Safari activities in Rushaga sector after Trekking the mountain Gorillas
Looking for safari activities in Rushaga sector after trekking the mountain Gorillas? Rushaga sector is one of the busiest regions of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park located in the southern sector of the park. Rushaga sector is one of the places in the park where gorilla habituation is done and this takes place in 2 gorilla families namely Bikingi and Bushaho. Rushaga sector is home to 5 habituated mountain gorilla families that are open for trekking at any time of the year namely Nshongi gorilla, Kahungye gorilla family, Bweza gorilla family, Bikingi gorilla family, Mucunguzi gorilla family, Kutu gorilla family, and Busingye gorilla family. There are so many safari activities that tourists can do after a successful gorilla trekking in the Rushaga sector and some of them include gorilla habituation, nature walks, Batwa cultural experience, and birding.
Gorilla habituation experience (Stay longer time with mountain gorillas) in Rushaga
Rushaga sector in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is one of the famous a d most visited sectors of the park with 2 gorilla families that are undergoing habituation. Gorilla habituation experience is only in the Ruishaga and Nkuro sectors of Bwindi. Gorilla habituation in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is done by a group of trekkers who have valid gorilla habituation permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The experience commences early in the morning with the visitors driven to the park headquarters to receive the instructions. After locating the gorilla family the trekkers are given a maximum of 4 hours to be around mountain gorillas making them get used to human presence as they learn about their habits and take photos. To do gorilla habituation you are advised to inform your tour operator so that they book for you a permit in advance.
Batwa cultural experience
The Batwa cultural experience in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is led by Batwa people who take you around the forest and their communities showing you how to they used to gather fruits, make fore, hunt animals and how they used to build their houses in the forests. You will have an opportunity to see their way of dressing, buy their crafts, get entertained by the traditional dancers, and also get to taste their local food. The Batwa group of people were initially forest dwellers who used to hunt forest animals for meat until the government decided to evict them out of the forests to protect the animals most especially the mountain gorillas that were going to extinction by then. The Batwa slowly by slowly adopted the ways of living of the other people outside the park.
Bird Watching
Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is home to over 350 bird species meaning that there are chances of seeing many of these in the Rushaga sector of the park. Birding in Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park gives you an opportunity to see birds such handsome francolin, bar-tailed trogon, Grauer’s rush warbler, western green tinker bird, archer’s robin-chat, strange weaver, Rwenzori turaco, chestnut throated Apalis, montane oriole, African green broadbill, regal sunbird, finely banded woodpecker, Shelley’s crimson wing, western green tinker bird, short-tailed warbler, collared Apalis, Rwenzori batis, white-tailed blue fly, Kivu ground thrush, shinning African blue, montane oriole, stripe-breasted tit, black bee-eater, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, impressed African emerald, and bar-tailed trogon among others
Guided Nature walks
Nature walks in the Rushaga sector are one of the activities you can do after a successful gorilla trekking exercise. The nature walks are led by the Uganda Wildlife Authority guide who takes you through different trails of the park with opportunities of seeing some of the park animals like chimpanzees, duikers, elephants, buffaloes, giant forest hogs, and different monkeys. There are also chances of seeing different bird species, trees, rivers, waterfalls, and so much more. The nature walks in the Rushaga sector are done at a fee of $30 foreign nonresidents, $15 foreign residents, and shs10,000 East African citizens.
Lodges and hotels in and around Rushaga
Rushaga sector in the southern side of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has got several accommodation facilities where one can have a comfortable stay while in the park and these range from budget to mid-range to luxury options such as Gorilla Safari Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla havens lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Four Gorilla Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, and Rushaga Gorilla Camp.
What is the best time to visit Rushaga sector for Safari activities after Trekking the mountain Gorillas?
Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can be visited at any time of the year but the best time to visit the sector is the dry season. The dry season comes with little or no rainfall which means that the roads are passable, the trekking trails are less muddy and not slippery, the vegetation is thin making clear views of animals and photography. The dry season happens in the months of June to September and December to February. If you are planning to visit the Rushaga sector in the dry season you are advised to book your trekking permit in advance in order to avoid inconveniences. Rushaga sector can also be visited in the wet season just that there is plenty of rainfall in the park which makes the trails muddy and slippery.
How best can I access the Rushaga sector for Safari activities after Trekking the mountain Gorillas?
Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can be accessed by road transport through Kampala – Masaka – Mbarara – Kabale road taking you about 8- hours’ drive. From Kabale, you will take a short drive to the Rushaga sector taking you a few hours. From Kigali city, a traveler can access the Rushaga sector can be accessed using the Katuna border in Kabale or Cyanika border in Kisoro taking only 4-5 hours.
By air transport, the Rushaga sector can be accessed by taking chattered flights from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kisoro airstrip taking you only 2 hours. From the Kisoro airstrip, you can drive for a short distance to the sector of the park. if you want to use air transport you must inform your tour operator so that they arrange for you a flight.