How to book gorilla trekking permits in Rushaga sector? Gorilla trekking permits are legal cards or documents that are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority to visitors above the age of 15 years allowing them to visit habituated gorilla families and spend one hour with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Rushaga sector is one of the four gorilla trekking sectors located in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park. Bwindi impenetrable national park has other gorilla trekking sectors including buhoma sector in the north, ruhija sector in the east and nkuringo sector in the south.
Gorilla trekking experience in rushaga sector
Rushaga sector is a home of about 8 habituated gorilla families namely Mishaya gorilla family, Kahungye gorilla family, Nshongi gorilla family, Bweza gorilla family, Bikingi gorilla family, Busingye gorilla family, Mucunguzi gorilla family and Rwigi gorilla family which are available for trekking daily. Gorilla trekking in rushaga sector starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will be subdivided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and an experienced park guide. Trekking of mountain gorillas in Rushaga sector takes about 2 to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. Once the mountain gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their environment which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their behaviours, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities, take photos and record videos to show people back home.
Rushaga sector also offers gorilla habituation experience where the wild mountain gorillas are trained to get used to human presence for trekking. Gorilla habituation experience also starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations at the park headquarters and travellers who engage in the habituation experience will be allowed to spend four hours with the mountain gorillas.
How to book gorilla trekking permits in rushaga sector?
Gorilla trekking permits in Rushaga sector can be booked through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris where you will contact us with the date, month and year when you wish to visit the gorillas. After contacting us we will check for permit availability and if there are permits available on your preferred dates, you will be asked to make a deposit for the permit. Once the payment has been made, we will be able to purchase the permit on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation.
When to book gorilla trekking permits in rushaga sector
Gorilla trekking permits in rushaga sector should be booked 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date because they are competitive and usually get sold out quickly especially during the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February therefore in order to avoid last minute disappointments, you are advised to book in advance.
Cost of gorilla trekking permits in rushaga sector
Gorilla trekking permits in rushaga sector cost 700 USD per person for foreign non residents, 600 USD per person for foreign residents and 250,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
What to pack for gorilla trekking safari in rushaga sector?
When planning your gorilla trekking safari in Rushaga sector, there are a number of essential items that you should pack including insect repellent, hiking shoes, long sleeved shirt and trouser, garden gloves, waterproof rain jacket/poncho, energy snacks and drinking water, camera and extra batteries, a pair of binoculars, face masks, walking stick, warm sweater, back pack among others.
How to get to rushaga sector
Rushaga sector is located in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park and can be accessed by road transport means where you will drive from Kampala via masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and then to rushaga sector which takes about 9 to 10 hours’ drive in a safari vehicle.
Rushaga sector can as well be accessed from Kigali Rwanda where travellers will fly to Kigali international airport and then cross to Bwindi impenetrable national park through cyanika border in Kisoro or Katuna border in Kabale which takes about 4 to 5 hours’ drive.
You can also access rushaga sector by air transport means where you will book charter or schedule domestic flights with Aerolink Uganda from Entebbe international airport to Kisoro airstrip and then connect to the park headquarters by road which takes about 2 hours’ drive.
Where to stay in rushaga sector during trekking
Rushaga sector has various accommodation facilities where you can stay during your gorilla trekking safari. The accommodations range from budget, midrange and luxury including Four Gorillas Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Bweza Lodge, Gorilla CloseUp Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Wagtail Forest Lodge among others.
For more information about how to book gorilla trekking permits in Rushaga sector, do not hesitate to contact us at Achieve Global Safaris.