Top activities to do in Rushaga sector after gorilla trekking; Rushaga sector is one of the sectors located in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park that offers the adventurous gorilla trekking activity. Rushaga sector is a home of about 8 habituated gorilla families namely Nshongi, Busingye, Mishaya, Bweeza, Kahungye, Bikingi, Mucunguzi and Rwiigi which are open for trekking on a daily basis. Gorilla trekking is the major activity that attracts big numbers of people in Rushaga sector and it’s the only sector that offers Gorilla habituation experience. After gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector, there are other interesting activities that visitors can engage in including,
Top activities to do in Rushaga sector after gorilla trekking
Gorilla habituation experience
Gorilla habituation is an interesting activity that involves visitors moving on foot deep into the forest in search of the wild mountain gorillas and once found spend four hours with them in their natural habitat. Gorilla habituation experience starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations. After the briefing you will join a team of researchers and start trekking in the jungle in search of the mountain gorillas. Gorilla habituation experience takes a whole day and during trekking, you will be able to view other primate species, different bird species, plants among others and once the gorillas are found, you will be allowed to spend four hours with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn and monitor their behaviors, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breast-feeding, grooming young ones, take photos among others.
Batwa cultural experience
This is an exciting experience in Rushaga sector that visitors can engage in after gorilla trekking. During the Batwa cultural experience, you will be able to interact with the Batwa/ pygmies who used to live in Bwindi forest before it was gazetted as a national park is 1991. The Batwa cultural experience will give you an opportunity to learn about their history, hunting and gathering skill, how to make fire with sticks, enjoy their traditional performances among others.
Bird watching
Rushaga sector is a home of more than 350 recorded bird species which makes it one of the best birding destinations in Bwindi impenetrable national park. During bird watching, you will be accompanied by an experienced bird guide and follow different trails where you will be able to spot different bird species like black bee-eater, African sooty flycatcher, white tailed ant thrush, African wood owl, green tinker bird, finely banded woodpecker, bar tailed trogon, mountain yellow warbler, grey cuckoo shrike, African green broadbill among others.
Nature walk in Rushaga sector
Nature walk is an adventurous activity in Rushaga sector where visitors will get a chance to explore the park on foot with the company of an experienced park guide and an armed park ranger. During the guided nature walk, you will follow different trails where you will be able to view variety of bird species, primates, beautiful butterflies, view the three horned chameleon, listen to sweet sounds of bird species, relax your mind among others.
Where to stay in Rushaga sector
There are a wide range of accommodation facilities ranging from budget, midrange and luxury where you can stay during your safari in Rushaga sector including Gorilla Hills Eco Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort, Wagtail Eco Safari Camp, Nshongi Camp, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Bwindi Jungle Lodge among others.
Best time to visit Rushaga sector
Rushaga sector can be visited anytime of the year though the best period is during the dry season also known as the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During the dry season the park receives less or little rainfall therefore vegetation will be thin which allows you to view different wildlife species clearly, also the gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation and nature walk trails in the jungle will be dry and passable which makes trekking easy compared to the wet/ rainy season when the trails are muddy and slippery which make trekking difficult.
How to get to Rushaga sector
Rushaga sector is located in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park and it can be accessed by both road and air transport means.
When using road transport means, you will drive from Kampala via Masaka and then to the park headquarters which takes about 9 to 10 hours’ drive.
You can as well access Rushaga sector through Kigali Rwanda whereby you will fly to Kigali international airport and then connect to Rushaga sector via Cyanika border in Kisoro district which takes about 4 to 5 hours’ drive.
Rushaga sector can also be accessed by air transport means whereby you will book charter or scheduled flights with Bar aviation or Aero link Uganda from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro airstrip and then connect to the lodge by road.
