The rushaga area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to gorilla families and permits, which is a major selling point for gorilla trekking in the park’s southern region. Is this an incredible African gorilla tour you’re looking at?

Then include a stop in Uganda on your itinerary. More specifically, plan a visit to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to see the magnificent mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The experience will be priceless. Additionally, Uganda is home to one gorilla family in Mgahinga National Park. Your Uganda trip with Katland Safaris will be the cherry on top, and you won’t want to miss a thing, even if you only have a few days to see the country.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

More than half of the world’s gorillas call Bwindi Impenetrable National area, which is situated in southwestern Uganda in the districts of Kabale and Kisoro, home. The area is mostly covered in rain forest. The park is divided into four sections: the northern Buhoma and Ruhija sections, and the southern Nkuringo and Rushaga sections.

Every region has established habits that allow for gorilla monitoring, and each region has a large population of trackable gorilla families. With the chance to see gorillas and, if time permits, participate in any of our other tours, when you book one of our gorilla safaris. To learn more about safaris, go here.

Families of gorillas and licenses for gorillas in the Rushaga region

There are more habituated gorilla groups in the Rushaga sector than in any other part of Bwindi. There are five different gorilla families in this area: the Mishaya, Kahungye, Bweza, Busingye, and Nshongi. Everything is set up and prepared to be monitored.

There are a total of 40 gorilla licenses available for monitoring each day throughout all sectors; 8 individuals are allowed each gorilla group. Bikyingi and Bushaho are two other families in Rushaga that are used for Habituation experiences.

Families of habituated mountain gorillas at the Rushaga Nshongi Gorilla Reservation.

With more than thirty-six gorillas, this family was the biggest in Bwindi. However, over the years, it split into two separate groups, the Mishaya and the Bweza. The current membership of the group is twenty-five individuals, including the dominant silverback Nshongi, three sub-silverbacks, four blackbacks, seven adult females, six youngsters, and four babies. The fact that guests may view so many different members of the family—thanks to this group’s size—makes the attraction all the more appealing.

Group of Mishaya Gorillas

At one point, these gorillas belonged to the nshongi Gorilla group. Flights occurred in 2010, and Mishaya the silverback split into its own group. The silverback was able to separate with seven members; the new group has become known for its fierce combat style; and the number of members has grown to fifteen, including three babies.

Bweza

This group split off from the Nshongi Gorilla Family in 2013 when it had eight members. This organization was supposed to mediate a reconciliation between the park officials and Nshongi; however, it never materialized and was subsequently made public for monitoring. There is a single silverback, two newborns, and other juveniles and females in the group. As they go about their daily business in the park, this is the most fascinating group for tourists to see.

Apes of the Kahungye Mountains

With 27 members when it opened for monitoring in 2011, this group quickly became habituated. However, the Busingye group formed from the remnants of this habituated group due to misunderstandings and flights. There are still thirteen members of the group, including the silverback Rumansi, two blackbacks, Rwigi and Ruhamuka, and several females and young ones.

Busingye Gorillas.

After disbanding from the Kahungye group in 2015, this new group was formed. Their leader, Busingye, draws the group’s name from the word “peace,” which, unfortunately, he is not; in fact, he is notorious for instigating conflicts between different factions. The group’s ability to take girls from other guys has allowed it to expand from seven to eight members, a strong indicator of its dominance.

The Rushaga gorilla family’s habituation experience

The process involves a team of highly skilled gorilla rangers and doctors training mountain gorillas to become accustomed to human presence. The training can last up to four hours each day, and there are two distinct gorilla families used for this purpose: the Bikyingi and the Bushaho.

The Bikyingi family of Rushaga has twenty-one members: a silverback named Bahati, two subadults, nine females, and nine infants. In contrast, the Bushaho family of farther south, near the Nkuringo sector, has eight members: three adult females, one subadult, one juvenile, and two calves. The former Nkuringo Gorilla Family member and current leader of this group is Bahati.

How to arrange a safari to see the gorillas

You can rely on Katland Safaris to assist you in planning and executing your trip. Get in touch with us and submit the booking form to reserve your spot on this trip. We will verify permit availability and Uganda Wildlife system availability after you submit the query.

We will provide you with a cost for your confirmation after we have confirmed availability. Because there is a limit on the number of gorilla permits, you must plan ahead of time to get yours. Forty permits are provided daily in the Rushaga sector for the five gorilla groups, with a maximum of eight individuals allowed to follow each group. If you get in touch with Katland Safaris early enough, we can tailor the trip to your exact needs.

Price of permits for gorilla.

As indicated above, the Rushaga area is limited to 40 gorilla licenses provided by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Currently, a gorilla permit costs USD800.00.

You may also purchase gorilla habitat licenses for tracking; each permit allows you four hours of interaction with the gorillas and costs $1500 USD. There are only four spots available for this. Since we have helped many customers create unforgettable gorilla-viewing adventures in the past, Katland Safaris can assist you in obtaining the necessary permits and planning your trip.

Accessing the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest’s Rushaga Sector NP

From Entebbe in Uganda or Kigali in Rwanda, you may easily reach Rushaga, which is situated in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The internal flight from Entebbe to Kisoro Airstrip takes 1.5 hours, or you may drive the 8-9 hours picturesque route to Bwindi, passing the Equator at Kayabwe, stopping for lunch in Mbarara before continuing the magnificent journey. Starting in Rwanda, the journey to Bwindi is a relatively quick four to five hours, taking you via Kigali’s genocide museum.

Accommodations in the Rushaga region of Bwindi required.

There is a wide choice of lodging options to suit different budgets, including budget, mid-range, and luxury hotels. Nshongi Camp and Rushaga Havens Lodge are two options for those on a tighter budget; Rushaga Gorilla Camp and Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge are two options for those in the middle of the price range; and Rushaga Valley Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, and Chameleon Hill Lodge are three options for those looking for a more luxurious stay.

There are a number of places to stay in the Bwindi region, including the Travelers Rest Inn in Kisoro and the Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge in Nkuringo.

Feel free to contact Katland Safaris if you would like more information on the rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, gorilla families, gorilla permits, and how to arrange a trip to that sector. We will be happy to create a safari that will be remembered forever.

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