Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in western Uganda on the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley, encompassing the Kabale, Kanungu, and Kisoro districts. Bwindi is home to approximately 459 mountain gorillas in 25 groups that are led by dominant silverbacks, offering unique trekking and habituation experiences for tourists. Mountain Gorilla trekking and Mountain Gorilla Habituation activities both involve serching of the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats, but only differ in terms of the time given to tourists to spend in the presence of gorilla families once encountered. For Mountain gorilla trekking, tourists or visitors are given not more than 1 hour, and for Mountain gorilla habituation, tourists are given not more than 4 hours. The park, divided into four sectors, features specific mountain gorilla families residing in each sector, making it a prime destination for wildlife enthusiasts. These sectors include the Buhoma sector, Rushaga sector, Ruhija sector, and the Nkuringo sector. As you continue reading, below are the Mountain gorilla families that are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Buhoma Sector of Bwindi
Mubare Gorilla Family
Mubare Gorilla Family is the first ever tracked mountain gorilla group in Uganda and is found or can be trekked in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi. This group has approximately 6 to 7 mountain gorillas, once led by a dominant silverback called or named Ruhondeza, who was known for his intolerance for other males and taking good care of his group members, but died of natural death, and Kanyonyi, another silverback, took over the group, who was latter over throne by the current leader or silver back called Maraya.
Habinyanja Gorilla Family
Habinyanja Gorilla family is located in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi, with approximately 18 mountain gorillas commonly known for its adventurous nature or roaming around led by dominant silverback Makara. At first, it was a large group but due to power fights, it was divided into two groups led by different silverbacks.
Rushegera Gorilla Family
The Rushegera gorilla group was first habituated in the in 2000; this group has about 19 mountain gorilla members and is also found in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi. known to be a humble and harmonious gorilla group led by a dominant and protective silverback called Mwirima, who has fought a number of wars with the wild groups protecting its family. Recentlya nuber of times, this group has been seen crossing over to the Democratic Republic of Congo but has now permanently settled in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Katwe Gorilla Family
Katwe Gorilla Family is one of the newest habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi, made up of about 7 mountain gorillas led by a dominant silverback called Mahanne. It is believed to have gorillas that came from the Mubare group, the oldest habituated group in Bwindi.
Other Mountain gorilla families in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi include the Muyambi gorilla family, the Binyindo gorilla group, and the Kanywanyi gorilla group.
The Ruhija sector of Bwindi
Bitukura Gorilla Family
The Bitukura Gorilla Family is tracked or found in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi and is composed of about 14 Mountain gorillas. The Bitukura gorilla family is very Unique from other gorilla families in Bwindi in a way that it was only habituated for about 15 months before being opened for tourism, unlike other groups that are habituated for about 2 years before being opened for tourism. Bitukura gorilla family has about 4 silverbacks and is led by a dominant and protective silverback called Ndahura, the second youngest among the silverbacks, who got his leadership after silverback Kalamuzi, who retired after leading for about 40 years.
Mukiza Gorilla Family
Also found and can be tracked in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi, originally known as the Kyaguliro group or gorilla family, before it was separated into two groups after the death of their leader, who was called Rukina. After splitting away from the Kyaguliro gorilla group or family, this group is now being headed or led by silver back called Mukiza studdied by an anthropology group called the Max Planck Institute(MPI).
Happy Gorilla Family
Happy gorilla family or gorilla group can also be found or tracked in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi, made up of approximately 5 mountain gorillas. It takes tourists or visitors about 3 to 6 hours to locate or find this mountain gorilla group, and just like its name, Happy gorilla family, indeed, this gorilla family is filled with happy group members from the adults to the young ones.
Oruzogo Gorilla Family
Led by a dominant silverback called Tibirikwata, the Oruzogo gorilla group or family is made up or composed of about 16 gorillas. The Oruzogo gorilla group or family happens to be among the most visited or trekked family in Bwindi due to its playful and energetic juveniles that this group has.
Rushaga Sector of Bwindi
Nshongi Gorilla Family
Nshongi gorilla family is made up of about 18 mountain gorillas and was once the largest habituated gorilla family with approximately 36 gorillas in the year 2009, led by 4 dorminant silver back gorillas and lived in harmony. This group was named after the Nshongi river where the gorilla family was first spotted. This group first split in the year 2010 and was left with about 26 group members, and later on split in the year 2013, leaving with the current 18 group members.
Mishaya Gorilla Family
Mishaya gorilla family or group is found or can be tracked in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi and is made up of about 7 mountain gorillas, led by a dominant silverback called Mishaya, a good fighter who broke away or separated from the Nshongi gorilla group and managed to form his own group. Other gorilla families found or trekked in the Rushaga sector include the Bikingi gorilla group, Bweza gorilla group, Mucunguzi gorilla group, Kutu gorilla group, Rwigi gorilla group, Busingye gorilla group, Kahubgye gorilla group, and Tindatine gorilla family.
Nkuringo Sector of Bwindi
Nkuringo Gorilla Family
Found or can be tracked in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi, this gorilla family was named after the round hill where it was first spotted or found, and the name (Nkuringo) is a Rukiga word which means round hill. Nkuringo gorilla group is composed or made up of a bout 19 mountain gorillas and is now led by two silverbacks called Safari and Rafiki, who took over after the death of silverback Nkuringo in the year 2008.
Christmas Gorilla Family
The Christmas gorilla family or group was named after its silverback leader, Christmas, who was born on Christmas Day. This mountain gorilla group or family is composed of a bout 6 members.
Other mountain gorilla groups found in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi include the Posho gorilla family and the Bushaho gorilla family.
In conclusion, each Mountain gorilla family has an interesting story to be told a bout, a different trekking route leading, different characters, and a different experience to offer to its visitors or tourists. Also, remember to book with us as early as possible for your gorilla permits to avoid inconveniences during your safari.