Gorilla Families In Uganda

When it comes to gorilla safaris in Uganda or Rwanda, first you should have an idea of which gorilla group/family to visit. A total of about 21 habituated gorilla families do exist in Uganda and they are distributed in 2 National Parks: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (with 20 families) and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (1 group). Here is detailed information about each of the gorilla families in Uganda;

Mubare gorilla group

Mubare is located in Buhoma and it is amazing the oldest/first Uganda family to open for gorilla trekking. The group was officially opened to trackers in 1993 after undergoing 2 years of habituation. It derives its name from Mubare hill where trackers spotted its members from. Kanyonyi took over the leadership of the family succeeding Ruhondeza. The group started with a composition of only 12 members and as of 2012, their numbers drastically decreased as a result of death and migration.

Habinyanja family

Habinyanja gorilla group is a gorilla family located in Buhoma and has over 17 mountain gorillas. This family is led by Makara and it is among the groups that were habituated in 1997. It takes its name from the word Habinyanja which is translated as a place with water in Rukiga- the group was spotted in an area/swamp in Bwindi. The family was initially led by Mugurisi who was later replaced by Mwirima and Ransigazi.

Rushegura gorilla family

Rushegura family is found in Buhoma, a family with 19 mountain gorillas and one dominant silverback. The group was formed after the break-off of Mwirima and Rwansigazi from the Habinyanja family in 2002. It takes its name from Ebishegura, a tree species that is found in its home range. Mwirima was capable of creating a stable and calm group and by 2010, its composition increased from 12 members to 19.

Bitukura family

Bitukura family is a gorilla family roaming freely in the Ruhija sector. The group is comprised of 14 individuals and it is under the leadership of Ndahura silverback who succeeded Karamuzi. It takes its name from the river around its home range and it is a family that lasted only 15 months it was opened for gorilla trekking.

Katwe family

Katwe is a newly formed group in the Buhoma sector (Bwindi) and comprises 7 individuals. This family opened for tracking in 2018 and now makes Buhoma a sector with four groups.

Oruzogo

Oruzogo is perhaps the biggest gorilla family comprising 25 individuals. The family is headed by Tibirikwata and officially opened for tracking in 2011. The family has kept on expanding since its habituation with new birth recorded in 2011, and 2012.

Kyaguriro

This family has 10 individuals and it is led by Rukara silverback. Rukara shared the same group with two black backs. Habituation of Kyaguriro began in 1995 and it is one group that you can visit for research purposes.

Mukiza group family

Located in the Ruhija sector, Mukiza is a newly created family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It has 10 members and broke off from the Kyaguriro group.

Nkuringo

The Nkuringo family is found in the Nkuringo sector, a sector that is most known for its challenging gorilla treks. The group is comprised of 19 members and it was led by Nkuringo silverback who passed on in 2008, then succeeded by Rafiki who was killed by poachers and now it is headed by Rwamutwe silverback.

Mishaya

Mishaya’s family left the Nshongi group in 2010 after serious fights. Mishaya silverback went with Nshongi’s members to create his own group. Mishaya now has a composition of 12 individuals.

Nshongi family

Nshongi family opened for tourism in 2009 comprising 37 members. The group’s members were reduced to 26 and consisted of 4 silverbacks. The group was initially spotted near the Nshongi river hence its name. The group was left with 26 members after breaking off from Mishaya with some of its members.

Kahungye group

The Kahungye family is found in Rushaga, a gorilla family with 13 members. The group comprised of 3 silverbacks including Rumansi, Rwigi, and Ruhamuka. Some of the silverbacks have left creating other families. Kahungye currently has 13 gorillas reducing from the original 27 members.

Bweza

The Bweza gorilla family officially opened for tracking in 2012. The group was once a member of the Nshongi group which further split when Mishaya left in 2010 and in 2012, Bweza also left with 6 gorillas. This family now has a total of about nine mountain gorillas under the leadership of Bweza.

Busingye

Busingye family opened for tourism in 2013 and the group features 9 individuals. It broke off from the Kahungye group in 2012 and its name denotes peace. Regardless of its name, the Busingye silverback is popular for its fighting and stealing habits.

Kutu

Kutu group is another newly created family and it is found in the Rushaga sector. The group was set for a gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi.

Rwigi family

Rwigi is among the 9 habituated families in the Rushaga area. It broke away from Kahungye with Rwigi silverback being its leader. He developed a misunderstanding with Kahungye silverbacks thus creating his family.

Mucunguzi group

Mucunguzi roams freely in the Rushaga area and takes its name from the local word “Mucunguzi” meaning savior. It split off from the Bweza family and now has 8 gorillas.

Bushaho family

This group comprised 8 mountain gorillas and was led by a Bahati silverback. It was among the families designated for gorilla habituation but officially opened for gorilla trekking in the Nkuringo sector.

Bikingi

The Bikingi family features 15 members and 1 silverback gorilla. These creatures roam freely in the Rushaga region and are separated from the Mishaya family.

Nyakagezi

Nyakagezi family roams freely in Mgahinga NP. It is the only family to be tracked in Mgahinga National Park and it is led by Mark silverback. Treks to see this group begin at Ntebeko.