Trekking Rushengura gorilla family

Trekking Rushengura gorilla family: Rushengura gorilla group is a fully habituated group in Buhoma sector of Bwindi gorilla park. The gorilla group can be trekked in the southern sector of Bwindi gorilla park all throughout the year. Bwindi gorilla park is a gorilla park in the southwestern part of Uganda with the highest population of mountain gorillas in the world.

Rushengura gorilla family was formed as a result of the breakup of Habinyanja gorilla group in 2002. At the start of the habituation process, Rushengura gorilla family was led by Kabukojo. The name Rushengura was named to this group based on the place where two gorilla families Mwirima and Rwasangizi fought and Habinyanja separated into two groups.

Mwirima ruled Rushengura gorilla family until park rangers found him dead in the first in 2014. A blackback in the same group took over the leadership of Rushengura gorilla family until now. Habinyanja gorilla family is composed of 19 members that are led by the black silverback. In the beginning, Rushengura gorilla family used to move to areas of DR Congo but these days it settled in Bwindi gorilla park.

Rushengura gorilla family

Only 8 tourists can trek Rushengura gorilla group on a single day. All the trekkers must have gorilla trekking permits that are got from Uganda Wildlife Authority and sild to only those that are 15 years and above. Trekking starts with a briefing at the sector offices and later armed ranger guides lead the trekkers in the jungle where they take 2-7 hours to locate the group baes in the speed and location of Rushengura gorilla family.

During the whole trekking activity, the trekkers are able to meet different park animals such as buffaloes, antelopes, chimpanzees, olive baboons, duikers, monkeys, and birds among others. When Rushengura gorilla family is located, the trekkers are given 1 hour to be around the family members, watch them do daily activities such as hunting, eating, breastfeeding, nesting etc., take photos and learn about their habits.

A group of tourists watching Rushegura gorilla family

How much are gorilla permits for Rushegura gorilla family

All gorilla trekking permits in sectors of Bwindi gorilla park cost $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 East African citizens. The gorilla trekking permits for Rushengura gorilla family are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority but can also be got from any trusted local tour operator at the same fee.

Trekking Rushengura mountain gorilla family is done by 8 people and so you need to buy your ticket in advance and you must inform your tour operator the gorilla family you want to trek in particular during your safari in Bwindi gorilla park. If you get a trusted local tour operator, you need to send time an email containing Rushengura gorilla family as a group you want to trek, date of the month, and the year. They will check for the availability of the permits with Uganda Wildlife Authority and then send you banking details of how you can send the money for the permits

Where to stay while trekking Rushengura gorilla family

Travelers intending to trek Runshengura gorilla family can stay in any of the lidges that is located in the Buhoma region of the park. There are so many accommodation facilities in Buhoma region of Bwindi gorilla park ranging from budget to mid-range to luxury options with where to stay depending on your budget. Some of the accommodation facilities to use include Buhoma Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi Forest Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Ride 4 women Guest House, Silverback Lodge, Buhoma Rest Camp, Haven Lodge, and Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge.

When to trek Rushengura gorilla family

Rushenhura gorilla family is open for trekking all throughout the year however there are certain months that are better than the rest. The dry months are the best to trek Rushengura gorilla group and they do happen from June to September and December to February. They are characterized by little or no rainfall that leaves the trekking trails less muddy and dry, the vegetation is short and scattered with clear views of the group members, and lastly, the roads leading to the park are passable,

Travelers that get time in the rainy season of March to May and June to September can still have their safari in Bwindi gorilla park to trek Rushengura gorilla group. However, during this time there is plenty of rainfall in the park which makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery hence reducing the speed of trekkers, the vegetation is very tall and thick with unclear views of the gorillas, photography is bad and the roads leading to the park are passable.

Olive Breasted Greenbul seen in Bwindi forest

Other activities to do while trekking Rushengura gorilla family

Birding: Buhoma region is the best birding area in the whole of Bwindi gorilla park. Buhoma region hosts 350 bird species of which some are endemic to the region. Birding in this sector is done with a help of ranger guides who lead the birders on trails like Buhoma trail and bamboo zone trail looking for the birds.

Some of the birds to encounter in the Buhoma region include African cinnamon bee-eater, African green pigeon, giant kingfisher, African harrier hawk, crowned hornbill, African broadbill, regal sunbird, black bee-eater, purple breasted sunbird, black-billed turaco, olive breasted greenbul, black-faced warbler, nuemann’s warbler, grauer’s broadbill, handsome francolin, yellow-streaked greenbul, shelly’s crimsonwing, and olive-breasted greenbul among others.

Cultural encounters: Cultural encounters in Buhoma region are don in the Batwa community is found on the borders of Bwindi gorilla park. The Batwa people had their homes in the jungles of Bwindi gorilla park but when the government decided to gazette the park, they were evicted out to protect the forest and the animals that were living in the park.

A visit to the Batwa community gives travelers an opportunity to listen to stories of long ago, how they used to survive in the jungle, and how they used to kill small animals for meat. The Batwa people will take you around their communities as you watch them do day to day activities, you will visit traditional dancers who will show you how different herbs can sure illiness and you will be entertained by the local people through dances and drama.