31
May

Uganda Gorilla Families

Uganda Gorilla Families

Uganda Gorilla Families

Mgahinga National Park is the second place in Uganda where you can see mountain gorillas. It’s different from Bwindi because it’s located in the Virunga massif. The park is home to over 100 mountain gorillas and has one habituated gorilla family. This means there are 8 gorilla trekking permits available.

Before trekking in Mgahinga National Park, tourists attend a brief meeting where rules and regulations are explained. The trek can last from 30 minutes to 7 hours, depending on where the gorillas are.

Nyakagezi Gorilla Family

This family has been around since the park was established. Named after the Nyakagezi area where they were first seen, they started habituation in 1991 and were open for trekking in 1994. The current lead silverback is Mark, supported by his brother Mafia.

Uniqueness of the Family

The Nyakagezi family lives in lowland areas, making them easier to trek compared to other gorillas that live on steep slopes.

They were one of the first families habituated for gorilla trekking.

Bugingo, a past leader, still lives in the group, which is rare as former leaders usually leave.

Members of this family like to travel and have explored Rwanda and the D.R. Congo in the past.

The Nyakagezi family has ten members: five silverbacks (Mark, Mafia, Ndugutse, Rukundo, and Bugingo), two females (Nshuti and Nyiramwiza), and three babies (Fred, Mutagamba, and baby Nshuti).

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi faced challenges in the past, but now it’s thriving with almost half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. The park is home to over 50 gorilla families and 13 solitary gorillas, with 21 families open for tourism across four sectors.

Buhoma Sector

This sector, located in the north, is the most visited because it has easier trails. It was the first sector to open for gorilla trekking in Bwindi. It has five gorilla families:

Mubare Gorilla Family

This is the oldest habituated family, named after the hills where they were first found. The current leader is silverback Kanyonyi, who took over after Ruhondeza passed away. The family has faced many challenges and now has eight members, including an infant.

Habinyanja Gorilla Family

Named after swamp ponds (“Nyanja” means water), this family was habituated from 1997 to 1999 under the leadership of Mugurusi. After his death, his sons Rwansigazi and Mwirima had a conflict that led to the family splitting. The current leader is silver back Makara. The family has 12 members, including two silver backs, two blackbacks, three adult females, three sub-adults, and two juveniles.

Rushegura Gorilla Family

This family was formed by silver back Mwirima after splitting from his brother Rwansigazi. Known for being friendly and calm, they often pass through nearby homes and lodges without causing trouble. The family has grown from seven to 16 members, including two silver backs, six adult females, one sub-adult female, three juveniles, three blackbacks, and four infants.

Katwe Gorilla Family

Named after Katwe hill, this family was habituated for three years and opened for tourism recently. It has nine members: one silver back, two blackbacks, two adult females, and two infants.

Muyambi Gorilla Family

This family split from the Mubare group in 2019. Led by silver back Muyambi, it has seven members, including a new baby born in May 2020.

Rushaga Sector

Located in the southern part of Bwindi, this sector has five gorilla families. Visitors can enjoy views of Gahinga, Muhavura, Virunga, and Lake Bunyonyi.

Nshongi Gorilla Family

Named after the Nshongi river, this family has 24 members, including two silver backs, seven black backs, four female adults, five juveniles, and six infants. The lead silver back is Nshongi, but he is not the oldest male in the group.

Busingye Gorilla Family

Formed by silver back Busingye after separating from Kahungye in 2012, this family prefers the inner parts of Bwindi. It has nine members: one silver back, one black back, three adult females, two juveniles, and three toddlers.

Bweza Gorilla Family

This family split from Nshongi, led by silver back Bweza. It has seven members and is known for being interesting to watch, as the members often play and feed together.

Mishaya Gorilla Family

Formed by Mishaya after challenging Nshongi, this family has 12 members, including four infants. Mwine succeeded Mishaya as the leader.

Kahungye Gorilla Family

Named after Kahungye hill, this family originally had 27 members but now has 13, including three silver backs.

Nkuringo Sector

Located in the southern part of the park, this sector is known for its challenging hikes and beautiful views of Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira mountains.

Nkuringo Gorilla Family

Named after a round hill, this family was opened for tourism in 2004. The current leader is black back Rwamutwe, following the death of Rafiki in 2020. The family has 12 members, including four black backs, four adult females, and four infants.

Bushaho Gorilla Family

Formed by members who split from the Nkuringo family, this group is led by Bahati. It has eight members: three adult females, one sub-adult female, one black back, one juvenile, and one infant.

Christmas Gorilla Family

Named after its leader, who was born on Christmas Day, this family has eight members. Six are usually available for trekking, as one mother and her son are not fully habituated.

Posho Gorilla Family

Still under habituation, this family has 14 members. The leader is Magara, and tourists can look forward to seeing them in the future.

Ruhija Sector

Located in the eastern part of the park, this sector is quieter and easier to hike, making it suitable for older visitors. It has three gorilla families open for tourism.

Bitukura Gorilla Group

Named after the Bitukura river, this family originally had 24 members but now has 14. Ndahura is the current leader. The group habituation was quick, taking only 15 months, because they were friendly with the Kyaguriro family. The group has 13 members: four silver backs, three adult females, two black backs, one juvenile, and two infants.

Oruzogo Gorilla Group

This family has many infants, making it joyful to watch. The leader is Tibirikwata. The group has 22 members, including the well-known Tibirikwata, Kaganga, Busungu, and Bwoba.

Kyaguriro Gorilla Group

This group was originally reserved for research but opened for tourism in 2016 due to high demand. It was the oldest group in Ruhija, habituated in 1999. The family has 10 members: one silver back, three adult females, two black backs, two juveniles, and two infants.

Mukiza Gorilla Group

A splinter from Kyaguriro, this group is led by Mukiza. It is used for research by the Max Planck Institute and is not open for tourism. The group has 12 members, including one silver back, seven adult females, one sub-adult, one juvenile, and one infant.