Bwindi impenetrable national forest lies on the edge of the western rift valley in south southwestern part of Uganda. This park is famous for its mountain Gorilla harbouring half of the percentage in the world roaming freely in the great rainforests. These mountain gorillas consist of 98.9 % of the human DNA and they are referred to as Man’s closest cousins since their intelligence, behaviour and physical structure resembles that of man.
There are four locations for gorilla trekking in Uganda in Bwindi impenetrable national park and these include Buhoma in the northern region, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the southern area and Ruhija in the eastern region. Each gorilla sector has families of its own. The gorillas are wild animals and they keep moving any time they feel like. The silver back is also free to move and break away from the family to form a new family. Below are the gorilla families in the four sectors of Bwindi’s impenetrable forest.
BUHOMA SECTOR
A gorilla safari in Buhoma sector is unforgettable and a lifetime experience at a low investment of 700 dollars beginning 1 July of 2020. The Buhoma sector is located in the northern region of the Kanungu district. It’s the first major sector of Bwindi to be opened for gorilla tracking and it consists of the oldest habituated family known as Mubare followed by other families resulting from separation and breakaway due to different reasons in the group. Buhoma sector gorilla families include;
Mubare gorilla family
This is the first gorilla group to be formed in 1993 in Bwindi impenetrable forest in Mubare and the first group to be tracked by the first tracking team. The group derived its name from a word stone according to their local language: “Mubare”. This group consisted of 18 members during the time of habituation under the leadership of Ruhondenza a silverback. Back then the family encountered raids from gorilla hunters and it was the role of Ruhondenza to fight for the group. Despite his old age, he tried hard to fight back to protect the endangered species but he was overpowered due to his old age. This created sorrow and sadness in his heart which caused his death in the sleep thinking he failed his family. He was later succeeded by Alpha Silverback called Kanyonyi
Habinyanja gorilla family
This group is also located in the northern region of Bwindi impenetrable forest and was established in 1997 receiving its first trekking visitors in 1999. Habinyanja got its name from a swamp in the forest and the name Nyanja means water hence Habinyanja. This group consisted of 17 members led by a dominant silverback called Muguri meaning an old man and this group had two silverbacks. The of Muguri due to his old age led to the rise of two strong brothers mwirima and Rwansigazi who inherited the group. These two brothers had different motives which created a misunderstanding whereby Mwirima cherished staying in close range with the group while Rwansigazi adored travelling. In 2002 the group separated leaving Habinyanja in the hands of Mwirima and Rwansigazi donated his group under a silverback called Makara
Rushegura gorilla family
This is another group in the northern region of Bwindi impenetrable forest. This habituated group currently comprises 15 members consisting of a silverback, three blackbacks, three juveniles, three infants, one sub-adult and four adult mountain gorillas with a newborn making 16 members. This group was opened for Gorilla tracking to visitors in 2002 and history has it broke angry from Habinyanja under Mwirima silver back and currently Kabukonjo.
Katwe gorilla family
This is a newly habituated group in Bwindi impenetrable national park in Buhoma. Gorilla tracking is a process of taming Wild Mountain gorillas to get used to human encounters. Information has it that it took up to 3 years to habituate this endangered species which comprises two babies, four adult females and a dominant silverback.
NKURINGO SECTOR
Nkuringo gorilla family
Nkuringo gorilla family is situated in the southern region of Bwindi impenetrable forest in the Kisoro district. Nkuringo sector derived its name from round hills and the sector was established in 2004. It offers the most satisfying lifetime experience though it has disturbing trails. This family was led by the Alpha Silverback who died at the end of the habituation leaving behind two sons Safari and Rafiki. Safari succeeded the father and took full responsibility for protecting the group.
Bushaho gorilla group
The bushaho gorilla group is found in the southern sector of the Nkuringo region in the Bwindi impenetrable forest. The group currently consists of 9 members led by a dominant silverback. It is believed that this group is yet to expand if there happens to be newly born or other new recruits from unhabituated groups.
Christmas
This sector is the latest gorilla in the southern sector of Nkuringo in Bwindi impenetrable forest. The family comprises of 9 members and 6 members are usually seen roaming. The family also has a leader named Christmas who was named after being born on Christmas day. Members of this group include one black back, two infants and three adult females.
RUHIJA SECTOR
This sector is situated in the eastern area of Bwindi impenetrable national park. Ruhija comprises three gorilla families Oruzogo, Bitukura, Kyaguliro and a newly established family of Mukiza and two habituation families. Ruhija sector receives a few tourists and it offers more eco-tourism experience due to its strategic location. The following are the gorilla families in the eastern region.
Kyaguliro gorilla group
This sector is found in the east of Bwindi impenetrable forest. It was established for research by Bwindi by Max Plank Institute by evolutional of tracking in this sector anthropology requires direct permission from Uganda wildlife authority. Unlike other gorilla families that require 8 trekking tourists, Kyaguliro needs 6 visitors to track the Gorilla. The family consists of 15 members led by Zeus the silverback who died after being banished from the forest by Rukina.
Oruzogo
Oruzogo gorilla family was established in 2011 by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. This group is led by the oldest Gorilla in the family called Tebirikwata which group consists of 25 members including 2 silver backs. The group has kept on enlarging as a result of increased birth rates by Ntumurugi and Musi in a year. There was a joyous moment in the Oruzogo gorilla family in 2013 when Kankoba gave birth to two bouncing twins.
Bitukura gorilla group
This gorilla family shares a close bond of togetherness with the Kyaguliro family. Due to its characteristics of peace and playfulness, nature makes it easier to cooperate with others. This group of 24 members was first sighted at the river 2007 where it’s located. This group comprises four silverbacks. Before leadership was under Karumaji but because of age, Ndahura the second youngest took over to protect the group.
Mukiza gorilla group
This is a new gorilla group in Ruhija the eastern sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest, the gorilla family was established basically for research by the Manx Planc Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. This group broke away from Kyaguliro and is referred to as Kyaguliro B
RUSHAGA GORILLA SECTOR
Rushaga gorilla group is found in the southern region of Bwindi impenetrable national park. Other than gorilla trekking, Rushaga has additional activities such as mountain gorilla habituation experience. This sector includes gorilla families such as Mishaya, Busingye, Kahungye, Rwizi, Bweza, Nshongi, Mucunguzi, Kitu and Bikingi.
Mishaya gorilla group
This group broke away from Nshongi group in 2010 due to misunderstandings under Mishaya the Silverback. Mishaya Silverback is a great fighter in that he managed to split off with some females beginning with a group of seven members which later boosted to 12 including the 3 infants. In 2015 due to constant fights, the group shot down 7 members. Mishaya is famously known for fighting at the same time interacting with other mountain gorilla groups.
Bweza gorilla group
This group in the southern region of Bwindi comprises 7 mountain gorillas including two infants and a silverback. Bweza is the most versatile and interesting gorilla group worth visiting while on a safari to Bwindi’s impenetrable forest and it split from Nshongi gorilla group.
Busingye gorilla group
Busingye means peace but Busingye as a silver back is famous for his legendary fights with other gorilla groups and whenever he comes in contact with a wild group, he recruits a new female from the other group after a merciless struggle. This gorilla group broke off from Kahungye gorilla group in 2012 and it’s composed of 9 mountain gorillas including one silver back, three infants, two adults and many youngsters.
Nshongi gorilla family
This group is led by Nshongi the oldest silverback and is one of the largest habituated gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable forest. This is a unique gorilla group with four silverbacks under Nshongi. In 2010, Nshongi group broke off as the rest went to reunite with their own families remaining with 26 members and then split reducing to 18 members in 2013 leading to the rise of Bweza. Visitors should expect supplements such as forest birds, Apes and butterflies.
Mucunguzi gorilla family
Mucunguzi gorilla group is a newly habituated gorilla family in the Rushaga region of Bwindi impenetrable national park. Mucunguzi is a name that was given to the youngest silverback during the time of the Bweza family. The name Mucunguzi means a savior and this group broke off from the Bweza gorilla group and it’s composed of 8 members.
Kutu gorilla family
Kitu is a new family in the Rushaga gorilla sector which is still under habituation and the best destination group for visitors who wish to embark on gorilla habituation. The group comprises 8 members with one silver back.
Rwigi gorilla family
Among the newly habituated families in the Rushaga gorilla group in Bwindi impenetrable national park, Rwigi is inclusive. This group broke away from Kahungye group and it’s led by Rwigi Silverback consisting of 6 members.
Bikingi gorilla family
This gorilla family is found in the Rushaga area and habituation for the group began in 2012. This group comprises 15 members of late, previously Bikingi was designated for gorilla habituation experience but later opened officially for trekking within in Rushaga region of Bwindi impenetrable national park.
