Rushaga sector has some of the best lodges and is home to 10 habituated gorilla families and is the only sector where gorilla habituation is done. Each gorilla habituation permit costs UGX 750,000 for East Africans, 1500 USD for foreign non-residents and 1000 USD for foreign residents and African citizens.

Rushaga sector has well-equipped facilities and amenities to ensure that visitors have a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Accommodation options vary from luxury lodges, mid- range and budget facilities catering for different preferences as listed below;

Rushaga Gorilla Safari Lodge is one of the Best lodges in Rushaga sector

Gorilla Safari Lodge is a luxurious lodge with 18 self- contained spacious rooms giving you great views of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest from the comfort of your veranda. The lodge’s amenities include hot and cold-water showers, comfortable beds, packed lunch and all dietary preferences and candlelight dinners. Guests can also enjoy delicious meals at the on-site restaurant, relax by the fireplace in the cozy lounge, or take part in activities like guided nature walks and birding watching led by knowledgeable local guides, walks to Bayenda falls , gorilla habituation and cultural walks to Batwa villages. For those seeking an immersive gorilla trekking experience, Gorilla Safari Lodge gives easy access to the trailheads and permits for tracking these mountain gorillas.

Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge is among the Best lodges in Rushaga sector

This is a mid-range luxury lodge offering a range of accommodation options from well-appointed cottages to spacious family chalets designed to blend with the natural surroundings. Guests can taste delicious dishes at the lodge’s restaurant, relax with a refreshing drink at the bar or take breathtaking views from the comfort of their private verandah. Ichumbi gorilla lodge’s amenities and facilities include free WIFI, sun terrace, free parking space, a garden, bicycle rides and a business center.

Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge also arranges bird watching, gorilla habituation, Mutanda island visits, guided forest walks, canoeing, cultural encounters with local communities and gorilla trekking expeditions.

Rushaga Gorilla Camp

The camp is a mid-range facility located on the boarder of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park on 6 acres. It is one of the best lodges serving both Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors. It features 6 self-contained cozy safari tents equipped with modern amenities, including comfortable beds, en-suite facilities, and solar-powered lighting. It also has 2 family bandas, 3 self -contained bandas and can offer rooms to 30 people.

You can also choose to pitch your tent though you are required to communicate in advance. Guests can enjoy delicious meals prepared with fresh local ingredients at the camp’s dining area, sit around the campfire for storytelling and stargazing, embark on guided nature walks, visit lake mutanda, enjoy bird watching, gorilla habituation and gorilla trekking.

Gorilla leisure lodge is also among the Best lodges in Rushaga sector

This lodge is located 10 minutes away from the park headquarters and is one of the newest constructed luxury accommodations in Rushaga sector. Gorilla leisure lodge features 12 luxurious self- contained rooms in form of doubles, singles and family cottages. Facilities in rooms include televisions, mosquito nets, toiletries, complimentary bottled water, hot and cold-water showers, hair dryers, fire extinguishers, security, wooden balconies among others. Gorilla leisure lodge provides amenities like WIFI, laundry services, a well-stocked bar with hard and soft drinks plus a restaurant serving both international and local dishes. You can choose to participate in gorilla trekking, community walks, guided nature walks, cultural trips and entertainment from the locals or birdwatching.

The four gorillas lodge

This newly constructed lodge is a 4-star luxury accommodation located in the southeastern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is a mid-range private accommodation surrounded by birds and greenery that refreshes each day of your stay. The lodge features 8 self -contained cottages constructed in an African traditional way using local stones, wood and thick grass roofs. The rooms are single, doubles, triples and family rooms each costing differently according to their sizes. Rooms have flat televisions, hair dryers, mosquito nets, hot and cold showers, flushing toilets, fire extinguishers and others. They cost 300 USD and sometimes more especially in high seasons.

Facilities provided at the lodge include a well -stocked bar, airport pickups and drop- off services, a restaurant serving both local and international cuisines, free WIFI, standby generator, craft shop, breakfast with fresh fruits and vegetables from the garden, parking space, laundry services, health centers, massage parlors, steam baths and sauna, large verandahs and rooms for meetings and conferences.

Visitors can participate in activities like gorilla habituation, bird watching, gorilla tracking, visits to Batwa communities, guided nature walks, butterfly watching among others.

Wild olives lodge

This is a budget-friendly accommodation with 9 self-contained rooms. The lodge features laundry services, water heaters, tight security services, parking lot, free WIFI, a restaurant serving both local and international dishes, hot and cold showers and a fully stocked bar.

Activities offered at wild olives lodge include gorilla habituation, nature walks, birdwatching, gorilla trekking, and cultural visits to Batwa communities.

Gorilla valley lodge

This lodge is located near Rushaga ranger station on the boarder of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest which specially gives you a view of the shy mountain gorillas that always come around to share your garden.

Gorilla valley lodge features 12 en-suite rooms fitted with twin beds, solar water heaters, comfortable beds, private bathrooms and verandahs. The lodge only has two types of rooms that is singles and doubles. It accommodates families, business travelers, solo travelers, couples and any others.

Amenities provided at Gorilla valley lodge include WIFI, a well -stocked bar, a restaurant serving international and local cuisines and ample parking space.

You can participate in activities like birdwatching, gorilla habituation, butterfly watching, guided nature walks, cultural experiences and gorilla tracking at Gorilla valley lodge.

Necessities for gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector

In case you are planning a gorilla trekking safari in Rushaga sector, you need to put the following important things into consideration;

Gorilla trekking permits. You are advised to book gorilla trekking permits in advance at least 6 months before the trek date. Permits cost UGX 300,000 per person per trek for East African citizens, 800 USD per person per trek for foreign non-residents, 700 USD per person per trek for foreign residents and 500 USD per person per trek for African citizens. You can contact Giant Holiday Safaris for more information about permit purchases.

Gorilla habituation. You may also get interested in gorilla habituation which is only found at Rushaga sector. Gorilla habituation is an activity whereby gorillas are trained to get used to human presence in the park. The activity involves a maximum of 4 trekkers and researchers following a semi-habituated gorilla group, studying their behavior and spending 4 hours with them. This differs from gorilla trekking that allows a maximum stay of 1 hour in gorilla presence.

Gorilla habituation permits cost UGX 750,000 for East African citizens, 1500 USD for foreign non-residents, 1000 USD for African citizens and 1000 for foreign residents.

Best time for gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector

Gorilla trekking is best done during the dry season because the roads are dry and easy to use with less mud. Gorillas are also easy to track since they are concentrated in locations with ripe fruits. Since Bwindi is a tropical rain forest, be prepared for some rain even in the dry season.

Alternatively, Gorilla trekking can be done during the wet season since it has few tourists and it is a budget friendly season.

What to carry for a gorilla trekking experience in Rushaga sector

On your trip to gorilla trekking, make sure you carry binoculars, camera, sunglasses, sunscreen, long sleeved shirts, a rain coat, hiking boots, insect repellant and first aid kit, socks, warm sweater and light weight clothes.

 Avoid clothes with bright colors because they capture wild life attention. Black and blue also attracts tsetse flies. With these you are assured of a safe and enjoyable gorilla trekking experience.