Gorilla Families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Comprehensive List of Gorilla Families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are the top attractions in Uganda and the star attraction in the park. Many tourists from all over the world embark on a Ugandan trip to meet one of the habituated gorilla families in their natural habitat.
Bwindi National Park protects the highest number of the world’s mountain gorilla population, that is, about 459 out of the estimates 1063 remaining in the world.
Mountain gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are spread in the park’s four major sections, which are Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east, Rushaga in the south, and Nkuringo in the south-western part of the park.
These four sectors in Bwindi National Park are all independent spots for tracking the mountain gorillas with their own habituated gorilla groups and different accommodations ranging from budget, midrange, and budget accommodations.
The four sectors in the Bwindi impenetrable forest have a total of 24 habituated gorilla families available for Uganda gorilla trekking by tourists.
5 new mountain gorilla families were introduced to the park in the sectors of Buhoma, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. The Uganda Wildlife Authority announced on January 17, 2024, that the new other gorilla families had been officially opened for Uganda gorilla trekking.
This allows the Uganda Wildlife Authority now sells 194 gorilla permits per day to track the 24 mountain gorilla families.
They are the Bunyindo and Muyambi families in the Buhoma sector, the Rwigi and Tindatine families in the Rushaga sector, and the Posho family in the Nkuringo sector.
However, you can also encounter two Gorilla groups, which are the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family and Hirwa Family at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park/Mgahinga National Park.
The gorillas are not territorial and are always on the move; therefore, any family can be closer or the furthest gorilla family.
In this article, we discuss the different mountain gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The number of family members in the gorilla families is subject to change because of the new births in the group.
Below, we look at the different mountain gorilla families in the different sectors of the Bwindi impenetrable forest in Uganda.
The Habituated Mountain Gorilla Families in the Different Sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Habituated Mountain Gorilla Families in Buhoma Sector in the North
Buhoma sector in Bwindi National Park is the place where the gorilla habituation experience first began in 1991 and gorilla trekking began in 1993. For 11 more years, Buhoma remained the only trailhead for gorilla trekking, with 6 habituated gorilla families.
The sector of Bwindi National Park is the closest to Queen Elizabeth National Park and has more luxury lodge facilities.
Due to the high demand for Uganda gorilla trekking sometimes, trackers from the Buhoma sector usually go to track the mountain gorillas in the Ruhija sector, which is found 45km in the eastern area of the park.
Mountain Gorilla families in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi National Park include the
- Mubare Gorilla Family
- Habinyanja Gorilla Family
- Rushegura Gorilla Family
- Katwe Gorilla Family
- Muyambi Gorilla Family
- Bunyindo Gorilla Family
Below, we look at each of these Gorilla families
Mubare Gorilla Family
The Mubare Gorilla Family, also known as the M group, was the first habituated gorilla group from 1991 to 1993, when it began being tracked by tourists.
Mubare Gorilla Family was named after the Mubare Hills, and it first had 12 family members until their leader, Ruhondeza, died, and only five members remained in the group. 4 other mountain gorillas, however, joined the group in 2013 to make a total of 9 members.
The Mubare family was also led by Kanyonyi, a dominant silverback in the group. It is easier to track this gorilla group as they usually remain in the northern sector of the northern boundary of the sector.
Mubare was known for infanticide by the ruling silverback to cut out leadership competition at an early age. Maraya leads its own family group.
Habinyanja Gorilla Family
The Habinyanja Gorilla Family is also called the H group and it was among the first gorilla families to be habituated in the Buhoma trailhead in 1997 and first trekked in 1999.
Habinyanja Gorilla Family was discovered near a swamp; thus, the name “Habinyanja” comes from the local word “Nyanja”, meaning “swamp.”
Habinyanja Gorilla Family first had 30 family members and was led by Mukurusi, but when he died, there was a dispute between Rwansigazi and Mwirima, who separated, and the Rushegura Family was formed. Makara the dominant silverback now leads the group.
The Habinyanja Gorilla Family has about 18 members, comprising 2 silverbacks, and they have the largest own family territory in the sector.
Rushegura Gorilla Family
The Rushegura Gorilla Family, which was first habituated in 2000 and received its first visitors in 2002, is also referred to as the R-Group. This habituated group split from the Habinyanja Gorilla Family and it is famous for having a large number of mountain gorillas.
The Rushegura Gorilla Family, which has 21 members, got its name from a tree species known as the “Ebishegura” tree species, which was a common plant in their territory.
It is easier to locate the Rushegura family as they usually live next to the park headquarters, making them the best family for visitors who would like shorter Uganda gorilla trekking experience.
There is, however, no guarantee that the Rushegura family is always available, as they are also a migratory group.
The dominant silverback Kabukojo of the Rushegura family leads this own family group.
The Katwe Family
The Katwe family is one of the newest families in the Buhoma sector; it opened for Uganda gorilla trekking in 2018 and has about 7 members.
They were named after the place where their first habituation took place. It was formerly led by Kanyonyi but is now led by the Mubare group.
Muyambi Gorilla Family
The Muyambi Gorilla Family is home to 7 gorilla families with one silverback called Muyambi, who is their leader. Muyambi was part of the Mubare family but he separated to form his own group/own family, which had new members join in May 2020.
It is one of the new other gorilla families/other gorilla groups that was officially opened for gorilla trekking in 2024.
There are around 8 family members in the group and they are led by a dominant silverback called Muyambi, after whom the group was named.
Bunyindo Gorilla Family
The Bunyndo Gorilla Family is one of the new gorilla families that the Uganda Wildlife Authority announced for official gorilla trekking in January 2024. It is led by a dominant silverback called Bunyindo.
Habituated Mountain Gorilla Families in Ruhija Sector in the East
The Ruhija sector in the eastern part of Bwindi National Park is the easiest sector to access through the Buhoma sector and Kabale District. The Ruhija region is also contiguous with Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Its geographically diverse nature makes it the most suitable place for scientific research and it welcomes extra visitors from the Buhoma sector, especially during the peak season.
This sector of Bwindi National Park protects 3 habituated gorilla groups and it is also the only place in the park to see elephants. Other wildlife in the Ruhija sector includes antelopes and monkeys.
The habituated Gorilla groups in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi National Park are:
- Bitukura Gorilla Family
- Oruzogo Gorilla Family
- Kyaguliro Gorilla Family
- Mukiza Gorilla Family
Read below to find out more about the gorilla families in the Ruhija section.
Bitukura Gorilla Family
The Bitukura Family has about 13 members, including 4 silverbacks. The group was led by Ndahura, who fell from a tree and died in 2016. Bitukura Family was named after the river where they were first spotted and it went through habituation for about 2 years.
They are a united family that holds meetings and were formerly 24; some other mountain gorillas moved to other families. The group is known to have the highest number of males thus the males being tolerant of one another.
The family mostly forages at the Ruhija tourism station or the forest edges.
Oruzogo Gorilla Family
The Oruzogo Gorilla Family began being habituated in 2008 and was first tracked in 2012 and it has 19 members, including 2 silverbacks.
The habituated gorilla family was named after the Alchornea hitela plant, locally known as the Oruzugo plant, which the group mostly feeds on.
The group is led by an alpha silverback called Bakwate.
Gorilla trekking this group is not very challenging, although you will need some strength.
Kyaguliro Family
The Kyaguliro Family is primarily a group for research and its habituation began in 1995. It has about 10 members and it is led by Rukara, a dominant silverback in the group. For years, it was studied by the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Evolutionary Anthropology.
The family was previously led by the silverback Zeus who was overpowered by Rukina. Rukina died in 2015 and the leadership fell on a young inexperienced Mukiza. However, Rukara, a strong dominant silverback joined by attacking Mukiza and taking over leadership, causing the family to split for Mukiza to form his own group/own family.
Consequently, Kyaguliro A remained under Rukara and Kyaguliro B under Mukiza.
Mukiza Family
The Mukiza Family has about 12 members, headed by the dominant silverback Mukiza. The group split from the Kyaguliro group, which was led by Rukina, who died in 2015.
Mukiza formed this group after being attacked by Rukara in the former group but he left with some group members.
Habituated Mountain Gorilla Families in Rushaga Sector in the South
The Rushaga sector of Bwindi National Park began in October 2008 and it has the most gorilla families, that is, 10.
The sector of Bwindi National Park issues gorilla trekking permits for tracking families, as some of the families are in the habituation process. The gorilla habituation experience in Uganda is only possible in the Rushaga sector.
This sector of Bwindi National Park is a great place for enjoying the scenery of the park as it is hilly and is found near Lake Mutanda, one of the two lava lakes found in Uganda. A canoe ride is possible in this lake before or after your gorilla trekking adventure.
The different Gorilla families in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi National Park include
- Nshongi Family
- Mishaya Gorilla Family
- Bweza Gorilla Family
- Bikyingi Gorilla Family
- Kahungye Family
- Busigye Gorilla Family
- Rwigi Gorilla Family
- Kutu Gorilla Family
- Mucunguzi Gorilla Family
- Tindatine Family
Below are detailed facts about these families
Nshongi Group
The Nshongi Gorilla Group was the largest group in Bwindi National Park, with 34 members before the group split to create other families like the present Mishaya gorilla group.
The Nshongi Gorilla family now has about 25 members, including adults, juveniles, infants, blackbacks, and silverbacks, and it is led by Nshongi, one of the 4 silverbacks in the group.
Nshongi Gorilla Family was formed in 2009 and 2010 with habituation beginning in 2006, other members broke off to create the Mishaya family and others broke off from Mishaya in 2013 to form the present Bweza gorilla group.
Mishaya Gorilla Family
Mishaya gorilla group broke off from the Nshongi Gorilla family in 2010 when the silverback Mishaya had conflicts with Nshongi, the leader of the Nsongi gorilla group.
The silverback Mishaya, the leader of the group, is a renowned fighter and an aggressive leader who managed to recruit other females into his group, increasing the number of members to about 12. However, in 2015, the number of members in Mishaya’s group was reduced to about 7 because of the continuous fights with other groups.
After the silverback Mishaya the leader died, many of the members joined other groups especially the Bikingi and Bweza groups.
Bweza Gorilla Family
The Bweza Gorilla Group was also formed from the Nshongi Group, and it has about 12 members, including 3 silverbacks, 4 blackbacks, and 3 adult females.
The group broke off from the Mishaya family with 6 members and they have been available for gorilla trekking since 2014.
This calm family is led by the dominant silverback Kakono and the group loves staying in areas around human communities. Travelers on village walks or around accommodations can easily sight them.
Bikyingi Gorilla Family
This group was formed when some former family members of the Bikingyi Gorilla family were found living together with a wild gorilla family and they were announced for habituation.
The group was named after the place where they were first found, the Bikingyi area, and it has about 15 members, including one dominant silverback called Bikingi, who is the leader of the group.
Habituating this family began in 2012.
Kahungye Family
The Kahungye Gorilla Family has about 14 mountain gorillas, including 2 silverbacks, and it is led by the alpha silverback Ruziika.
Kahungye Gorilla Family was first formed in 2011 and had about 27 members but later split to form the Busingye Gorilla Family in 2012.
Busingye Gorilla Family
The Busingye Gorilla Family has about 12 members, including one silverback gorilla. The silverback Busingye, the leader of the gorilla group, broke off from the Kahungye Gorilla family in 2012 and he has always vigorously added females to his group.
Rwigi Gorilla Family
The Rwigi family is the newest group in the sector and Bwindi National Park. It is led by the dominant silverback Rwigi, after whom the group was named.
The habituated gorilla family has about 6 members.
Kutu Gorilla Family
The Kutu Family has a total of about 8 members, including 1 silverback who is their leader. It is one of the newest families in Rushaga and it is great for habituation.
It was at first designated for research purposes to learn how habituation occurs but was then opened for habituation.
Mucunguzi Family
The Mucunguzi Family is also a new gorilla family in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi National Park. The group split from the Bweza Family and it has 8 members.
It was named after their silverback leader Mucunguzi who also got some members by attacking the Bikingi Gorilla Family and stealing some female members. This makes most of the members females.
The local word “Mucunguzi” means “savior,” and the name was given to one of the young gorillas in the Bweza Family.
Tindatine Gorilla Family
The Tindatine Family is also a new gorilla family to be introduced in the park and was officially announced for gorilla trekking by the Uganda Wildlife Authority in January 2024.
The Tindatine Family broke off from the Shongi Gorilla Family.
Habituated Groups in Nkuringo Sector in the South West
The Nkuringo sector of Bwindi National Park is found in the southwestern part of the park and it is famous for being home to one of the most famous alpha silverbacks, who died in 2020 at the hands of poachers.
This was the second sector of Bwindi National Park to be established in 2004 after the Buhoma sector and it requires one to be more fit during the hike.
Nkuringo has 4 habituated gorilla families; therefore, 24 gorilla permits are available every day.
The Gorilla families in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include
- Nkuringo Gorilla Family
- Bushaho Gorilla Family
- Christmas Gorilla Family
- Posho Family
Below is a detailed explanation of the above Gorilla families
The Nkuringo family was the first family in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi National Park to be habituated in 1997. The Nkuringo Gorilla Family has about 12 members, including the 2 silver backs and it is led by the silver back Rwamutwe.
The local word “Nkuringo” means “round hill” in the local language, a name given to the mountain gorillas to point to the hill where they were first found.
Rafiki, who was the leader of the Nkuringo Gorilla Family was killed in 2020 by poachers at age 25, which led to the displacement of human settlers from the area to create a safe place for the other mountain gorillas.
Before Rafiki, Nkuringi led the group but he died in April 2004. Gorilla trekking with the Nkuringo family is a bit tough, but greatly rewarding.
Bushaho Family
The Bushaho family has about 8 members and is led by a dominant silverback called Bahati. The group broke off from the Nkuringo family when members started walking away one by one to join SB Bahati, a former member who was launching a new group.
Both these families from the Nkuringo family and some members that were not habituated joined the group. The group was named after the place where they were often found feeding.
Consequently, the group was habituated and named the Bushaho group after the place where they forage most and it was opened for gorilla trekking in 2016.
Christmas Gorilla Family
The Christmas group was named after the alpha, Christmas, who was born on Christmas Day, and it has about 9 members, although only 7 are commonly seen.
Posho Family
Posho Family is among Bwindi’s newest gorilla families that were officially introduced for gorilla trekking in January 2024. The family is led by a dominant silverback called Magara, and it has 14 members, which include silverbacks and blackbacks, adult females, juveniles, and infants.
What are the habituated gorilla families in Uganda?
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Gorilla Families include the following
Buhoma Sector of Bwindi National Park
- Mubare Gorilla Family
- Habinyanja Gorilla Family
- Rushegura Gorilla Family
- Katwe Family
- Bunyindo Family
- Muyambi Family
Ruhija Sector of Bwindi National Park
- Bitukura Family
- Oruzogo Gorilla Family
- Kyaguliro Gorilla Family
- Mukiza Family
Rushaga Sector of Bwindi National Park
- Nshongi Group
- Mishaya Gorilla Family
- Kahungye Gorilla Family
- Busingye Gorilla Family
- Bweza Family
- Bikyingi Gorilla Family
- Rwigi Family
- Kutu Family
- Mucunguzi Family
- Tindatine Family
Nkuringo Sector of Bwindi National Park
- Nkuringo Gorilla Family
- Bushaho Family
- Christmas Gorilla Group
- Posho Family
Gorilla Families at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park/Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park/ Mgahinga National Park has two Gorilla groups and these are
- Nyakagezi Gorilla Family in Mgahinga Gorilla Park
- Hirwa Gorilla Group in Mgahinga Gorilla Park
Accommodation While Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi National Park boasts a remarkable number of accommodation options ranging from budget, midrange and luxury as listed below.
Luxury: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, and Buhoma Lodge.
Midrange: Bwindi Engagi Lodge, Agandi Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Mist Camp and Buhoma Community Rest Camp.
Budget: Buhoma Community Bandas, 2 Way Gorilla Resort, Wagtail Eco Safari Camp, Broadbill Forest Camp and Nshongi Campsite, among others.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mountain Gorilla Families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
What are gorilla families like?
The Gorilla families are groups of Gorilla individuals that are led by an Alpha who is usually a silverback. They live, forage and move together as a group.
How many gorilla families are there in Bwindi?
There are about 50 gorilla families in Bwindi National Park and 24 of them are habituated for Gorilla trekking.
How many gorilla families are there in Uganda?
Uganda has a total of 52 gorilla families from both the wild gorilla groups and habituated groups. 50 of these mountain gorilla families are in Bwindi National Park and 2 of them are in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park/Mgahinga National Park.
About 25 of these groups are habituated, with Bwindi National Park protecting 24 habituated groups and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park/Mgahinga National Park protecting 2 of them.
Who is the leader of a gorilla family?
The leader of this primate group is usually the alpha silverback.
How many mountain gorillas are in one family?
The number of mountain gorillas in a gorilla group differs according to the group. They range from 5 to 20 members. Many gorilla families are about 10 in a group.
What kind of family groups do gorillas live in? | What is the family system of gorillas?
The mountain gorillas live in troops that consist of about 1 to 4 adult males (both the silverbacks and the black backs). The family also consists of adult females, juveniles and infants.
Do gorilla families have one male?
Gorilla families usually have more than one male. The males in a family are often between 1 to 4 members.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has the highest number of both wild gorilla groups and habituated Mountain Gorilla families, thus making it the best and most reliable destination for Mountain Gorilla trekking. The experience will allow you to get close and personal with the Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat as you experience being around these human-like gentle giants.
Inquire and book with us your Uganda Mountain Gorilla trekking safari to Bwindi National Park for the best Mountain Gorilla trekking experiences.
