Gorilla families in bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla families in bwindi impenetrable national park: Uganda harbors about 459 mountain gorillas out of 1063 mountain gorillas in the world which makes it the best gorilla trekking destination in Africa. Mountain gorillas in Uganda are found in two destinations namely Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in south western Uganda in Kanungu district and was gazetted in 1991 mainly to conserve and protect the endangered mountain gorillas. Bwindi impenetrable national park covers a total area of 331 square kilometers and harbors wildlife including primates like the mountain gorillas, black and white colobus monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, chimpanzees, bird species such as the giant kingfisher, African harrier hawk, animals like elephants, duikers, cats, bush pigs among others.
Gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable national park
The national park is a home of about 19 habituated gorilla families which are found in four sectors including Rushaga sector in the south, Buhoma sector in the north, Nkuringo sector in the south and Ruhija sector in the east.
Mubare gorilla family
Mubare is the oldest gorilla family located in Buhoma sector northern part of the park. The group derived its name from Mubare hill where it was first sighted by trackers. Mubare group was habituated in 1998 with 12 members and at the time of habituation it was led by Ruhondeza silverback which later died in 2013. Mubare group is now comprised of 9 members including one silverback.
Habinyanja gorilla family
Habinyanja group is found in the Buhoma sector northern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park. The group was habituated from 1997 and opened for trekking in 1999 under the leadership of Mugurusi silverback with other 30 members. Habinyanja gorilla family was first sighted at around the swamp called Nyanja which means water. The group had leadership fights because at the time of Mugurusi’s death, the family had three silverbacks namely Rwansigazi, Mwirima, Makara which were waiting to succeed the father. After Mugurusi had died the family was led by two silverbacks Rwansigazi and Mwirima but due to differences the two brothers separated in 2002 and the group that stayed with Rwansigazi remained with the name Habinyanja and the group and a group that went with Mwirima was called Rushegura. Habinyanja family is now comprised of 18 members including 2 silverbacks.
Rushegura gorilla family
Rushegura is one of the habituated gorilla families situated in Buhoma sector northern part of the park. The gorilla group split from Habinyanja family in 2002 under the leadership of Mwirima silverback. Rushegura gorilla family is now dominated by Kabukojo silverback. The gorilla group is comprised of 16 members including 1 silverback, 3 black backs, 1 sub-adult male, four females, three juveniles and three infants and 1 baby.
Katwe gorilla family
Katwe is one of the new introduced gorilla families to trek in Buhoma sector northern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park. The gorilla group was open for trekking in 2018 and it’s comprised of 8 individuals including 2 black backs, 4 adult females and 2 infants.
Bitukura gorilla family
Bitukura is a gorilla group that is located in Ruhija sector eastern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park. It derives its name from a river where it was first sighted by trackers. Bitukura was habituated in July 2007 and opened for tracking in October 2008 hence the only gorilla family that was habituated for a short period of time. The gorilla group is known as the peaceful gorilla group and is made up of 14 family members including 4 silverbacks with Ndahura as the dominant silverback.
Oruzogo gorilla family
Oruzogo gorilla family is located in Ruhija sector Eastern part of the park. The gorilla family was opened for trekking in 2012 and is comprised of 23 members and dominated by Tibirikwata silverback.
Kyaguriro gorilla family
Kyaguriro is one of the habituated gorilla families in Ruhija sector eastern side of the park. The gorilla group was first habituated in 1995 and reserved for research.at the time of habituation the group was under the leadership of Zeus who was over thrown by his rival and banished into the forest where he later died in exile. The group is now comprised of 20 individuals.
Mukiza gorilla family
Mukiza is spit from Kyaguriro A and it’s therefore known as Kyaguriro B. the gorilla group is situated in Ruhija sector and was habituated in 2016. Mukiza gorilla family is known for moving to the inner areas in the forest. The gorilla group is comprised of 13 individuals including 6 adult females, 2 sub adults, 1 silverback Mukiza which is also the dominant leader of the group, 1 juvenile and 3 infants.
Nshongi gorilla family
Nshongi is a gorilla family that is located in Rushaga sector southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park. The gorilla group derives its name from a close river where it was first sighted by trackers. Nshongi gorilla family was habituated in 2007 and opened for trekking in 2009 and was the largest gorilla family after habituation with about 36 individuals and later broke up to from Bweza and Mishaya gorilla families. Nshongi gorilla family is currently comprised of 25 members including one silverback, 3 sub silverbacks, 4 black backs, 7 adult females, 4 infants and 6 juveniles.
Bweza gorilla family
Bweza gorilla group broke away from Nshongi gorilla family in 2013 with 8 members. Bweza gorilla family is dominated by Bweza silverback and it’s comprised of 9 members.
Mishaya gorilla family
Mishaya gorilla group split from Nshongi gorilla family with 7 members due to fights in 2010 and was named after the dominant leader Mishaya who later died in 2014. Mishaya gorilla family is currently made up of 12 members including Mwine the dominant silverback.
Kahungye gorilla family
Kahungye gorilla group derives its name from a hill called Kahungye where it was first sighted by trackers after habituation. Kahungye gorilla family was open for habituation in 2011 in Rushaga sector and was comprised of 27 members but due to fights the group is now comprised of 13 members including the dominant silverback Rumansi.
Busingye gorilla family
Busingye gorilla family is located in Rushaga sector and broke away from Kahungye family in 2012 with 7 members under the leadership of Busingye silverback. Busingye gorilla family is now comprised of 9 members including the dominant silverback.
Bikingi gorilla family
Bikingi gorilla family was habituated in 2012 after a follow up exercise was made after some members in Mishaya group had disappeared. Mishaya gorilla group is found in Rushaga sector and comprised of 18 members including 1 silverback, 2 sub adults, 3 juveniles, 5 adult females and 7 infants.
Rwigi gorilla family
Rwigi is the newest gorilla family in Rushaga sector that split from Kahungye gorilla family after misunderstandings. The gorilla family was named after the dominant silverback and is comprised of 6 members including 1 silverback, 1 baby, 2 juveniles and 3 adult females.
Mucunguzi gorilla family
Mucunguzi is a gorilla group in Rushaga sector that was named after the dominant silverback Mucunguzi which means savior. Mucunguzi was the third and youngest silverback in Bweza gorilla family which later left to form its own family and the gorilla family is now comprised of 10 members.
Nkuringo gorilla family
Nkuringo is the oldest gorilla group to be habituated in Nkuringo sector southern park of Bwindi impenetrable national park. Nkuringo gorilla family was named after a local hill called Nkuringo where it was first sighted by trackers. The gorilla group was habituated in 2004 and had 17 members under the dominant leader Nkuringo which died four years later leaving two sons Rafiki a Swahili word meaning friend and Safari. Nkuringo gorilla family is currently comprised of 19 members including 2 silverbacks.
Christmas gorilla family
Christmas is one of the new habituated gorilla families in Nkuringo sector that was introduced for trekking alongside Katwe gorilla family in Buhoma sector. Christmas gorilla family was named after the dominant silverback called Christmas which was born on Christmas day. The gorilla family is comprised of 9 members but 6 members are the ones which are usually seen during trekking.
Bushaho gorilla family
Bushaho is a gorilla family was habituated the same time with Bikingi gorilla family in Rushaga sector in 2012. Bushaho gorilla family is headed by Bahati silverback which came from Nkuringo gorilla family. The gorilla group derives its name from a place where it was first sighted and it’s comprised of 11 members including 1 silverback, 1 black back, 2 semi adult females, 3 infants and 4 adults.
Bwindi impenetrable national park harbors 19 habituated gorilla families and the number keeps on increasing therefore in case you want to visit any of the gorilla families in the park, you can contact our experienced tour consultants or book a gorilla trekking safari from the website for exciting and lifetime memories.
