Nkuringo and Buhoma. The 17 km across the jungle is not just the avoidance of the long 5-hour drive between the two but also a reward for walking in one of the earth’s oldest and untouched rainforest reserves.

If there’s one place we go above all others when we need to relax, it’s the forest. Walking between old trees is almost meditative and pretty much the antidote to stress. Hikers always come out of the jungle tired but happier than they went in.

Your driver, who would have driven around the jungle, will be on the other side to receive you and transfer you to your accommodation in Rushaga or Nkuringo.

Kisoro – Lake Mutanda – Rushaga Village Walking Trail

Suppose you fly into Kisoro and still have the energy to take on a village hiking adventure in the remotest parts of western Uganda. In that case, the Kisoro-Mutanda-Rushaga African village walking trail is highly recommended. 

Operated by Nkuringo Walking Safaris , the African village walking adventure trail starts from Kisoro town with an expert walking/birding guide, leading through homesteads and villages. Forget the staged village shows and welcomes: on this guided village walk, no one expects you, making for an authentic walk to pass by Africans in their usual way of life.

From the densely populated villages near Kisoro town, the trail leads down valleys, over steep ridges, and round beautifully cultivated gardens to reveal stunning views of Lake Mutanda and the imposing Virungas in the backdrop.

At Lake Mutanda, you’ll get into a dugout canoe with a rowing expert guiding you across the stunning Mutanda up to the resort, from where you’ll find your driver to transfer you to Rushaga. There’s so much to learn, see and experience on this village trail; take it if you’re flying into Kisoro.

OTHER SECTORS IN BWINDI

BUHOMA SECTOR (north)

NKURINGO SECTOR (south)

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Packing List, What To Pack for Uganda Safari

Top 6 Luxury Lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

• People & Culture

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Planning a Uganda Safari in 10 Easy Steps

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Discover The Various Types of Travel in Uganda

Uganda Travel Restrictions & Country Declared Ebola Free

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Lake Bunyonyi — An Adventurer’s Guide

Visit Entebbe, Uganda’s Charming Peninsula Town

• Rushaga Sector
• Nkuringo Sector
• Buhoma Sector
• Ruhija Sector
• Lake Bunyonyi
• Lake Mutanda
• Bwindi Altitude
• Getting There
• Buhoma Community Development Association
• Buhoma Community Tour
• Buniga Forest Walk
• Nkuringo Community Tour
• Nkuringo Cultural Center
• Nyundo Community Trails
• Rubuguri Village Walk
• Ruhija Community Walk
• Day Trip to Bwindi Gorillas
• 2 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trek
• 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Habituation Experience
• 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Safari
• 3 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Lake Bunyonyi
• 4 Days Bwindi Gorillas (2 Treks)

4 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Lake Bunyonyi

4 days bwindi gorillas & nature walks.

• 5 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Wildlife Safari
• 7 Days Ultimate Gorilla Safari
• Mountain Gorillas
• Chimpanzees
• Batwa People
• Gorilla Trekking
• Gorilla Habituation
• Hiking & Trekking
• Batwa Cultural Experience
• Coffee to Cup Experience
• Bird Watching
• Accommodation
• Tour Operators
• Altitude & Acclimatization
• Gorilla Trekking Rules
• Is Gorilla Trekking Safe?
• Gorilla Tracking Rules
• Packing for a Gorilla Safari
• Age Limit for Gorilla Trekking
• Packing for Gorilla Trek
• When to Visit Bwindi
• Cancellation of Gorilla Permits
• Responsible Travel

Gorilla Valley Lodge

Gorilla Valley Lodges offers the best accommodation to travelers looking to gorilla trekking in the Rushaga Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Begin your journey to explore the wonders of Bwindi when certain of where to retire for the night. For ultimate comfort on gorilla safari to Bwindi, consider Gorilla Valley Lodge a must-book for your overnight stay.

Description

Gorilla Valley Lodge is located near Rushaga ranger station. Signposts lead the way coming from Kabale Road. In Rushaga take the road on the right leading straight to the lodge. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one meter away from your veranda. It feels like you are invited into to home of the majestic mountain gorillas. But these gentle giants are not your host, just your neighbors, occasionally coming out of the forest to spend some time in our garden. This is what makes Gorilla Valley Lodge so special.

Located on the border of the impenetrable forest and set on a steep slope the lodge has a truly unique setting. Imagine waking up with the sounds of the forest, having your cup of coffee or tea on you private terrace, experiencing the forest coming alive and the mist mysteriously giving way for a lush jungle.

Gorilla Valley Lodge consists of 12 en-suite rooms, built on a steep slope, ensuring the best views on Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

All rooms have a private terrace from where to experience the splendor of the forest. Tastefully decorated and equipped with solar water heaters and comfortable beds our rooms ensure a peaceful sleep.

Gorilla Valley Lodge is located at the border area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park –a significant habitat to the rare mountain gorillas and diverse Albertine rift endemic species of birds. The lodge is set on a steep slopes thus guaranteeing spectacular views of the area’s breathtaking landscapes.

From Kampala/Entebbe city to Gorilla Valley Lodge, it takes guests about 8-9 hours’ drive in a classic 4×4 drive vehicle. By air, you can as well reach the lodge on a flight starting from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi airstrip. From Kihihi airstrip, drive for about 13 miles up to the lodge. Considering its position in the Southwestern Uganda, you can also connect to the lodge from Kigali via Katuna or Cyanika border.

Amenities in Gorilla Valley Lodge

Gorilla Valley Lodge is a mid-range accommodation property comprising of 12 rooms, a self-contained facility in a grass thatch structure. The lodge features spacious private bathrooms, dining area, toilets, fully furnished rooms fitted with twin beds. At the lodge facility, guests can enjoy the clear view of surrounding Virunga Volcanoes and lush rainforest of Bwindi. Other key amenities include hot showers, fully stocked bar and a classic restaurant.

Gorilla Valley Lodge is one location where guests can experience true African wilderness. Enjoy a comfortable stay with refreshing naturalness in the surrounding with possibility of spotting gorillas which sometimes get out of the forest.

The available room types in Gorilla Valley Lodge include single and double. Guests can enjoy bed and breakfast, half board or full board. The lodge welcomes different categories of visitors; families, couples, business travelers, solo travelers and friends, etc.

Tourist activities at Gorilla valley lodge

• Gorilla tracking
• Gorilla habituation experience
• Bird watching
• Visiting the Batwa people
• Sightseeing views
• Nature and forest walks

Things to Do

Gorilla Valley Lodge lies nearby Bwindi NP, one of the premier Uganda safari destinations. While at this lodge, you can easily connect to Bwindi and be part of the numerous experiences including gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector, birding, nature walks and community visits in the nearby local community.

Gorilla trekking in Rushaga

From Gorilla Valley Lodge, it takes primate enthusiasts very short time to get to Rushaga sector where you will have briefing about gorilla trekking guidelines and allocation of gorilla families. Starting your gorilla journey at Rushaga presents you abundant opportunities to engage in a gorilla trek thanks to its numerous gorilla groups.

The largest number of habituated gorilla groups exist in Rushaga area and include Kutu, Rwigi, Bweza, Busingye, Kahungye, Nshongi, Mishaya, Bikingi, Mucunguzi family, and others. On actual gorilla trek, each group of mountain gorilla family is allocated to a group of 8 visitors.

Gorilla Habituation Experience

Gorilla habituation experience is a unique primate adventure perfectly done only in Rushaga sector. Gorilla habituation entirely involves following the semi-habituated gorilla group or completely non habituated family in order to make it get used to human presence. The process of initiating gorillas to human presence can take about 2 years or less depending on how fast these apes can adapt.

If you are enthusiastic birder, Rushaga is one region in Bwindi that you shouldn’t miss visiting to enjoy birding excursion. Birding excursion in Rushaga allows you look out for diverse birds including the dwarf honey guide, giant kingfishers, African harrier hawks, yellow eyed black flycatcher, handsome francolins, and many others.

Nature walks

Nature walking through Rushaga is complete immersion into the dense Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Get a chance to unearth the wonders of Bwindi on a rewarding nature walk along the Rushaga nature walk trails including Kajembehajambe trail and Kapata trail.

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Home » Blog » MIDRANGE LODGES IN RUSHAGA GORILLA SECTOR

MIDRANGE LODGES IN RUSHAGA GORILLA SECTOR

Rushaga sector is one of the four popular gorilla sectors in the vast Bwindi impenetrable national park , a popular gorilla trekking destination in Uganda. The sector is located south of the park and shelters about seven habituated families. While visiting this gorilla sector, especially for the first time, looking for where to stay can be quite overwhelming. Below are some of the midrange hotels to stay at in the Rushaga sector. 

MIDRANGE LODGES IN RUSHAGA SECTOR.

ICHUMBI GORILLA LODGE.

It’s a 10-minute walk from Rushaga sector tracking trailhead to this lodge. For visitors who prefer absolute privacy, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge is the right place to be.

Situated on the sloped edge, it offers spectacular views of the Bwindi’s beauty, this mid-range has enough accommodating luxury cottages giving visitors an opportunity to rest comfortably after a long day of gorilla trekking in king-sized beds with mosquito nets. 

The rooms offer visitors total privacy and have private balconies on each. The double rooms are also available for visitors to choose.

The customer care at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge is absolutely satisfying alongside their great services which include Free Wifi, DSTV, a parking lot and spacious gardens to relax. Each room at this luxurious accommodating spot is equipped with toilets and indoor showers

Visitors can engage in a wide range of tourism activities while enjoying their stay at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge including gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga National Park, and birding, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mutanda are also in proximity so visitors can also visit these spots for canoeing and bird viewing, forest nature walks and Batwa cultural experience. 

RUSHAGA GORILLA LODGE. 

Rushaga Gorilla Lodge is one of the finest mid-range hotels to stay at while gorilla trekking in Rushaga gorilla sector and Nkuringo gorilla sector. The spot is situated on the border of Bwindi impenetrable national park in the southern part and covers about six hectares of land.

It is just a 15-minute walk away from the Rushaga gorilla trekking starting point to Rushaga gorilla lodge. The lodges at the safari camp have double bandas that are very close to the Bwindi forests and have well-equipped luxury tents. 

Visitors are also given an opportunity to set up their own tents and they can move with them to the camp. Rushaga gorilla camp has over 30 comfy beds in total, safe parking space, six self-contained bandas, and 2 family bandas alongside six self-contained luxury tents all to give visitors the best stay while at the safari lodge. 

The fine accommodating spot also gives visitors an opportunity to track several gorilla families including Mishaya, Busingye, Kahungye, Bweza, and Nshongi, especially in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park. Other tourism activities to dive into during your stay at Rushaga gorilla camp include, bird watching and nature walks in  Bwindi. 

BWEZA GORILLA LODGE.

Situated near the Bwindi impenetrable national park headquarters about 20 minutes away from the Rushaga gorilla sector starting point, Bweza gorilla lodge is one of the most popular accommodating spots to stay at while gorilla trekking in the southwestern part of Uganda. 

About 10 visitors can be accommodated at the lodge’s five comfortable en suite rooms alongside family and double rooms well placed to overlook the beautiful Bwindi of canopies. The rooms are well equipped with fire extinguishers for fire safety, indoor hot and cold showers, comfortable beds, flushing toilets and mosquito nets.

The lodge offers visitors evening fire camping to interact and associate with each other alongside a well-stocked bar with refreshments including wines, cocktails, beers and drinking water. Other services at Bweza Gorilla Lodge include free Wi-Fi, spa and massage, a spacious parking lot, laundry and housekeeping services. 

There are also airport pickups and drop-offs from the Airport to the lodge at an affordable price. There is also professional catering staff that ensures visitors have the best meals from local dishes to continental ones including morning breakfast, lunch and three-course dinner.  Popular tourism activities while at this spot include the gorilla trekking experience. 

GORILLA VALLEY LODGE.

Gorilla Valley Lodge is yet another comfortable accommodation spot with its 12 ensuite rooms, each with a private well-decorated balcony that gives remarkable views of Uganda’s home for mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. 

For visitors looking forward to trekking in Rushaga sector, this is one of the great spots you can stay at.  What makes Gorilla Valley Lodge is its proximity to the national park of Bwindi, situated near the Rushaga ranger station and the border of Bwindi on the steep slopes, the mid-range lodge gives a lifetime feeling where visitors can encounter the primate rare species of endangered mountain gorillas. 

You’re actually neighbors with the mountain gorillas at Gorilla Valley Lodge as visitors can see them leaving forests to relax and have a good time in the compound yard of this mid-range hotel thus making the whole accommodation spot a unique one.

The 12 en suite rooms are accommodating enough with solar water heaters and comfortable beds while providing spectacular views of the forest canopies. Popular tourism activities that visitors can participate in while enjoying their stay at Gorilla Valley Lodge include nature and forest walks, gorilla trekking, bird watching and gorilla habituation experience. 

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• Lodges in Rushaga Gorilla Sector
• Safari Blog
• Gorilla Lodges

Lodges in Rushaga Gorilla Sector : Rushaga Gorilla Sector is located at an altitude of 1,900m near the southern tip of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park , Rushaga became Uganda’s newest gorilla tracking site in October 2009, following an unusually high-profile launch wherein a brat pack of American film stars were flown in to make positive statements about the experience. Although Rushaga is less well known and quieter than Buhoma and Ruhija, and accommodation facilities are generally good to all travelers who visit the sector.

There are seven habituated gorilla families in the Rushaga Gorilla Sector, that totals up to 56 gorilla tracking permits available daily, the sector is the only place in Bwindi and the whole world where you can habituate mountain gorilla – there are two families (Bushaho and Bukingyi) who are being habituated in the Rushaga sector – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park ,  and a total of 4 people daily can habituate wild mountain gorilla and that adds up to a total of 8 permits available for habituation daily – the cost of each gorilla habituation permit is US$ 1,500 per person. Scenically unlike some gorilla sectors in Bwindi, where you can’t view across the deep jungle-clad valley as well as a glimpse of the Virunga Volcanoes, and there’s plenty to attract birders including Rwenzori turaco and Shelley’s Crimsonwing. There are some good lodges near; about 10 minutes walk from the Rushaga Gorilla Tracking trailhead.

Lodges in the Rushaga Sector

The main accommodation collection serving Rushaga are in the village about 1 to 5km from the tracking trailhead – lodges in the Rushaga gorilla sector include

Gorilla Safari Lodge

This gem of a lodge stands on a hillside facing the forest only 1 kilometer from the Rushaga trailhead. The 18 bedroomed en-suite cottages are attractively and colorfully decorated in ethnic style and spread across a pretty garden site surrounded by scattered local homesteads. Good, but is also a touch overpriced.

Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

This very agreeable and reasonably priced lodge is set on sloping grounds with a view 10 minutes walk from the tracking trailhead. It offers the choice of small but comfortable budget double rooms with large standalone luxury cottages with king-size beds with walk-in-nets, all rooms are en-suite with a private balcony.

Gorilla Valley Lodge

This latest offering from nature lodge has an isolated position on the park boundary about 2km east of the tracking trailhead as the crow flies, but more like 5km by road, sprawling across a hillside, the comfortable en-suite cottages all offer views towards nearby forest canopy. The lodge consists of 12 en-suite rooms; all rooms have a private balcony overlooking Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Rushaga Gorilla Camp

This well-run camp 1km from the tracking trailhead is under the same management as the ever-popular Bunyonyi Overland Resort. It offers the choice of 12 luxurious rooms with canvas sides, glass fronts, stone bathroom and wooden deck with seating and forest views, a log cabin-like row of smaller en-suite budget rooms with a balcony overlooking a eucalyptus plantation.

Which gorilla group can be tracked in Rushaga Sector in Bwindi National Park?

Rushaga is the best sector in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for mountain gorilla tracking, and it is also the only sector where tourists may participate in the Gorilla Habituation Experience .

Nshongi Gorilla Group

After the recent separation from the Mweza group, this is one of the largest habituated gorilla families in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This group used to have 36 gorillas, but it now has over 25 mountain gorillas, including a dominant silverback, two sub silverbacks, three blackbacks, six adult females, six youngsters, and three new-borns. This is one of the few gorilla groups with more than four silverbacks, and it is still commanded by Nshongi, the group’s youngest silverback. Surprisingly, all three silverbacks and seven silverbacks coexisted amicably, with no power struggles.

The Nshongi gorilla group was founded with much excitement, and celebrities from all over the world visited in 2009. In 2010, the Nshongi group split up, leaving just 26 mountain gorillas, while others formed their groups, such as the Mishaya gorilla family. In 2013, the group separated again, reducing the number of gorillas to 18 and forming the current Bweza with ten gorillas. As the largest gorilla troop, visitors have a better opportunity of seeing other apes, forest birds, and butterflies.

Mishaya Gorilla Group

Due to disagreements with silverback Mishaya, this group broke from the Nshongi group in 2010. The silverback disappeared along with the other females, and the population now numbers over seven mountain gorillas and one silverback. Mishaya Silverback is a terrific warrior, and he managed to gather a large number of females, bringing the total to twelve, including three newborns. Mishaya is the only adult mountain gorilla known for fighting, and she frequently interacts with other mountain gorilla groups. However, owing to ongoing fights, this group was reduced to only seven members by 2015.

Busingye Gorilla Group

This group consists of 9 mountain gorillas, including one silverback, three newborns, two adults, and several young ones. In 2012, the Busingye gorilla group split from the Kahungye gorilla group. Busingye silverback was the one who chose to split away and start his group. Busingye means “peace,” which is surprising given his ambitious silverback’s legendary battles with other gorilla families. He likes displaying his strength, and anytime he comes across a wild bunch, he viciously steals a female gorilla to add to his own.

Kahungye Gorilla Group

This group consists of 13 mountain gorillas and three silverbacks, with Rumansi as the dominant silverback, followed by the other two male mountain gorillas, Rwigi and Ruhamuka. This group was ready for gorilla monitoring in 2011, however, after just a year, the group split up, resulting in the formation of a new family known as the Busingye gorilla group. Before their breakup, the organization had 27 members, including three silverbacks.

Bweza Gorilla Group

There are just seven mountain gorillas in this group, including one silverback and two newborns. The Bweza gorilla group is a splinter group of the Nshongi gorilla family, and it is the most varied and fascinating gorilla group to see on a safari to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Those interested in gorilla habituation can visit the Bikingi and Bushaho gorilla families and spend four hours examining the everyday habits of these magnificent animals.

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