Uganda gorilla families
Uganda gorilla families : There are just three nations in Africa where mountain gorillas can be found: Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Uganda has the record for having the highest population of mountain gorillas in history, with at least 400 of them counted, up from 302 in the 2006 census. The impenetrable national park of Bwindi is home to these primates. Half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas are protected in this rain forest, which is situated in southern-western Uganda. This is the most thrilling place on the continent to see mountain gorillas. The primary activity in Bwindi is gorilla trekking; records show that there are 12 gorilla families spread across the park’s four sectors.
There are about 80 mountain gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, all belonging to a single gorilla group that lives there. These gorilla families are currently accustomed to being tracked. The two-year process of gorilla habituation entails training mountain gorillas to become accustomed to humans while they carry out their daily routines in their natural habitat. Each gorilla family may have a maximum of 8 visitors per day.
The four sectors that make up Bwindi are Nkuringo, Rushaga, Buhoma, and Ruhija. We have information on every gorilla family that is open for visitors, so check it out before starting your gorilla tracking journey. But bear in mind that mountain gorillas are untamed creatures that never stop moving, and that a silverback may at any point choose to split from his group and establish his own family. The total number of mountain gorilla families in each sector is listed below.
Rushegura Gorilla family
One of the 19 families, the Rushegura Gorilla Group is headed by a silverback named Mwirima, who is in his late 20s and the brother of Rwansigazi, a former silverback in Habinyanja. The location where these two brothers split off to create their own distinct group is the inspiration behind the organization’s name. It was reunited in 2002 when a silver back from the Habinyanja gang made the decision to form his own family, consisting of 12 members, five of them were female. The family, which was led by a kind and composed individual, grew from 12 to 19 members by 2010. They are regarded as the most peaceful family in the Bwindi forest. This clan has the ability to go to Congo but has always returned. They are also known to occasionally stroll through neighboring communities and lodges, which makes them the most peaceful family in Buhoma and all of Bwindi.
Habinyanja Gorillas family
Despite receiving its first tourist visit in 1999, the Habinyanja Gorilla Family was established in 1997. The term Habinyanja originates from the native Nyanja, which means “water” and refers to one of the swamps in the forest where this family was discovered. The family is made up of 17 people and 2 silverbacks. Before the family became accustomed to its new lifestyle, Munguris, a term for “old man” in the local language, commanded the group. Munguris eventually passed away from old age. Subsequently, his two brothers, Mwirima and Rwansigazi, succeeded him as the family’s leaders, although they subsequently disagreed on how to run the business.
Their dissimilar personalities—Rwansigazi enjoyed traveling while Mwirima preferred to spend time with family members up close—led to their split in 2002. Consequently, the group that remained under Rwansigazi’s guidance was called Habinyanja; nevertheless, Rwansigazi relinquished his leadership role to Makara the Dominate Silverback, who is currently in charge. In Buhoma, this family can be found.
Mubare Gorillas Family
Eight members of the Mubare Gorilla Family—whose name means “stone” in the local language—as well as one silverback were discovered in the forest of the Mubare Hills. When the group was first formed in 1993 for tourism, it consisted of 18 people, with Ruhondenza serving as the group leader. Since the Gorilla family members were abducted in 2012, the group has been plagued by the unfortunate events of mountain gorilla kidnapping raids, which resulted in fatalities within the family.
The leader, Ruhondenza, attempted to battle them, but due to his advanced age, he was defeated, which caused him to feel an overwhelming amount of anguish in his heart. According to history, he passed away in his sleep from extreme melancholy. His burial is open to visitors, and the five members Ruhondenza left behind have grown to eight, under the leadership of Alpha the Silverback, also known as Kanyonyi.
The Bitukura gorilla family
The Bitukura gorilla family has 14 individuals. The group was initially observed in 2007 and consisted of 24 members near the river where the family was situated. Compared to previous habituations, which last two years, this one was shorter. The family shares and is closely related to the Kyaguriro family.
Despite having four silverbacks, the family is known for being peaceful and playful, which fosters relationships and unity. The second youngest silverback, Ndahura, is the family’s leader; he succeeded the aging Karumazi, who was no longer able to defend the family. Even though Bitukura’s family has had many hardships, they are closer and happier now than they were in the past after welcoming new members in 2013. The Ruhija section of Bwindi is home to the Bitukura Gorilla Family.
The Oruzongo family
Oruzogo is a family of 25 animals, two of which are silverbacks. The Uganda Wildlife Authority formed this family in 2011 after it discovered a second habituated group in the Ruhija region. This group is led by Tebirikwata, one of the family’s oldest gorillas. Since 2011, the family has grown by one as a result of the older females Ntumurungi and Musi giving birth to more children in the same year. In 2013, Kankoba gave birth to twins, adding even more joy to the family. The trio is well-known for their lively personalities and lighthearted methods. Family members in this group go by a variety of names that are drawn from local terms, such as Bwoba, which means “coward,” Busungu, which means “short tempered,” and kakanga, which means “the giant one.”
Kyaguriro family family
Since its haburation in 1999, the Kyaguriro group has grown to become one of the most respected gorilla groups. This group was set aside by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology for research and study purposes. This group is a member of the Ruhija sector’s Gorilla family groups. The family of fifteen people, two of whom are silverbacks, was headed by an elderly silverback named Zeus who was exiled by Rukina into the wilderness and eventually perished there. Since Rukina took over as leader of the organization following Zeus’s declared death in 2015, the group has witnessed several generations.
He lived to reach thirty-one years old, at which point a silverback named Rukara took over as the head of the fifteen-person family. In order to understand the distinctions between mountain gorillas and those found in the Virunga Volcanoes National Park, the family has contributed to numerous research and conservation projects.
Nkuringo Gorillas family
The term “Nkuringo” comes from the word “round hills,” which are found in the Kisoro and Bwindi regions. The Nkuringo sector was established in 2004 and consists of just one family group: Nkuringo. The most difficult gorilla trekking trails are those in this family, yet they are also among the most rewarding and life-changing experiences.
One of the Silverback Alpha, whose name was derived from the term “Nkuringo,” served as the family’s leader until his successful habituation in 2004. Nkuringo left behind two elderly sons: Rafiki, which means “friend” in Swahili, and Safari, the elder brother who assumed leadership and has been able to support the family through good times and bad. During his rule, the family welcomed Muhoza and Katungi, two baby twins, though Katungi did not live to see his second birthday and passed away. There are 19 people in the family, including 2 Silverbacks.
Mishaya gorilla family
Twelve gorillas make up the Mishaya Gorilla family, which eight individuals can visit each day. Because of its former leader, Mishaya the Silverback, who was well-known for his fighting skills and interactions with other Gorrila families—he broke away from the Nshogi family with ten members to found his own family—this group has earned the reputation of being fighters.
Mishaya was well-known for his altercations. In 2010, he launched one that resulted in additional injuries and the death of one of his babies. Fortunately, the mountain gorilla veterinarian saved him, albeit he sadly passed away in 2014. Mwine the Silverback, the family’s current leader, welcomes visitors to the Rushaga sector.
Nshongi gorilla family
The Nshongi Gorilla Family, which was named after the river where it was first sighted, is the largest group of gorillas in the Rushaga sector that tourists can visit. The word “Nshongi” is derived from a local word “Omushongi Gwobuki,” which means honey and refers to the deep brownish color of the river’s water. The family was established in 2009 with the largest habuation group.
The 36 members of the family, led by Nhsongi the silverback, were visited every day until 2010 when Mishaya split off with 10 to form his own family. Two years later, in 2010, Bweza the silverback also split off with some members to form his own family, leaving the family with just 26 members.
The Kahugye Family group
Kahungye is one of the newest mountain gorilla groups in the Rushaga area, with 13 members, including 3 silverbacks. The group is located in the mountain’s hills. Following a successful induction, the group was founded in 2011 with 27 members, including 3 Silverbacks. Nevertheless, a member of the Busingye family broke off with some other members, leading to the division of the family and a decrease in membership to 13. Today, “Gwigi,” which translates to “door” in the local language, is the silverback that leads the Kahungye family.
Bweza Gorilla family
After the Nshongi group, which was the largest, Mishaya the silverback decided to split off from the family in 2010 and form his own group. Ranger reports show that Bweza also broke off to form his own family in 2012, but the rangers believed the group could reconcile. Bweza is the largest habituated group. This family lives in Bwindi’s Rushaga sector.
Busingye gorilla family
The Busingye Gorilla family is situated in the Rushaga area, which is home to the most mountain gorilla groups in Bwindi. This group bears Busingye, the silverback’s name. In the native language, the word “busingye” means “peace.” Busingye, a violent individual that instigates battles among other Gorilla family groupings, was a part of the Kuhungye family, which split up with seven other members in 2012.
He has a reputation for kidnapping women from other family groupings; as one of his methods of asserting his dominance, he has been able to expand his family to nine members by doing this.
Nyakagezi Gorilla family
In contrast to the other eleven gorilla families in Bwindi, “Nyakagezi,” which is the only group in Mgahinga and has ten members, frequently travels to Rwanda a and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nonetheless, the UWA saw in 2012 that the family was enjoying more of Uganda, and things have now normalized. The silverback known as “Bugingo” served as the group’s leader before passing away from old age. Afterwards, Mark, his older son, took his place together with Mafia and Mathew, the other two silverbacks.
The family comprises two small children, Nkanda and Furaha, as well as two blackbacks, Nduguntse and Rukundo, and two females, Nyiramwezi and Nshuti. Due to the group’s unpredictable movements and travel, UWA has located the permits in Kisoro, which is the only location where Gorrila permits may be bought. The group is well-known for its entertainment, and tourists adore its playful spirit and character.
Come to Uganda for the opportunity to see the last remaining mountain gorillas in the world in their natural habitat and experience a familial relationship while learning about their daily lives.
How many days are needed for gorilla trekking in Uganda? Gorilla trekking is a unique and daring activity that draws a lot of tourists to Uganda. It entails walking through the tropical rainforest on foot in search of habituated mountain gorillas and spending an hour in their natural habitat with them once they are located. In Uganda, gorilla trekking takes place in two national parks: the south-western Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
When traveling from Entebbe/Kampala to Bwindi or Mgahinga gorilla national parks, tourists planning a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda need to allow at least three days to see the mountain gorillas. On the first day, you will drive there, engage in gorilla trekking, and on the second day, you will return by car to Kampala. You will require a minimum of two days to travel from Kigali, Rwanda, to either Bwindi National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, engage in gorilla trekking on the second day, and then return by car to Kigali.
Regarding the Ugandan gorilla trekking experience
In the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, gorilla trekking begins early in the morning with a training on the guidelines to be followed while hiking. Following the briefing, a knowledgeable park guide and a habituated gorilla family will be assigned to you for your hike. Because mountain gorillas like to roam around in quest of food, a typical mountain gorilla trekking experience in Uganda lasts between two and seven hours, depending on the gorilla’s location. In addition to seeing birds and other primates during the trek, you will have the opportunity to spend an hour in the natural habitat with the gorillas once they are located. This will allow you to learn about their habits and behaviors, watch them play, feed, and nurse their young, take pictures and videos to share with family and friends back home, and much more.
The ideal time to visit Uganda for a gorilla trekking expedition
Although it is possible to go gorilla trekking year-round in Uganda, the best time to do so is in the dry season, which runs from June to February. During this time, there is less rainfall in the national parks, making the trekking trails dry and passable, making gorilla trekking easier than it is during the rainy season, when the trails are muddy and slippery.
The price of a Ugandan gorilla trekking permit
The cost of a gorilla trekking permit at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is $800 USD for non-resident foreigners, 700 USD for residents of other countries, and 300,000 UGX for citizens of East Africa.
However, as of July 1, 2024, gorilla trekking licenses in Uganda are now worth 800 USD for non-resident foreigners, 700 USD for residents of other countries, and 300,000 UGX for inhabitants of East Africa.
How to obtain a Ugandan permit for gorilla trekking
You may reserve a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda by contacting a reputable tour operator, such as Achieve Global Safaris, and providing them with your desired gorilla destination, day, and month of travel. Following your contact, we will verify if permits are available for the dates you have selected. If they are, you will be required to pay a deposit. We may buy the permits on your behalf as soon as the money is received, and we’ll email you a scanned copy of the receipt as proof.
However, because gorilla trekking permits in Uganda are highly sought-after and frequently sell out, particularly during the busiest months of June to September and December to February, it is recommended to reserve your permit three to six months in advance of the actual trekking date.
Accessing Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Both the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are situated in the southwest of Uganda and are accessible by road. It takes approximately nine to ten hours to get from Entebbe/Kampala to the park headquarters via masaka, Mbarara, and Kabale.
It is also possible to reach the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from Kigali, Rwanda. To get there, take a plane to Kigali International Airport. From there, drive for four to five hours to reach the park headquarters via the Katuna or Cyanika borders in Kabale.
By chartering or scheduled domestic flights from Entebbe international airport to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips, you can also reach the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park by air. From there, you can connect by road to the park headquarters.
Where to stay while on a safari for gorilla trekking
Accommodations for budget, midrange, and luxury travelers are available in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, where you can spend two or three days on a gorilla trekking safari. Mahogany Springs Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort, Bwindi Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Gahinga Lodge, Ichumbi Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Haven Lodge, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Lake Chahafi Resort, Kiho Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Mist Camp, Bakiga Lodge, Broadbill Forest Camp, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Bweza Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Tracker Safari Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Bwindi Forest Lodge, Wagtail Safari Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Bwindi Jungle View Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Engagi Lodge, among other lodging options.
What to bring on your Ugandan gorilla trekking expedition
Insect repellent, hiking shoes, long sleeves, long pants, garden gloves, waterproof rain jacket, camera, extra batteries, warm sweater, energy snacks, drinking water, face masks, walking stick, binoculars, back pack, and other items are among the things you should bring for your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda.
You can contact Budget gorilla trekking (select adventure safaris) for more information about gorilla trekking in Uganda or visit our website to learn about our reasonably priced gorilla trekking packages.