Overview
Located in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Rushaga is part of the four sectors in the forest that ensure the protection of the Mountain Gorillas. Bwindi is home to more than half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas, with the Rushaga sector having the largest number and more habituated families. Rushaga is closer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and easily accessible from Rwanda. Rushaga is the sector where the habituation of the magnificent apes takes place, and with multiple gorilla families calling it home, Rushaga has the highest concentration of gorillas, which increases the chances of observing a family once selected, making it a hub for mountain gorilla tourism and conservation.
The terrain in Rushaga is rugged, with steep hills, thick vegetation, and scenic views of Lake Mutanda and the Virunga Volcanoes in the distance. Though physically demanding, the setting makes it one of the most beautiful areas for trekking and is the only sector where tourists can take part of the gorilla habituation experience. It is also accessible by road from both Kisoro and Kabale, making it convenient for visitors arriving from Rwanda.
Besides mountain gorillas, Rushaga sector has other mammals like black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest’s monkeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, elephants, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, duikers, side-stripped jackals, African golden cats, civets, otters, bats, and many more with birds like Rwenzori batis, kivu ground thrush, regal sunbird, shelley’s crimsonwing, African green broadbill, black bee-eater, black-billed turaco, crowned hornbill, grauer’s broadbill, African emerald cuckoo, montane oriole, western tinkerbird, bar-tailed trogon, Rwenzori nightjar, handsome francolin, doherty’s bushshrike, and many more.
The Rushaga sector has more than 8 gorilla families, as mentioned below:
Nshongi gorilla family:
It is one of the most well-known gorilla groups in Rushaga and was the first family to be habituated in the sector, playing a key role in the growth of tourism in the southern part of the park. The Nshongi gorilla family was the largest family initially at a certain point in time, with about 36 individuals, with the family name derived from the Nshongi River where the family was first discovered.
The family was led by a dominant silverback, Nshongi, who coexisted with other silverbacks in the group for some time, which was considered unusual. However, later, two groups, Mishaya and Bweza, broke off, and the split reduced the number of individuals in Nshongi’s group to around 10. The Nshongi gorilla group remains one of the core trekking families with one or two silverbacks, adult females, juveniles, and infants.
Mishaya gorilla family:
The Mishaya gorilla family was formed in 2010, led by Mishaya. The group broke away from the larger Nshongi group with 10 members, and the group name was given by the head, as it was customary to name groups after their dominant silverback. Mishaya was known for his bold and independent nature, which led to the establishment of his own family; however, in 2014, he died from an intestinal blockage and was replaced by Tinfayo. Currently, the group has 9 individuals with variations being typical as gorillas are born, others die, and or migrate.
Bweza gorilla family:
Another family located in Rushaga formed in 2012, named after the dominant silverback Bweza, who broke away from the Nshongi gorilla family. Bweza gorilla family has 9 individuals; however, numbers can always vary due to new births, deaths, and or conflicts. The group is known for being friendly and relaxed, and easily accessible as the group forages near park edges. Much as the rangers also had hope of a reunion back to the Nshongi family, Bweza stood its ground since the separation, and the Bweza gorilla family is always among the preferred options for trekking by tourists.
Kahungye gorilla family:
Kahungye gorilla family, named after the Kahungye hill, and opened in 2011 for trekking with 27 individuals, with 3 silverbacks at the start. The group is led by Gwigi and has 13 individuals, a number that can change either due to new births, deaths, or conflicts. Initially, the group was led by Ruhemuka until March 2013 when he fell from a tree and injured his head. The Kahungye family is relatively large and has several individuals, including infants, juveniles, and adult gorillas.
Busingye gorilla family:
The Busingye gorilla family is another family that broke away from Kahungye in 2012 with 9 individuals. Busingye means ‘peace’ in the local dialect, though the silverback is known for aggressively protecting and even expanding his group by challenging other males. The park rangers were hopeful for a reunion, but no signs of that happening as the group is known for its calm demeanor and peaceful interactions; however, there were no signs of that happening.
Rwigi gorilla family:
The Rwigi gorilla family is one of the newest habituated groups in the Rushaga sector, with 10 individuals. The family split off from the Kahungye group in 2019 following a dispute among silverbacks. The name Rwigi of the dominant silverback means door in the local language; he led the separation from Kahungye, forming his new group. The group offers a fresh perspective on gorilla social behavior, with its recent formation and Rwigi’s leadership, and is a less frequently trekked route, hence offering a quieter and more immersive experience.
Bikingi gorilla family:
The Bikingi gorilla family opened in 2016 with 11 individuals, in another family in Rushaga sector under the leadership of Bikingi as the dominant silverback. The group was part of a special habituation experience program, hence it’s being semi-habituated, making the gorilla more sensitive to human presence, making for a rawer and unpredictable experience.
Mucunguzi gorilla family:
The Mucunguzi gorilla family is another family in Rushaga sector whose name was derived from a local word, which means savior, which is also the name of the dominant silverback. This family broke away from Bweza when Mucunguzi was banished by Bweza and spent time solo before attacking the Bikingi group and taking some females with him to start his own family. Due to new births, the family number has increased to 16 individuals.
Once a gorilla group has been successfully habituated, it may become available for gorilla trekking experiences, allowing tourists to observe and learn about gorillas in their natural habitat. By habituating gorillas to human presence in a controlled and respectful manner, researchers and conservationists can gather valuable data, promote gorilla conservation, and provide sustainable tourism opportunities that benefit both gorillas and local communities. Revenue generated from gorilla tourism helps fund conservation efforts and supports local communities living near gorilla habitats.