The Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is one of the most interesting sectors you can visit in Bwindi National Park, offering spectacular views, gorilla trekking, and mountain gorilla habituation.
The Rushaga region also has the highest number of habituated families compared to other regions in Bwindi.
The best way to visit these gorilla families is by booking Gorilla trekking Uganda from Kigali tours.
Gorilla Families in Rushaga Sector of Bwindi
Gorilla families in Rushaga can be seen below:
- Busingye Gorilla Family. The Busingye gorilla family was formed when Silverback Rwigi conflicted with Rumanzi at the Kayungye gorilla family. The name of the group is derived from Busingye hill where they inhabit. The dominant Silverback Rwigi took away 9 members with him to form the Busingye mountain gorilla family.
- Kahungye Gorilla Family. The Kahungye gorilla family was opened up for tourism in 2011. The group derives its name from Kahungye hill in Rushaga Bwindi, where the family was first sighted. The family had 27 members at the time of habituation but is now composed of 17 members after Rwigi the silverback broke off to form his own family.
- Bweza Gorilla Family. The Bweza gorilla family is dominated by the silverback Kakano. The group is a splinter of the Nshongi mountain gorilla family. It is now composed of 12 family members, including 2 silverbacks, 4 blackbacks, 3 adult females, 1 subadult, and two infants.
- Nshongi Gorilla Family. The Nshongi gorilla family was one of the largest gorilla families but later split when the silverback Kakano challenged Bweza and formed his own gorilla family. The family is named after the Nshongi river, where they were first sighted from. It is now composed of 7 members, but before splitting, they were 18 members.
- Mishaya Gorilla Family. The Mishaya gorilla family is dominated by the famous Silverback Mishaya, known for fighting with other gorillas to expand his family. This group derives its name from the Mishaya region in Bwindi. It is currently composed of 12 members, including one Silverback, Mishaya.
- Bikingi Gorilla Family. The Bikingi gorilla family is a group being habituated in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi. This group is one for visitors who would like to join in the habituation process and spend more time with gorillas.
- Bushaho Gorilla Family. The Bushaho gorilla family was initially for habituation but was opened up for gorilla trekking. The group is composed of 9 members, dominated by the Silverback Bahati, who was once a member of the Nkuringo gorilla family, with some members joining from non-habituated gorilla families.
Gorilla Habituation
Gorilla habituation can only be done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the world, specifically in the Rushaga sector.
Gorilla habituation is the process of making mountain gorillas get used to human presence.
Tourists can join researchers and rangers in their day-to-day activity of habituating gorillas.
This is more interesting than gorilla trekking because you spend 4 hours in the presence of mountain gorillas, unlike trekking where you spend only an hour.
Gorilla Permits
Uganda gorilla permits cost $700 per person, and gorilla habituation permits cost $1500 per person.
Gorilla permits must always be obtained 3-6 months in advance before the actual trekking date.
Featured in: Gorilla Trekking
