Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge is the perfect starting point for gorilla trekking tours in Bwindi national park. Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors are the only mountain gorilla trekking regions located in the Southern side of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. They are among the 4 key mountain gorilla tracking regions in Bwindi. The other 2 sectors / regions include Ruhija sector located in the Eastern part and Buhoma in the Northern part.

Gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector, Uganda

Rushaga gorilla tracking sector lies in the Southern part of the lush Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Southwestern Uganda, about 8-9 hours’ drive from Kampala/4-5 hours’ drive from Kigali. It is most accessible from Kisoro, and unlike the rest of the sectors, Rushaga holds the highest number of habituated gorilla family groups. Over 7 fully habituated mountain gorilla group families can be trekked in Rushaga region alone, translating to about 72 gorilla permits.

The habituated gorilla families of visitor interest in Rushaga region include Mucunguzi, Nshongi, Bweza, Mishaya, Rwigi, Kutu, Kahungye, Busingye and Bikingi families. It is also at Rushaga sector of Bwindi where mountain gorilla habituation experience is conducted.

Kahungye family. This is a fully habituated gorilla group with 17 members resides at Rushaga sector. The group gets its name from the hill at Rushaga where trackers sighted them. It was opened officially for gorilla tourism in 2011 with over 23 mountain gorillas, but within one year, the group split forming Busingye group.

Busingye (Peace)- a gorilla group in Rushaga with about 9 members formed in 2012 after splitting off from Kahungye under leadership of Busingye. This family group known to spend most of their time inside the forest foraging and occasionally find themselves at the edge of the park.

Bweza gorilla group. A family with about 12 members consisting of blackbacks, silverbacks, adult females, subadults, infants. Originally, Bweza belonged to Nshongi, and by then, Nshongi was Bwindi’s biggest habituated gorilla family. In 2010, Mishaya silverback broke away creating Mishaya group and he went away with many members and they included Bweza silverback who also split from Mishaya in 2012.

Mishaya gorilla group. Rushaga’s fully habituated family that broke away from Nshongi family in 2010 under the leadership of Mishaya silverback. Unfortunately, he died in 2014 leading to reduction in its group members to 7 members toward the end of 2015.

Nshongi group. This is comprised of 10 mountain gorillas including silverback, adult females, infants, subadults, etc. Originally, Nshongi had over 32 members, but the number kept on reducing following several splits creating Mishaya group and Bweza.

Bikingi family. 15 mountain gorillas make up Bikingi gorilla family group in Rushaga and habituation process for this group began in 2012. This was one of the groups originally set for gorilla habituation experience, but it is officially open for gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector.

Mucunguzi family, this is one of the newly created gorilla family groups Rushaga has and the word “Mucunguzi” denotes to “savior.” This group broke off from Bweza group and currently, it has 8 individuals.

Rwigi group. A habituated group comprising of 10 individuals and it split off from Kahungye group family under the leadership of Rwigi silverback.

Kutu group. This gorilla family has 8 mountain gorillas and it is the group that is still undergoing through habituation process. In case of any plans to go gorilla habituation experience, it is the right group to think about.

Gorilla trekking in Nkuringo sector

Nkuringo region is one of popular gorilla tracking sectors of Bwindi, also located in the southern side of the park. It is one sector with the least number of habituated gorilla families, consisting of only 3 gorilla groups. Visitors who prefer challenging gorilla treks, Nkuringo sector is one region to consider for your gorilla safaris in Bwindi National Park.

Nkuringo sector habituated families;

Nkuringo gorilla group. A gorilla family featuring up to 11 gorillas including adult females, blackbacks, juveniles, etc. This group underwent through habituation in 1997, unfortunately, its leader Rafiki silverback was killed by poachers in 2020.

Bushaho gorilla group. A newly opened gorilla family for trekking in Nkuringo sector, but originally, it was visited for gorilla habituation experience. It is comprised of 8 members, and led by Bahati silverback.

Christmas gorilla family. A fully and newly habituated family of mountain gorillas in Nkuringo. It is comprised of 9 gorillas, led by Christmas silverback. Its addition to the original 2 gorilla families makes Nkuringo, not only a region with 3 gorilla groups but also, accommodates up to 24 gorilla permits daily.