Trekking Busingye gorilla family

Trekking Busingye gorilla family: Busingye gorilla group is one of the families in Bwindi gorilla park found in the Rushaga sector. Rushaga sector is found in the southern part of Bwindi gorilla park and has gorilla families such as Kahungye, Mishaya, Kutu, Mucunguzi, Bikingi gorilla family, Bweza gorilla family, Nshongi, and Busingye. Busingye gorilla family was formed in 2012 after a breakup with Kahungye gorilla group .

At the time of habituation, Busingye gorilla family had 10 members but due to new deaths, births, and some gorillas leaving and joining the group the family has 12 members now with only one silverback that leads the group. A silverback called Busingye is the one that leads Busingye gorilla family and controls all the activities in the group as well as protecting its members.

The name Busingye is a Rukiga word to mean “peace” but the silverback was always in fights with other silverbacks to win some of the gorillas for his family. Rangers thought that Busingye gorilla group would reunite with his family called Kahungye with time but this has never happened. The gorilla family can be trekked from Rushaga sector in the south of Bwindi.

Busingye gorilla group

Trekking Busingye gorilla family begins with a briefing in Rushaga sector of Bwindi gorilla park. The briefing is conducted by park wardens that teach the trekkers about the rules and regulations of the gorilla trekking activity before grouping is done and armed ranger guides lead the trekkers in the jungle. To find Busingye gorilla group , it can take 2-7 hours of passing through different trails in the jungle.

During the search, there are opportunities of meeting different park animals such as buffaloes, elephants, bushpigs, antelopes, olive baboons, monkeys, and birds among others. Once Busingye gorilla group is located, the trekkers are given 1 hour to be around this gorilla group, and during the time given they are able to learn about the behaviors of the group members, see them do daily activities, and take photos.

A Gorilla trekking permit

Trekking permits for Busingye gorilla family

Gorilla trekking permits for Busingye gorilla family are only 8 and can be got from Uganda Wildlife Authority or any trusted local tour operator. To book the gorilla permits for Busingye gorilla group, you will have to send a local tour operator an email containing the family you want to trek, the date of the month, and year. They will use this information to check for the availability of the trekking permits with Uganda wildlife authority and once they are available, they will send you an email containing the banking details. When you are done sending the money and they have received it they will book the permits for you and then send you scanned copies.

The gorilla trekking permits for Busingye gorilla group are only 8 and each of them costs $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX East African citizens. The trekking permits for Bwindi gorilla park sell out quickly and for this matter, we advise you to book them in advance of 3-4 months to avoid inconveniences.

What to pack for Busingye gorilla family trekking?

There is a lot you can pack for Busingye gorilla trekking but the most important essentials include waterproof hiking shoes, gardening gloves, a pair of gaiters, cotton stocks, a hat, rain jacket, long-sleeved pants, long-sleeved shirts, sanitizer, facemask, insect repellents, drinking water bottle, and energy-giving snacks.

Where to stay

Busingye gorilla family is located in Rushaga sector of Bwindi gorilla park and the sector has a lot of accommodation facilities where travelers can stay during the safaris. Where to stay in during a gorilla safari in Rushaga depends on the money you have for they have lodges ranging from budget to mid-range to luxury options such as Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Nsongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Resort, and Wagtail Eco Safari Lodge.

When to visit Busingye gorilla group?

Busingye gorilla family can be visited at any time of the year but the dry months are the best to visit this park. The dry season occurs from June to September and December to February and during these months, there is no rainfall and so the trekking trails are dry not affecting the speed of trekkers, the vegetation in the park is short with good views of the gorillas, the photography is good and the roads leading to the park are passable.

Travelers most especially the budget travelers can visit Bwindi gorilla park and trek Busingye gorilla group in Rushaga sector during the rainy season that occurs from March to May and October to November to enjoy huge discounts on accommodation facilities. Travelers should note that in the rainy season, there is plenty of rainfall which makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery, the vegetation is tall with unclear views of the gorillas and the roads leading to the sector are in poor conditions.

Travelling by road to Rushaga Gorilla trekking region

How to get to Busingye gorilla family?

Travelers from Kampala/Entebbe can access Busingye gorilla family by traveling to Rushaga sector of Bwindi gorilla park. Road transport users can use Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Kabale – Kisoro road and branch off at Muko road to Rushaga sector. Those in Kigali can cross to Uganda use Cyanika border to get to Kisoro where they will connect to the sector of the park.

Luxury travelers have chattered flights available at Entebbe international airport and Kajjansi airstrip to transfer them to Kisoro airstrip. There are lots of airline companies that have daily flights to Kisoro airstrip where a driver-guide transfer the travelers to the park and some of the companies include Aerolink Uganda and Bar Aviation Uganda.

Other activities to combine with Busingye gorilla family trekking

Apart from trekking Busingye gorilla family in Rushaga sector of Bwindi gorilla park, there are other tourism activities that can be done in the park and these include hiking and nature walk activities that give travelers an opportunity to explore the park n foot, cultural encounters where tourist meet and interact with the Batwa people and then birding activities where good birders are able to see over 350 bird species that have been so far recorded in Bwindi gorilla park.