List of Mountain Gorilla Families in Uganda.
Mountain Gorillas are found alone in three nations in Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda. With minimum numbers of 400 Mountain Gorilla documented from 302 in the 2006 census, Uganda is known in history to have the highest count of Mountain Gorilla. One finds these primates at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Sheltering half of the world’s surviving Mountain Gorillas whose encounter is the most exciting on the continent, this rain forest is situated in southern western Uganda. The primary activity in Bwindi is gorilla trekking; twelve Gorilla families have been documented from all four areas of the park.
Mgahinga Gorilla National park hosts around eighty Mountain Gorillas, all under one Gorilla Group that calls the land home. These Gorilla families have lately been habituated for tracking. As Mountain Gorillas go about their daily lives in their native habitat, a two-year process known as gorilla habituation trains them to get used to human humans. Each Gorilla family can have up to eight visitors daily maximum.
Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhija and Nkuringo are four of Bwindi’s four sectors. We have information on every Gorilla family accessible for you before you start your Gorilla tracking journey. Keep in mind, nevertheless, that Mountain Gorillas are wild creatures that move often; so, if a silverback decides to leave a group and start his only family, The following are the estimated total Mountain Gorilla family counts across all sectors.
Ruthegura Gorilla Family
Lead by one silverback Mwirima, in his late 20s and brother to a former silverback in Habinyanja called Rwansigazi, Rushegura Gorilla Group is one of the families with 19 members overall. The organization has the name of a location where these two brothers split off to create their own autonomous group. It was gathered in 2002 following the decision of one silver back from the Habinyanja group to separate and begin his sole family with twelve members—five of them female.
From 12 to 19 members by 2010, the family is run under calm, friendly leadership and is regarded as the most peaceful family in Bwindi Forest. The calmest family in Buhoma and whole Bwindi; this group could always travel to Congo but always returned; it is also renowned for occasionally strolling around adjacent communities and lodges.
Habinyanja Gorilla Group
Although it was first seen by visitors in 1999, Habinyanja Gorilla Family began in 1997. One of the marsh in the forest where this family was discovered, the local name Habinyanja originates from Nyanja “meaning water.” There are 17 members in the family, two silver backs, and Munguris, a local name meaning “old man,” headed by one dominating silverback who eventually went away owing of old age. Later on he was inherited by his two brothers Mwirima and Rwansigazi, who assumed leadership of the family but later on disagreed on running it.
Their differing personalities—Mwirima wanted to stay close range with the family members, while Rwansigazi enjoyed to travel—led to their 2002 split. Thus, the group that stayed with Rwansigazi was called Habinyanja; but Rwansigazi handed up his leadership abilities to Makara the Dominate silverback, who is now the leader. One finds this family in Buhoma.
Mubare Gorilla family
With eight members including one silverback, the Mubare Gorilla Family was discovered in the jungle on the Mubare hills; stone in the local language is represented by Opening in 1993 for tourism, the group began with eighteen members and Ruhondenza was its leader during its habituation. The group has suffered a tragedy of raids by mountain Gorilla family kidnappers which resulted in death inside the family in 2012 when the Gorilla family members were abducted during the period of habituation.
Ruhondenza the leader battled them, but his old age caused him to be overpowered, which caused terrible heart grief. According to history, his terrible anguish caused him to die in sleep; visitors can visit his cemetery; the five members left by Ruhondenza have grown to eight members, commanded by Alpha the Silverback Kanyonyi.
Bitukura Gorilla family
There are fourteen members of the Bitukura gorilla family; the family was first seen in 2007 and had originally 24 members along the river. The two years of occupancy were shorter than any previous habituation. Along with the Kyaguriro family, the family has a close relationship.
Though it has four silverbacks, the family is led by the second youngest silverback “Ndahura,” who inherited and took over power from Karumazi, who is now aged and could no longer fight for the family.
The family is known to be peaceful, playful, thus it is easier to be closer and build togetherness with other members. Bitukura is happier than previously and close since in 2013 the family acquired new members and so experienced a lot of trails. The Ruhija area of Bwindi has Bitukura Gorilla Families.
The Oruzongo Gorilla family
Oruzogo consists of 25 individuals, two Silverbacks; this family was founded in 2011 by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, recently discovered in the Ruhija area. Tebirikwata, one of the oldest Gorilla in the family, leads this group; since 2011, the family has grown with more members resulting from increased child birth by the older females Ntumurungi, Musi both in the same year; another bundle of joy occurred in 2013 when kankoba delivered twins. The ensemble is well-known for its animated personalities and lighthearted approach.
Family members from several names originated from native names such Busungu, which means (short tempered “), Bwoba (coward), kakanga (the gigantic one).
The Kyaguriyo Gorilla family
After habituation in 1999, Kyaguriro group is among the most valuable Gorilla groups. This group was set aside by “Max Planck institute by evolutional of Anthropology” for research and study needs.
Furthermore included in the Gorilla family groupings in the Ruhija area is this group The family consisted of fifteen members, two Silverbacks, and was headed by an elderly Silverback Zeus who was expelled from the forest by Rukina and subsequently perished. Since Rukina, the leader following Zeus’s announcement of death in 2015, the organization has witnessed several generations.
Later on, he was succeeded by a silver back named Rukara, who now runs the family of fifteen members. He had grown up to be thirty-one years old. The family has participated extensively in research and conservation projects aimed at understanding the variations between Mountain Gorillas in Virunga Volcanoes National Park and elsewhere.
nkuringo-gorilla-group
The name “Nkuringo” comes from the circular hills found in Kisoro and Bwindi; the Nkuringo sector was started in 2004 and contains one family group, hence Nkuringo is itself. Although one of the most fulfilling and valuable paths you will take in your lifetime, this family is the toughest of Gorilla trekking.
One of the Silverback Alpha family leaders was named after the term “Nkuringo,” and subsequently passed away in 2004 following successful habituation. Nkuringo left two elderly sons, Rafiki (meaning friend in kiswahili) and safari the elder brother who took over power and has been able to hold the family firm through hard times and seasons of happiness and under his reign the family has welcomed two baby twins namely Muhoza and katungi although Katungi could not live to see his second birthday and he passed on. There are nineteen members in the family, two of which are Silverbacks.
Gorilla family mishaya
There are twelve members of the Mishaya Gorilla family, eight of which may be seen daily. The head of this group is known as Mishaya the Silverback, who broke away from the Nshogi family with ten members to create his own family. He is regarded as a warrior because of this. Interaction with other Gorrila families,
Though he subsequently passed away in 2014, Mishaya was well-known for his battles in 2010. He instigated a struggle that resulted in further injuries and lost one of his children; however, the mountain Gorilla vet doctor saved him. Currently headed by Mwine the silverback, the family may be seen in the Rushaga area.
ngshongi-gorilla-family
Launched in 2009 with the largest habituation group, Nshongi Gorilla Family was named after River Nshongi where it was first sighted; the word “Nshongi” was derived from a local word “Omushongi Gwobuki,” meaning honey and referred to the deep brownish hue of the river.
Nhsongi the silverback led the family with 36 daily visits; later on, division occurred in 2010 when Mishaya broke off with 10 members to form his own after two years later in 2010 Bweza also broke off with some members to form his own, leaving the family with just 26 members.
Kalugye Gorilla Family
Found in the mountains of the Rushaga district, Kahungye comprises 13 individuals with 3 Silverbacks; this group is among the newest Mountain Gorilla Groups. Following a successful habituation with 27 members including 3 Silverbacks, the group was started in 2011; but, a member of the family Busingye broke up with certain members, leading the family to split off and count 13 members instead. Currently leading the Kahungye family is a silverback known as “Gwigi,” meaning door in local terms.
The Bweza Gorilla Group
The biggest habituated group after Nshongi group was Bweza; however, in 2010 Mishaya the silverback chose to split off the family to create his own group; rangers have noted that Bweza also broke off to start his own group in 2012. This family resides in Bwindi’s Rushaga area.
Bumingye-Gorilla-Family
Located in the Rushaga area of one of Bwindi’s sectors, the Busingye Gorilla family counts among the Mountain Gorilla groups most numerous. The group takes its name from the silverback Busingye. Busingye is a native term meaning “peace”. Aggressive in nature, Busingye picks battles among other Gorilla family groupings; he was a part of the Kuhungye family, which split off with seven members in 2012.
One of the ways he demonstrates his authority is by taking women from other family groupings, therefore he has been able to raise his family to nine members.
Group Nyakagezi Gorilla
Unlike other 11 gorilla families in Bwindi, “Nyakagezi” is the sole group in Mgahinga and consists of 10 individuals; typically, this group passes across to adjacent nations Congo and Rwanda. But in 2012 the UWA saw the family enjoying more of Uganda, and right now it has stabilized. The silverback leading the group was “Bugingo,” but he subsequently died of old age. Later on, other two silverbacks Mafia and Mathew replaced him with his oldest son Mark.
The family consists in two young ones Furaha and Nkanda with two females Nyiramwezi and Nshuti and two blackbacks Nduguntse and Rukundo. UWA has posted the permits in Kisoro; this is the only place Gorrila permits can be bought. The group is well-known for its entertainment and tourists adore its humorous attitude and character owing of its erratic movements and roaming.
See the only mountain Gorillas still in the world in their environment and family bond to gain knowledge about their daily existence when visiting Uganda.
How many days do you need for gorilla trekking in Uganda? This exciting and unique activity draws many visitors and entails walking on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated mountain gorillas and once discovered spend one hour with them in their natural environment. Two national parks in Uganda, Mgahinga gorilla national park and Bwindi impenetrable national park both in the southwest, are used for gorilla treking.
From Entebbe/Kampala, visitors planning a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda must spend at least three days seeing the mountain gorillas. On the first day, they will drive from Kampala to Bwindi national park or Mgahinga gorilla national park; on the second day, they will engage in gorilla trekking and drive back to Kampala on the third day.
Starting and concluding in Kigali Rwanda, you will have minimum two days where on the first day you travel from Kigali to Bwindi national park or Mgahinga gorilla national park, then engage in gorilla trekking and thereafter drive back to Kigali.
About the gorilla trekking trip in Uganda
Early in the morning, gorilla treking in Bwindi impenetrable national park begins with a training on the guidelines to follow while trekking. You will be assigned an expert park guide and a habituated gorilla family to walk following the briefing. Mountain gorillas in Uganda like to migrate from one location to another in quest of food, hence their trekking takes two to seven hours depending on where they are found.
Once the gorillas are discovered, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat, so allowing you an opportunity to lean about their habits, behaviours, watch them feed, breastfeed, play, groom young ones, take pictures and record videos to show people back home. You will be able to see other primates, birds among others.
Ideal time for a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda
Though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February since during this period there is less rainfall in the national parks thus trekking paths will be dry and passable which makes gorilla trekking easy compared to the rainy season when the trekking paths are muddy and slippery which makes gorilla trekking difficult.
Cost of Uganda’s gorilla hiking passes
Gorilla trekking licenses in Uganda were nevertheless increased to 800 USD per person for foreign non residents, 700USD per person for foreign residents and 300,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
Booking gorilla trekking permits in Uganda:
Booked through a reputable tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris, Gorilla Trekking permits in Uganda allow you to contact us with the day, month, year and gorilla destination you desire to visit. Following your contact with us, we will look for permit availability and, should permits of your preferred dates be available, you will be required to deposit money. We will be able to buy the permits on your behalf after the money has been received and provide a scanned copy of the receipt to you as verification.
Since the permits are competitive and typically sold fast especially during the peak season in the months of June to September and December to February, gorilla trekking permits in Uganda should thus be booked three to six months ahead of the trip date.
Getting to Mgahinga national park and Bwindi impenetrable national park
Located in southern western Uganda, both Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park can be reached by road from Entebbe/Kampala via masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and then to the park headquarters, roughly nine to ten hours’ drive.
From Kigali Rwanda, you can also visit Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park by plane to Kigali international airport and subsequently link to the park headquarters via cyanika border in Kisoro or Katuna border, which takes roughly 4 to 5 hours’ drive.
Air travel allows you to visit Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park from Entebbe international airport to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips and thereafter connect to the park headquarters via road.
Where on your gorilla trekking safari should you lodge?
From cheap, middle-class, and luxury where you may stay throughout your two or three days gorilla trekking safari, Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park provide a variety of lodging options.
What should you bring for your safari in gorilla trekking in Uganda?
You should pack insect repellent, hiking shoes, long sleeved shirt and trousers, garden gloves, waterproof rain jacket, camera and extra batteries, warm sweater, energy snacks and drinking water, long socks, face masks, walking stick, a pair of binoculars, back pack among others.
