Bwindi Gorilla Families.
Bwindi gorilla families are groups of mountain gorillas that live together as a family in different gorilla groups under the head of the family, offspring and the female. They do grow as they produce and take care of each other.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is renowned in the entire world as the home of half the remaining mountain gorillas, with over 500 of the 800 individuals that still exist in the world.
The park is located in the southwestern region of Uganda on the rim of the Great Rift Valley on a total land measuring 321 square kilometres, close to the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo and next to Virunga National Park. Note that Uganda is gifted with two habitats of these great apes, which are Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
However, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers the highest number of mountain gorilla families as compared to other national parks such as Mgahinga, Virunga National Park in Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Bwindi is the world’s premium safari destination for mountain gorilla trekking, inhabiting half of the total population of mountain gorillas. Note, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has over 36 gorilla families that are both habituated and not.
Bwindi Gorilla Families
This national park has over 19 habituated gorilla families that are officially open to gorilla trekking. Since Bwindi National Park comprises four different gorilla trekking sectors, which include the Buhoma sector, Ruhija sector, Nkuringo sector and Rushaga sector, these are the sectors where these habituated gorilla families are located. It’s the traveller’s choice of selection from which gorilla family to track.
Below are the habituated mountain gorilla families in Bwindi, where a traveller can have a choice of trekking on a Uganda gorilla safari.
Buhoma Sector-habituated gorilla families include:
- Habinyanja gorilla family
The Habinyanja gorilla family sits in the Buhoma sector with a total of 18 members, comprised of 2 silverbacks. It was fully inhabited in 1997. But more fights in this group led to separation among the group and the formation of another family called Rushegura.
- Mubare gorilla family
The Mubare gorilla family is found in the Buhoma sector on the northern side of the park. This gorilla family is the oldest habituated gorilla family in Uganda, which began with 12 members and today has only 9 members, including 1 silverback, the head of the group. It was opened for tourism in 1991.
- Rushegura gorilla family
The Rushegura gorilla family sits in the Buhoma sector with a number of 19 members, including 1 silverback. This is a gorilla family which was formed in 2002 with Mwirima silverback as the head of the family, but after it broke off from the Habinyanja gorilla family. However, Mwirima died in 2014, leaving the group to be headed by Kabukojo.
- Katwe gorilla family
The Katwe gorilla family is the newest family that sits in the Buhoma region on the northern side of the park. The family offers one dominant silverback, 2 blackbacks, 2 infants and 4 adult females. This family was officially open for tourism in 2018.
Nkuringo Sector habituated Gorilla Families;
The Nkuringo gorilla family sits in the Nkuringo region with 19 members, including 2 silverbacks. This group at first was led by one silverback, Nkuringo, who died in 2008, leaving behind 2 more silverbacks. The Nkuringo family was gifted with twins, Muhoozi and Katungi. Unfortunately, Katungi passed away before the age of two.
- Christmas gorilla family
The Christmas gorilla family sits in the Nkuringo sector and is the newest family, with 9 members, one dominant silverback known as Christmas, a blessed creature which was born on Christmas Day.
- Bushaho gorilla family
The Bushaho gorilla family sits in the southern region of Nkuringo with 8 members, including 1 silverback known as Bahits, who separated from the Nkuringo group.
Ruhija sector-habituated gorilla families include:
- Bitukura gorilla family
The Bitukura gorilla family sits in the Ruhija sector with a number of 14 members, with 4 silverbacks. This group was the fastest-growing habituated group, which took only 15 months to be done with, and it was open to trekking in soon after.
- Oruzogo gorilla family
The Oruzogo gorilla family sits in the Ruhija sector with 23 members, including one silverback. This family was open for tourism in 2011 and marks every playful juvenile.
- Kyaguriro gorilla family
The Kyaguriro gorilla family offers 20 individuals and sits in the Ruhija sector. It was established in 1995 for research purposes. The current leader of the family is Rukina, after Mukiza, who left the group to form his own family.
- Mukiza gorilla family
The Mukiza gorilla family sits in the Ruhija sector. The family was formed after one of the silverbacks in Kyaguriro separated to form his own family. This gorilla family has 10 members.
Rushaga sector-habituated gorilla families include:
- Nshongi gorilla family
The Nshongi gorilla family is found in the Rushaga region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, with 18 members, and officially opened for trekking on 26th September 2009. This was the largest among other habituated gorilla families, with 36 members. However, the group split, ending up forming new groups.
- Mishaya gorilla family
The Mishaya gorilla family was formed after separating from the Nshongi gorilla family in 2010. This group began with 7 members, but with Mishaya’s aggressiveness. Today, the group comprises 12 members.
- Bweza gorilla group
The Bweza gorilla group was formed after splitting from Nshongi. Bweza, as head silverback, broke away with 6 members but has, for today, made up a total of 11 members.
- Kahungye gorilla family
The Kahungye gorilla family was officially launched for tourism in 2011, with a total of 27 members who split into two to make the Busingye gorilla family. After splitting into two, it now has a total of 17 members with 3 silverbacks called Rumansi, 3 blackbacks, 6 females, 3 juveniles and 2 infants.
- Busingye gorilla family
The Busingye gorilla family sits in Rushaga with 9 members, including 1 silverback. It’s the newest group that broke away from the Kahungye family in June 2012.
- Bikyingi gorilla family
The Bikyingi gorilla group is also found in the Rushaga sector with a total of 21 members. The family came into existence after some individuals from Mishaya came together with other wild gorillas to make their own family. The group was then opened up for habituation. Bikyingi is a head silverback in this family and is so friendly to all his young ones.
- Rwigi gorilla family
The Rwigi gorilla family is another newly habituated gorilla family in the Rushaga sector with 6 members, led by Rwigi the silverback gorilla. This group split from the Kahungye group.
- Mucunguzi gorilla family
The Mucunguzi gorilla family also sits in the Rushaga sector with 8 members. The family is dominantly female. This group broke away from the Bweza family after a serious fight. Mucunguzi is the head of this family, and the word ‘Mucunguzi‘ means ‘saviour‘.
Above are the fabulous habituated Bwindi gorilla families, which are open all year round for travellers who enjoy getting excited with nature’s creatures, most especially the mountain gorillas. And here in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is so rewarding, as you can come face to face with your closest relative in the mist. The number of gorillas keeps increasing each year.
Best Time to See Bwindi Gorilla Families
The perfect time to do gorilla trekking at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is during the dry seasons, which are from June to September and December to February. At this time of the year, the forest paths are less slippery, and generally, the whole gorilla trekking activity (seeing gorilla families) is usually comfortable and safe.
The other times of the year, from March to May and October to November, are the rainy seasons when the forest looks green and fresh and there are fewer tourists; however, the paths may be muddy and quite physically demanding. Ecological conditions which favour Uganda gorilla sightings are met in both seasons; however, those who prefer easier and less risky walks should go for the dry months.
How to Get to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is in southwestern Uganda, and visitors can get there either by road or by air. By road, it is common for travellers to drive from Kampala or Entebbe, and the trip takes about 8-10 hours, passing through beautiful countryside, small villages, and hills.
If you want to be quicker, you can also take a domestic flight from Entebbe or Kampala to Kisoro or Kabale airstrips, then a brief drive to the park headquarters. Travel agencies and local tour operators usually take care of everything, such as transport, park permits, and accommodation, so going gorilla trekking is no hassle at all.
Conclusion
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a place around which a great experience, such as gorilla family spotting, revolves, an experience that, once enjoyed, is unforgettable. You can get there by road or air and when in the park, you are assured of activities that are both fun and safe, thanks to the well-organised trekking routes and the expert guides. Trekking with gorillas is an activity that brings adventure, wildlife watching, and conservation education together, thus creating a very good memory to be cherished from any Uganda safari as well as a deeply satisfying experience for nature lovers and adventure seekers.
Book now and encounter the most incredible and emotional gorilla trekking activity on the planet. Uganda gorilla trekking permits can be got at $800 per person per trek, and you can be captivated by one or more gorilla groups on a Uganda gorilla safari destination.
