Book 3 days gorilla trekking tour Rushaga and have a chance to explore Rushaga region-the southern region of Bwindi National Park while on gorilla trek. Booking this package offers you a chance not only to strike your imaginations with the rare mountain gorillas in the wild but also gives you opportunity to have exceptional views of the park and its surrounding. Trekking gorillas in this area is of great significance the fact that you are presented with several gorilla families to choose from to make your dream come into reality. Rushaga region is in the southern side of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and it is comprised of 9 habituated groups and they include Kutu, Nshongi, Mucunguzi, Rwingi, Kahungye, Busingye, Bweza, Bikingi and Mishaya. Your journey will start and end in Entebbe or Kampala capital city.
Things to expect on your 3 days gorilla trekking tour Rushaga
- Magical encounter with a group of mountain gorillas
- Amazing view of the park and surrounding areas
- Photography at the Equator
- The Batwa experience
- Ground transportation in a 4×4 drive safari car
- Service of an English-speaking driver guide
Brief itinerary of the 3 days gorilla trekking tour Rwanda
Day 1: Drive from Entebbe/Kampala to Rushaga area
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Rushaga region and Batwa experience
Day 3: Drive back to Entebbe/Kampala
Detailed itinerary of the 3 days gorilla trekking tour Rushaga
Day 1: Drive from Entebbe/Kampala to Rushaga area
Wake up early in the morning and prepare for your 3 days gorilla trekking tour. Start the day with an early morning breakfast and later, get a warm welcome from your driver guide who will brief you on what this exceptional Uganda gorilla tour is all about. After, drive to Rushaga region Bwindi National Park in southwestern Uganda from Entebbe or Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara to Kabale about 8-10 hours’ drive. You will make a stopover at the Equator for relaxation and photo taking then proceed to Igongo Cultural Center for a tasty traditional meal. After lunch, proceed with your road trip to Bwindi National Park where you will check at the lodge around Rushaga area.
Travel time: 8-10 hours
Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation choices at Rushaga area
Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge/Clouds Gorilla Lodge
Midrange: Gorilla Valley Lodge
Budget: Nshongi Gorilla Camp
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Rushaga region and Batwa experience
At 7:00am after you have had breakfast, you are expected at Rushaga area where you will be joined by other trekkers for early morning briefing on the set gorilla trekking etiquette. The park official will conduct the briefing and in a group of 8 people, he or she will assign to you one habituated group to trek. At 8:00am, the park ranger guide, trackers will take you through trek to see mountain gorillas in the wild and this takes about 2-6 hours. Once you come a cross these majestic creatures, you are given only an hour to have a face to face encounter with them, take pictures and explore their unique behaviors and body gestures.
The gorilla groups to explore on Uganda gorilla safari in Rushaga region include Bikingi, Busingye, Bweza, Kutu, Nshongi, Mucunguzi, Rwingi, Kahungye and Mishaya. Given the nature of habitat and this region in particular, you need bottled water, some snacks/packed lunch and walking stick. Later, you will get back to the lodge to have rest and in the afternoon/evening, you embark on Batwa experience in the Batwa community to explore and experience about the unique lifestyle and traditions of the Batwa pygmies. After the thrilling cultural experience, return to the lodge to relax, dine and spend a night.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge/Clouds Gorilla Lodge
Midrange: Gorilla Valley Lodge
Budget: Nshongi Gorilla Camp
Day 3: Drive back to Entebbe/Kampala
Sum up your gorilla adventure in Rushaga with an early morning breakfast and later, your driver guide will drive you back to Entebbe or Kampala. You will have the last exciting moments at the Equator and another brief stopover at Mpambire drum makers to learn how they make drums then connect to Entebbe/Kampala.
End of the 3 days gorilla trekking tour Rushaga
3 days gorilla trekking tour Rushaga includes
- Gorilla permit
- Ground transportation in a 4×4 drive safari car
- Batwa experience
- Service of an English-speaking driver guide/park ranger guide
- Bottled water
- Relevant government taxes
- All activities in the travel plan apart from the optional ones
3 days gorilla trekking tour Rushaga excludes
- Tips to driver guide, waiters, waitress and porters
- Personal insurance
- Cigarettes
- Hotel fees in Kampala
- Laundry services
- Airfares
What to pack for gorilla trek?
- Waterproof hiking boots
- Waterproof daypack
- No flashlight camera
- Long sleeved shirt/t-shirt
- Long trousers
- Socks
- Hat
- Insect repellent
- Gardening gloves
- Bottled water
Gorilla trekking etiquette
- Eating, smoking, drinking in the presence of mountain gorillas is highly prohibited
- Persons above 15 years are considered eligible for gorilla trekking
- Once you come across gorilla family, you have an hour of magical encounter
- If you are not feeling well, you are not allowed to trek gorillas. In case you want to cough, you are advised to cover your mouth and nose when sneezing.
- A maximum of eight trekkers are allowed to trek one habituated group
- Do not liter the gorilla habitat
Getting to Rushaga region
Rushaga region is the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is about 8-10 hours’ drive from Entebbe or Kampala. You can take the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Ntungamo-Rukungiri then connect to Kabale to Kisoro and finally get to Rushaga. You can still embark on the 3 days gorilla trekking tour Rushaga from Kigali.