Rushaga Gorilla Trekking Tours from Entebbe | Uganda Safaris

A complete guide to planning successful Rushaga gorilla trekking tours from Entebbe. Learn about the gorilla groups to be trekked in Rushaga, the cost of gorilla permits, and where to stay. This guide also covers when to go for Rushaga gorilla trekking, provides tips and insights for planning unforgettable gorilla safaris, and outlines how to get there. Learn about the best gorilla trekking tours and safari packages.

Rushaga gorilla trekking tours from Entebbe offer tourists a unique opportunity to enjoy a thrilling walk in the rainforest with the intention of seeing gorillas.

Rushaga gorilla trekking tours mainly reward trekkers with up-close encounters with the endangered mountain gorillas. Beginning your journey from Entebbe presents two alternatives to reach Rushaga, which is part of the 4 trailheads/sectors or regions.

Entebbe is Uganda’s prime entry point being a hub to the Entebbe International Airport (EBB). Setting off from Entebbe to Rushaga to track mountain gorillas can be done by road or by flight.

Where is Rushaga located?

Rushaga region/sector is located in the Southern Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is lying close to Kisoro town. Rushaga lies at an altitude of 1160 to 2607m, and is set close to Lake Bunyonyi and Mutanda.

Gorilla Trekking from Rushaga Sector

Rushaga is one of the best sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where gorilla treks begin. Visitors start their day with an early morning briefing, and this session is led by the park official.

The briefing also includes learning more about gorilla trekking standards/rules and allocation of gorilla families.

The gorilla trekking rules to expect to learn include;

1. Do not visit the Rushaga gorillas when sick or ill. Ensure that you are free from flu/cold/infections. The aim is to reduce the chances of transmitting infectious human diseases to gorillas.
2. A safe distance of at least 10 meters must be observed away from mountain gorillas.
3. Ensure that you are 15 years old as this is the legible age limit as per the park authorities.
4. No drinking, eating, or smoking should be done before or near gorillas.
5. Do not stare directly into the eyes of the gorillas during a face-to-face encounter.
6. Avoid any sudden movements when searching for mountain gorillas.
7. One hour is a must for you to enjoy a close encounter with the Rushaga gorillas.
8. The camera should not have a flashlight, and when taking pictures, ensure the flash is turned off.
9. Wear clothes with colors that blend with the environment.
10. Do not litter the environment –carry back all the used items, forinstance bottled water. The used items or containers must be thrown into the designated points at the National Park offices.

Gorilla groups in Rushaga

At Rushaga, expect to explore any of the habituated gorilla groups. The Rushaga mountain gorilla families include Bweza gorilla group, the Kutu family, Kahungye gorilla group, Bikingi gorilla group, Mishaya family, Mucunguzi gorilla family, Nshongi, and Rwigi. These gorilla groups reside in the Southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Cost of Rushaga Gorilla Permits

Rushaga gorilla permits cost USD 800 per person for all international tourists. US Dollars 700 for the foreign residents, US Dollars 500 for the Rest of Africa residents, and if you are a Ugandan or East African citizen, UGX 300,000.

Gorilla permits must be booked early, before the actual date of trekking mountain gorillas in the Rushaga sector. Contact Flawless Adventure Planners Limited to book your Uganda gorilla permit and also secure a slot.

Best time for Rushaga gorilla trekking Tours

Rushaga gorilla trekking tours can be planned and booked at anytime of the month or the year. But the best time to visit Rushaga and engage in the guided mountain gorilla trekking is during the peak dry season. Rushaga, like the rest of the sectors, records two dry seasons each year, with the longest experienced starting from June to September.

The Rushaga gorilla sector also records the shorter dry season from December to February. The unique bit of visiting Rushaga during the dry season is that the park floor remains drier. Visitors embark on the search for the Rushaga mountain gorillas without being inconvenienced by the heavy rainfall.

The wet or rainy (low season) offers another opportunity to visit mountain gorillas in Rushaga but it is period when the region records a drop in visitor numbers. The rainy season is most preferred by the budget visitors and begins from March to May. The wet season also occurs from October to November.

Accommodation or lodges in Rushaga

Gorilla lodges and camps to stay in and around the Rushaga range, from budget to luxury. The places to stay in Rushaga include Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, and Gorilla Close up Lodge. Four Gorillas Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Bweza Gorilla Lodge, and Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge.

How to reach Rushaga from Entebbe

Rushaga can be reached by road or air. By road, expect to drive from Entebbe to Rushaga for about 8-9 hours through Mbarara to Kabale. Or take a flight from Entebbe Airport to Kisoro Airport.

How to book your Rushaga gorilla trekking tours from Entebbe

Flawless Adventure Planners Limited is a trusted gorilla safari company in Uganda. We are based in Kampala and offer affordable gorilla trekking tour packages to Rushaga. Contact us to plan and book a memorable gorilla tour holiday. We are a registered gorilla safari company and licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board –UTB.

4 Days Rushaga Gorilla Trekking Tour

Detailed 4 Days Rushaga Gorilla Trekking Tour Package

Day 1: Arrival & Transfer to Hotel (in Entebbe)

Today is fully dedicated to your arrival and transfer to the hotel in Entebbe town. Meet the company representative for a quick briefing about the 4 Days Rushaga gorilla trekking tour from Entebbe. After, enjoy the evening at the lodge and also prepare for the next day’s journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Day 2: Entebbe town to Rushaga

After breakfast, meet a safari guide from Flawless Adventure Planners Limited for a briefing and later set off for Rushaga. Leave Entebbe early and drive along Masaka-Mbarara to Kabale.

Expect to have a stopover at the Equator around Kayabwe and then lunch at Igongo or Mbarara. Continue up to Rushaga, and overall, your journey from Entebbe will cover 8-9 hours.

Day 3: Enjoy the Rushaga gorilla trekking experience

Embark on the actual gorilla trekking adventure starting from Rushaga with a briefing. Get the gorilla group to visit, plus the park ranger guide to lead you.

Expect to search for mountain gorillas in a group of 8 tourists, and the entire session is expected to run for 2-6 hours. Enjoy one hour of observing how these apes behave and also taking pictures.

After the Rushaga gorilla encounters, return and have leisure time at the lodge. You may have an addition of Batwa cultural experience in the evening or remain in your lodge.

Day 4: Drive from Rushaga to Entebbe

After breakfast, check out and expect to drive back to Entebbe. Today marks the end of the 4-day Rushaga gorilla trekking tour.

What to pack for the Rushaga mountain gorilla trekking tour

Carry only valuable items for your gorilla trekking tour in Rushaga. They should include long-sleeved shirts, a daypack, a sweater, long trousers, a camera, and insect repellent.