Rushura Hill trail is an ideal hiking trail in Bwindi National Park for visitors who desire moderate hikes or if you are interested in photography tours. Hiking through the enriching Rushura trail involves exploring the scenic Rushura hill. It is one of the very few remarkable hiking trails in Bwindi that guarantee visitors impressive nature walking experiences.
Rushura hill trail walk offers strenuous hikes as it involves conquering the elevation of 2500m. A complete round hike takes about 3-4 hours. Rushura hill trail hike is done in the Buhoma region, the Northern sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Rushura hill marks the highest peak in Buhoma region.
Hikes to Rushura hill begin from Buhoma head offices with briefing. Visitors start navigating via the dense Bwindi Impenetrable Forest as they enjoy remarkable views of the park and its surrounding featuring the scenic Virunga Volcanoes, Western rift valley arm, and Rwenzori Mountain ranges.
The 3-4 hour guided walk through the Rushura hill trail allows you enjoy encounter of various mammal species in Bwindi. They include giant forest hogs, duikers, bush pigs, forest elephants, chimpanzees, bushbucks, and at times mountain gorillas. Birds you may come across include the handsome francolins, rock martin, olive pigeon, African cuckoo hawk, African jacanas, southern pochard, red chested owlet, black bee-eaters, and African hobby.
When to Visit
The ideal period to embark on the guided hike on the Rushura hill trail in Buhoma sector in Bwindi National Park is around the dry months of the year. The dry seasons/months start from June, July, August to September and December, January to February. It is around these months when the scenic Bwindi Impenetrable National Park experiences low/no rains with the floor kept drier and vegetation clear.
The favorable weather conditions during the dry season make it possible to enjoy a smooth walk through the Rushura hill trail less of challenges. Depending on the visitor interest, Rushura trail can also be explored during the wet or rainy months of the year that is around March, April, and May then October to November. During the wet months of the year, the vegetation can be abundant and lush but the challenge can be that the floor tends to be muddy/slippery.
What to Carry for your Rushura Hill Trail Hike?
When it comes to hiking tours through the Rushura hill trail, you need to pack right. Some of the essentials to have for your successful Rushura hill trail hike include long-sleeved shirts, energy giving snacks, insect repellents, long pants, gardening gloves, a safari hat, a pair of gaiters, a sweater, a camera, bottled drinking water, a pair of binoculars, a rain jacket, daypack, and sunscreen.
Accommodation Facilities
Choose the right places to stay and preferably, they should be around Buhoma region. The popular lodges worth booking for overnight stay in Buhoma include Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Bwindi Lodge, Engagi Lodge, and others.
How to get to Buhoma
To explore Rushura hill trail, expect to travel to Buhoma where you can begin your actual hike. Getting to Buhoma is possible by road or by air. By road, you can drive from Entebbe or Kampala city via Masaka-Mbarara to Buhoma about 8-9 hours’ drive. There is also an option of departing from Kigali via the Katuna/Chanika border to Buhoma area and the entire journey is 4-5 hours’ drive. By air, you can set off from Entebbe International Airport (EBB) to Kihihi/Kisoro Airstrip about 1-2 hours. From Kihihi/Kisoro, you can drive up to the lodge in Buhoma.
Essential hiking tips to observe
Consider keeping yourself fit enough for your hike on Rushura hill trail. Do adequate physical fitness exercise early before you visit Buhoma region. Pack the right gear and seek advice from the expert during the process of planning for your hiking tour. Take a pack of snacks, bottled water and first aid kit.
What else to do in Buhoma besides hiking
Gorilla trekking: Buhoma is most popular for its captivating mountain gorilla trekking adventures. A gorilla trek in Buhoma ushers primate enthusiasts on the search for the already habituated gorilla families including Mubare, Katwe, Rushegura, Habinyanja, and Muyambi groups. Each of these gorilla families is visited by a maximum of 8 (eight) guests per day and you should have a valid permit to engage in the gorilla trek. A valid gorilla permit costs USD 800 per visitor and can be booked through our reservation team.
Birding: Buhoma is also known for its incredible birding expeditions. On a bird watching tour, expect to come across many birds such as the red-headed bluebill, African blue flycatchers, bar-tailed trogon, great blue turacos, yellow-rumped tinker bird, white-throated greenbul, white-headed saw-wing, yellow fronted canary, and barred long-tailed cuckoos.
Besides Rushura hill trail, Buhoma region also features other most rewarding birding trails worth exploring by birders. They include Ivy River trail, Habinyanja trail, and waterfall trail.