Habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Mubare Gorilla Family

Located in Buhoma with 8- members and 1-silverback. First ever habituated group in Uganda. It was open to tourism in 1993. Its name is derived from Mubare hill deep in the forest. Originally the group consisted 18-members led by Ruhondeza who unfortunately in March 2012 was attacked by a group of wild gorillas who dethroned him as group leader and took away some of the females from the group. Ruhondeza died few months later on the 27^th– June – 2012. Ruhondeza was succeeded by Kanyonyi who has managed to expand the family to 9-members including baby kashundwe.

Habinyanja gorilla group

This family was first habituated in 1997 and was later open to tourists two years later in 1999. The name Habinyanja originated from a Rukiga word for a “place with water” called “nyaja” and thus the group was named Habinyanja because it was first sighted next to a swamp in bwindi impenetrable forest. First silver back gorilla at the time of habituation was Mugurusi who later passed away because of old age. He was succeeded by two of his sons Rwansigazi and Mwirima who shared power until they decided to pat ways in 2002 because Rwansigazi was adventurous and Mwirima was the exact opposite as he preferred staying in known and familiar grounds. The group that stayed with Rwansigazi retained the name Habinyanja while the group that stayed with Mwirima was named the Rushegura gorilla family.

Rushegura gorilla family

Located in Buhoma and consists of 19 members headed by one silver back Mwirima. This group was named Rushegura as this was the place where the group split from the Habinyanja group back then in February 2002. At the time of the break away from the Habinyanja the group consisted of 7 – members led Mwirima the silver back and by April 2010 they had increased to 19 – members. This group is known to cross over to the Democratic Republic of Congo but often come back to bwindi. It’s very close and friendly to human beings

Bitukura gorilla family

Located in Ruhija sector of bwindi impenetrable forest, this family of gorillas consists of 14 – members including 4 silver backs. As all groups were named that is according to where they were first sighted, this group was named Bitukura after it was first sighted next to a river in bwindi forest called Bitukura. Habituation for this group started in July 2007 took 15 – months and in October of 2008 the group was open to tourists. Originally the group consisted of 24 – members but as the years passed by the number reduced to 14 – members. With four silver backs in the group Ndahura, the second youngest of the silver backs in the group took over as leader of the group from Karamuzi who had led the group for over forty years. In April 2013 Ruhara one of the adult female gorillas in the group gave birth to a baby gorilla who is fathered and tightly guarded by Ndahura the leader of the group.

Nkuringo gorilla family

Located in Nkuringo this band of gorillas consists of 19 – gorillas including two silverbacks. Habituation of this group started in 2002 and was completed in 2004. It was named Nkuringo meaning a round hill as they were first sighted next to hill. Nkuringo the silver back was the first leader of the group but later died in April 2008 leaving behind two silver backs Rafiki and Safari. Safari, son to Nkuringo took over as leader of the band. The seven months that followed saw the family welcome twin baby gorillas Katungi and Muhozi given birth to by mother Kwitonda but as destiny had it Katungi died at one and half years from some unknown illness. 

Nshongi Gorilla Family

Located in the Rushaga sector this band of gorillas consists of 26 gorillas including 4 – silver backs. The word Nshongi is derived from the word “omushongi gwoboki” meaning honey. Because there were found by the river with the mentioned name the group’s name was thus derived from the river’s name. Habituation for this group started in 2007 and it opened for tourism in 2009. At the time of habituation the group consisted of 36 members which made it the largest group ever to be habituated. It consisted of three silver backs and seven black heads. Unfortunately in July 2010 the group separated to create yet another band of gorilla called the Mishaya group which was composed of 10 members. The remaining 26 gorillas including the four silver backs remained in the being called the Nshongi Gorilla Family.

Kyaguriro gorilla family

Found in the in the Ruhija sector this band of gorillas consists of 15 members two of which are silverbacks. This group is habituated but is not used for tourism. It is instead used to do research about the rare mountain gorilla by conservationists. At the time of habituation this group was led by Zeus who unfortunately died in exile after being banished from the band by Rukina his rival.

Nyakagezi gorilla family

Found in Mgahinga National Park, this band of gorillas has 10 – members 2 – of which are silver backs. It is the only band of gorillas in Mgahinga National Parks and Mark is the dominant silver back. This group is known for keeping its self in between the three borders of Uganda, Rwanda, and Democratic Republic of Congo but lately has been much around Uganda since the November of 2013. An addition to the group was a new baby gorilla in May 2013. Because this group migrates most of time to both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, it makes it unpredictable to track and so booking of permits is only possible at the park head quarters of Uganda Wild Life Authority.

Busingye gorilla family

Located in the Rushaga sector this band of gorillas has 9 – members one being a silverback. This band was named Busingye meaning peace which is quite contradicting because Busingye the dominant silverback is known for his legendary fights with other gorilla band. Like some of the other groups this band of gorillas also broke ways from the Kahungye gorilla family led by Busingye the dominant silver back to form the Busingye gorilla family.

Bweza gorilla family

Like the previous band the Bweza gorilla family is found in the Rushaga sector with nine members one being a silver back. This group separated from Mishaya band and as it is known the Mishaya band separated from the Nshongi band of gorillas. The Bweza Gorilla Family was open for tourism in December of 2012.

Kahungye gorilla family

Also located in the Rushaga sector this group has 13 – members with 3 – silverbacks. This group was open for tourism in 2011 and a year later the group split to create the Busingye gorilla family. Initially before separation the group consisted of 27 individuals including 3 – silver backs. Currently the group is led by Gwigi meaning door in the local language.

Mishaya gorilla family

Found in the Rushaga sector this group has 12 – members, one silverback included. This group was originally part of the Nshongi group. In July of 2010 Mishaya a silver back in the Nshongi group split away from the family to create his own family which he later managed to expand currently to 12 – members himself included by gathering females from other Gorilla groups

Oruzogo gorilla family

This group is found in the Ruhija sector and consists of 25 – gorillas with two silverbacks included. This was the second group to be habituated in the Ruhija sector and is led by Tibirikwata the silverback. The family was open to tourism around June of 2011. It has experienced significant growth especially through births like when Ntamurungi gave birth to a baby gorilla in June of 2011 and also when Musi gave birth in the October of 2011 just about the same year. In March of the following year 2012 Kakoba a female in the group gave birth to twins bringing about more joy in the family.

Four areas in Uganda where to track gorilla

•  Buhoma in bwindi impenetrable forest
•  Ruhija area of bwindi impenetrable forest
• Rushaga area of bwindi impenetrable forest
•  Nkuringo area of bwindi impenetrable forest
•  Mgahinga Gorilla Park

For prepackaged gorilla safaris visit www.equatorialwildsafaris.com