Rushaga sector sits in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, reached mainly by travelers connecting from Kigali via Kisoro district. It’s one of four gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi, alongside Buhoma, Ruhija, and Nkuringo, and hosts more habituated gorilla families than any other sector in the park.
Bwindi itself is home to over 400 mountain gorillas, along with birdlife such as turacos and hornbills, other primates including chimpanzees and colobus monkeys, and around 120 mammal species in total. Activities across the park include gorilla trekking, nature walks, birding, hiking, and Batwa cultural encounters.
Why Rushaga Sector Stands Out
Rushaga hosts five habituated gorilla families, more than any other Bwindi sector, giving it the highest number of daily gorilla permits in the park: 40 permits per day, split across the five families at 8 trekkers each. This makes Rushaga a good option for travelers booking on shorter notice, since permit availability tends to be less constrained here than in smaller sectors. A typical trek in Rushaga runs 2 to 6 hours, and each permit grants one hour with the assigned family once located.
Gorilla Families in Rushaga Sector
Nshongi Family: The largest and oldest habituated family in Bwindi, with 25 members and 2 silverbacks, including lead silverback Nshongi. Other members include Bwire, Kutu, and Busasa among the blackbacks, and Shida, Bukojo, Munini, and Bwiruka among the adult females.
Mishaya Family: Has 12 members and split from Nshongi in 2010 after a dispute between competing silverbacks. Founding silverback Mishaya has since died, and his son Mwine now leads the group, which includes Bakunzi, Mwiza, and Rutaro.
Kahungye Family: Currently has 13 members, originally habituated with 27 members under 3 silverbacks. The family opened for tourism in October 2011, initially led by silverback Ruhemuka until his death in March 2013, after which silverback Rumansi took over leadership.
Busingye Family: The newest family in Rushaga sector to open for trekking, in 2011, with 9 members. It split from Kahungye under silverback Busingye, whose name means “peace,” after Kahungye’s structure with three silverbacks made a split likely.
Bweza Family: Split from the Nshongi family and now has around 12 members, including 3 adult males, 4 blackbacks, 2 infants, and 1 juvenile, led by a silverback.
What to Expect on a Rushaga Sector Trek
Trekking in Rushaga sector takes you through Bwindi’s dense forest in search of your assigned family, with the chance to watch them feed on fruit, leaves, and roots, and interact within the group. As with any Bwindi sector, each family is led by a dominant silverback who determines the group’s daily movement and activity.
Book Your Rushaga Sector Gorilla Trekking Permit
With five habituated families and the highest daily permit allocation in Bwindi, Rushaga sector is one of the more accessible sectors for gorilla trekking in Uganda. Book your Rushaga sector gorilla trekking permit with our team today, and we’ll help match you with a family and trekking date that fits your trip.
