Rushaga Sector, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Most travelers want to see mountain gorillas. But few know that where you trek determines how you trek. Rushaga Sector sits in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is the only place in the world where you can spend four hours with a semi-wild gorilla family. This is called the Gorilla Habituation Experience. If you want more time with the primates or are arriving from Rwanda, Rushaga is your best option. This page details everything you need to know for your 2026 or 2027 trip
Why Choose Rushaga? The Habituation Advantage
Most travelers do not know that Bwindi has four distinct trailheads. Rushaga, located in the south, has become the primary choice for serious wildlife enthusiasts. The reason is the Gorilla Habituation 
Experience. Standard trekking allows you strictly one hour of observation after you find the gorillas. The clock starts the moment the first tracker signals contact. Sixty minutes later, you must leave. This protects the animals from stress. The Habituation Experience is different. It allows four paying guests to join researchers for four hours. You observe the gorillas as they gradually get used to human presence. You are not just a tourist taking photos. You are part of the process that allows future conservation to happen. Rushaga is the exclusive home of this activity. If you want the four-hour window, you must come here. The terrain is tougher, and the vegetation is thicker, but the reward is spending half your day with wild mountain gorillas instead of just a brief glimpse.
Understanding the Terrain
Prepare your legs before you arrive. Rushaga is often called the sector of “Seven Hills.” The topography is dramatic. The park sits at an altitude ranging between 1,190 and 2,607 meters above sea level. You will feel this elevation in your lungs. The forest here is dense. Unlike the slightly more open
canopy in Buhoma to the north, Rushaga lives up to the name “Impenetrable.” You will walk through tangled vines and heavy undergrowth. The rangers will use machetes to clear a path for you.
This density is good for the gorillas. It provides them with ample food. For you, it means the trek can be physically demanding. You might hike for 30 minutes, or you might hike for five hours. The gorillas move constantly. We always advise hiring a porter at the trailhead. A porter carries your daypack and offers a hand on steep, muddy slopes. This supports the local community directly and saves your energy for the viewing hour
The Gorilla Families of Rushaga
Rushaga holds a high density of habituated families. This increases the number of permits available daily. Knowing the families helps you understand what to expect
The Nshongi Family
The Nshongi family is the foundation of tourism in the south. When it was officially launched for trekking in September 2009, it shocked the world of primatology. At the time, it was the largest family ever habituated, boasting an incredible 36 members. The group was named after the Nshongi River, the place where they were first identified. In the local language, “Nshongi” comes from “Omushongi Gwoboki,” which describes the honey-like color of the river water. What made Nshongi truly unique 
was its leadership. Most families have one dominant male. However, Nshongi was led by a silverback named Nshongi, who was not even the oldest male in the group. For years, four silverbacks lived together in rare harmony.
Nature eventually took its course. In 2010, the group faced its first major “fission.” A silverback named Mishaya grew tired of the shared leadership and broke away with 10 members. Later, in 2013, another split occurred when Bweza left to start his own family. Today, the Nshongi group is a more manageable size of about 25 members, currently under the steady eye of a dominant silverback. They remain a favorite for visitors because their large numbers often lead to high social interaction among the juveniles
The Mishaya Family
To understand the Mishaya family, you must understand the male who started it. Mishaya was a subordinate silverback in the Nshongi group who decided he wanted his own kingdom. In July 2010, he led a quiet “coup,” taking several females with him into the deep thickets of Rushaga.
Mishaya became known as a legendary fighter. He was not content with his small group. He spent 
years raiding other non-habituated groups to steal their females. He was a “family man” who protected his troop with extreme aggression, often sustaining deep scars from battles with wild males.
The family faced a crisis in February 2014 when Mishaya died suddenly from an intestinal obstruction. Without a leader, the family scattered. Many feared the group was lost. However, trackers rediscovered the remnants in 2018. The group is now led by a silverback named Tinfayo. Tinfayo himself was an old member of the Nshongi group who had lived as a lone male for years before stepping in to claim the Mishaya legacy. Today, the family has about 9 members and is known for being quite calm around humans.
The Kahungye Family
Opened for trekking in 2011, the Kahungye group takes its name from the steep hill where they were first sighted. Like Nshongi, this was once a massive family of 27 members with multiple silverbacks, 
including Riziika, Busingye, and Rwigi. Internal politics quickly tore the group apart. In less than a year, a massive fight broke out. Busingye, an ambitious male, split the group to form his own family. Later, another male named Rwigi did the same.
Today, the Kahungye family is led by the silverback Kasigazi (some reports identify the leader as Rumanzi or Ruziika, depending on the most recent monthly shift). Despite the splits, the family remains large, with about 15 to 17 members. They are often found in the higher elevations of Rushaga, making for a challenging but rewarding trek
The Busingye Family
The story of the Busingye family is one of the most entertaining in the forest. Busingye broke away from the Kahungye group in 2012. His name means Peace in the local dialect. However, the silverback Busingye is anything but peaceful. He is an ambitious and aggressive leader. He earned his name because he brings peace to his family by force. He is famous for attacking wild gorilla groups and “kidnapping” females to grow his own troop. Currently, the family has about 9 members. Busingye is a very active leader, and you will often see him patrolling the perimeter of his family while the infants play. They are a “tricky” group to track because they love the deep center of the forest, often requiring a few extra hours of hiking to find.
The Bweza Family
The Bweza family is a splinter of the original Nshongi super-group. After Mishaya left Nshongi in 
2010, the silverback Bweza stayed behind for two more years. By 2012, however, the internal friction became too much. Bweza walked away with a small group of followers. At first, the park rangers thought Bweza and Nshongi would reunite. They monitored them closely, but the two groups only moved further apart. UWA eventually recognized Bweza as an independent family for trekking. They are currently led by the silverback Kakono. The group has about 12 members. They are known as one of the most versatile families in the sector, often moving across different vegetation zones. This makes a trek to find Bweza a great way to see the diverse flora of the southern park.
The Bikingi Family
If you are booked for the four-hour habituation experience, you will likely meet the Bikingi family. This group was formed in 2012 following the breakup of the Mishaya group. The family has had a tragic history. Their original leader, Bikingi, was killed in 2018 during a fight with a wild, non-habituated silverback. This left the family in chaos. A solitary male eventually took over, but the family dynamics remain “raw.” Because they are still in the habituation phase, they are not as predictable as the trekking groups. They are more alert and keep a closer eye on humans. Spending four hours with them allows you to see the “learning process” of a gorilla family as they decide whether to trust the rangers and researchers.
The Mucunguzi Family
The Mucunguzi family is a newer addition to the Rushaga sector. The name “Mucunguzi” means “Redeemer.” The leader, Mucunguzi, was once the third and youngest silverback in the Bweza group. After a violent fight for dominance where he was defeated and chased away, Mucunguzi lived the hard life of a loner. He eventually attacked the Bikingi group, successfully “redeeming” his status by 
stealing several females to start his own family. Today, the Mucunguzi group has about 12 members. It is a female-dominated group, which makes for interesting social watching. They recently welcomed a new baby, adding a layer of joy to the group’s dramatic origins
The Kutu Family
The Kutu family provides a unique glimpse into gorilla social structure. Named after their original leader, the silverback Kutu, the group faced a major shift when Kutu passed away from natural causes recently. The group, currently comprising 8 to 10 members, is in a transitional phase. There is no fully mature silverback at the helm. Instead, younger blackbacks are vying for the role, while the adult females keep the group together. Tracking the Kutu family is a unique experience because you are witnessing a family in the middle of a natural restructuring
Tindatine and Rwigi
Rushaga continues to grow. The Rwigi family (named after the silverback Rwigi, meaning “Door”) recently split from the Kahungye group and is now open for trekking. Additionally, the Tindatine family was opened in 2024, making it one of the newest groups available.
Getting to Rushaga
Option 1: The Kigali Route (Recommended) This is the most efficient way to reach Rushaga. You fly into Kigali International Airport in Rwanda. From there, it is a clean four to five-hour drive to the Uganda border at Cyanika or Gatuna. The drive is scenic, and the roads on the Rwanda side are excellent. Crossing the Cyanika border is usually straightforward. You will need your East African Tourist Visa ready. Once you cross into Uganda, the roads become rougher. It is about an hour from
the border to the Rushaga lodges. This route saves you an entire day of travel compared to starting in Entebbe.
Option 2: The Entebbe Route If you fly into Entebbe, Uganda, prepare for a long day. The drive to Rushaga takes 9 to 10 hours. You will cross the equator and pass through Mbarara and Kabale. The scenery changes from flat savannah to terraced hills. It is beautiful but exhausting. We usually recommend breaking this trip with a stop at Lake Mburo National Park.
Option 3: Domestic Flight You can fly from Entebbe to the Kisoro airstrip. The flight takes about one hour. It is a morning flight, so you must arrive in Entebbe the day prior. From the Kisoro airstrip, it is a 45-minute drive to the park headquarters. This is the most expensive but least tiring option
Where to Sleep
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge (High-End) This is the top tier. It sits high on a ridge with views of the Virunga volcanoes. The service is impeccable. You have a personal butler and a fireplace
in your cottage. It is expensive, but if you want comfort after a hard hike, this is the place.
Four Gorillas Lodge (Mid-Range/Luxury) This is a newer option that offers excellent value. The rooms are spacious cottages nestled in the forest edge. The main area has a great vibe. It feels luxurious without the extreme price tag of Clouds.
Rushaga Gorilla Camp (Mid-Range) This lodge is very close to the briefing point. You can almost walk there. The rooms are simple but clean and comfortable. They have hot water and good food. It is a practical choice for trekkers who prioritize location.
Gorilla Valley Lodge (Budget/Value) This lodge is located literally on the park boundary. Sometimes gorillas come into the lodge grounds. The rooms are basic with en-suite bathrooms. It is the best option for travelers watching their spending and still want a self-contained room
Best Time to Visit Rushage
June to August and December to February. These are the dry months. The trails are firmer. There is less mud. However, permits sell out months in advance. You must book early. The demand is high.
March to May and September to November. These are the rainy months. It rains heavily. The trails become slippery slides. You will get muddy. However, the park is quiet. You might have the gorillas all to yourself. Lodges often lower their rates. If you do not mind the rain, this is a smart time to travel.
Pricing Breakdown (2026 Rates)
It is important to budget correctly. These are the fixed costs you will face.
Gorilla Trekking Permit: $800 per person. This goes directly to UWA.
Gorilla Habituation Permit: $1,500 per person.
Porter Hire: $20 per porter (plus tip).
Tips: Prepare roughly $15-20 for your guide and rangers.
These fees are non-negotiable. The permit fee includes your park entrance and the ranger guides. It does not include transport or accommodation.
Why You Should Not Wait to Book
The Rushaga sector is popular. The habituation permits are the hardest tickets to get in Africa. There are only 8 spots available per day for the entire world. If you want the four-hour experience, you need to book at least 6 to 12 months out. The standard permits are easier to get, but high-season dates vanish quickly. Do not book your flights until you have confirmed your gorilla permit. The permit dictates your schedule, not the other way around
2026 Safaris with Gorilla Habituation Experience
3-days Bwindi gorilla habituation from Kigali
