Full List of Mountain Gorilla Families in Uganda 2023
Full List of Mountain Gorilla Families in Uganda 2023 at Bwindi Forest & Mgahinga that can be trekked. Full List of Mountain Gorilla Families in Uganda 2023 are distributed into four different sectors i.e Rushaga, Ruhija, Nuringo and Buhoma.
The Mountain Gorilla Families of Uganda are trekked and watched at Bwindi Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park both located in the South Western Part of Uganda.
Trekking these majestic Mountain Gorillas in the green forest vegetation takes you aa period of 3 to 5 hours depending on the current location pf the mountain Gorillas in their natural vegetation habitat.
Other than trekking them, travelers can engage in the habituation experience where they get to spend a longer time with the Gorillas in their natural habitat the Rushage Sector of Bwindi Forest National Park.
Other countries where you can watch the Mountain Gorillas in Africa include; Rwanda at Volcanoes National Park, DR Congo’s Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park.
On a daily, 8 Gorilla Trekking Permits are offered for trekking the Gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Forest National Park & Mgahinga National Park . Trekking the Gorillas requires you to be in groups of 8 with a lead park ranger guide.
Mountain Gorilla Families of Bwindi forest National Park and Mgahinga
There are four sectors in Bwindi Forest National Park where you can trek the Gorillas and these include;
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Rushaga Sector
There are five Gorilla Groups you can trek in this region and these include; Nshongi Gorilla Group, Kahungye Gorilla Group, Bweza Gorilla Group, Busingye Gorilla Group and the Mishaya Gorilla Group.
Nshongi Gorilla Group
Nshongi Gorilla Groups has twenty six (26) individuals with four (4) silverbacks and was named after the Nshongi River and is open to be trekked by all travelers from all over the world. Due to the battles that took place, the group split into two with Silverback Mishaya leaving with some adult females and Gorillas to form his own group.
Mishaya Gorilla Group
Mishaya Gorilla Group has twelve individuals with one lead Silverback who fought the silverback of Nshongi Gorilla Group to form his own group. The Group has adult females, Blackbucks, infants and Juveniles gorillas. However, Misahaya fought with another male Gorilla which led to the split off the group making kahungye to form his own group.
Kahungye Gorilla Group
Kahungye Gorilla group comprises of thirteen Mountain Gorillas with 3 Silverbacks and one ruling. The Group has Silverback Gorillas, Adult Females, Blackbucks, Infant Gorillas and Juveniles. Today the dominant Silverback Gwigi leads the group. Due to the battles in the groups the group split leading to the formation of Bweza Gorilla Group.
Bweza Gorilla Group
Bweza Gorilla Group includes; Nine gorilla Individuals with a lead Silverback and this split from the Nshongi Gorilla Group forming the Bweza Gorilla Group under the leadership of silverback bweza.
Busingye Gorilla Group
Busingye Gorilla Group includes of Nine individuals with one lead silverback. Busingye Gorilla Group split from the kahungye Gorilla Group where Silverback Busingye fought with Kahungye hence making him starts his own group i.e Busingye Gorilla Group which is known to be peaceful.
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Buhoma Sector
The Buhoma Sector has three Mountain Gorilla Groups that are trekked here and these include; Mubare Gorilla Group, Habinyanja Gorilla Group, Rushegura Gorilla Group.
Mubare Gorilla Group
Mubare Gorilla Group comprises of nine individuals with a lead Silverback Gorilla
And these Mountain Gorillas are known to move around the Mubare Hill located in the depths of Bwindi Forest National Park. The Park comprises of 18 individuals with Silverback Ruhondeza leading the group.
This silverback was known to be gentle mannered although very lazy as a leader hence being called a ‘sleepy fellow’.
Habinyanja Gorilla Group
Habinyanja Gorilla Group comprises of Seventeen members with two Silverbacks and was named Habinyanja after being seen around a river the first Day. The dominant Silverback of the group was Mugurusi who died due to old age then his two brothers Mwirima and Rwansigazi took over the leadership.
The brothers later split peacefully then Silverback Mwirima formed the Rushegura Gorilla Group while Silverback Rwansigazi remained as the dominant Silverback of the Habinyanja Gorilla Group.
Silverback Rwansigazi fought with Makara who won taking leadership making silverback Makara become the dominant Silverback of the group today.
Rushegura Gorilla Group
Rushegura Gorilla group comprises of nineteen gorilla individuals with one lead silverback called Mwirima. The Gorilla Group is peaceful and calm as It lives in harmony with the neighboring villages. It includes of a Silverback , adult females, blackbucks, infants and juveniles.
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Nkuringo Sector
Nkuringo Gorilla Group
Nkuringo Gorilla Group comprises of nineteen individuals with 2 silverbacks and lives around a round hill and is known to move towards the lower slopes in the communities close. The group was led by Silverback Nkuringo who died and left the leadership with Silverback Rafiki who transferred leadership to his son Safari.
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Ruhija Sector
Ruhija Sector comprises of the Bitukura Gorilla Group, Oruzogo Gorilla Group and Kyaguriro Gorilla Group.
Bitukura Gorilla Group
Bitukura Gorilla Group comprises of fourteen Gorilla individuals with four silverbacks and was named after River Bitukura which is found in the Ruhija sector. Before, the group comprised of 24 members but as the years went by, they reduced to 14 members as other left to join other families. It is under the leadership of silverback Ndahura who is not the oldest but rather the second youngest who took power from Silverback Karamuzi who retired after nearly 40 years of leadership.
Oruzogo Gorilla Group
Oruzogo Gorilla Group comprises of twenty five (25) individuals with 2 silverbacks
under the leadership of one dominant one with adult females, blackbucks, infants and juveniles.
Kyaguriro Gorilla Group
Kyaguriro Gorilla Group comprises of fifteen (15) Gorilla individuals with 2 silverbacks Zeus and rukina. Silverback Zeus however was challenged and sent into exile where he died hence leaving power of the group in the hands of silverback Rukina.
Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga National Park comprises of one gorilla trekking family that can be watched by all travelers from all over the world interested in trekking and watching the gorillas in their natural vegetation habitat.
Nyakagezi Gorilla Group
Nyakagezi Gorilla Group comprises of ten (10) individuals with 3 silverbacks with Silverback Mark being the dominant ruling Silverback. The group includes a dominant silverback, adult females, blackbucks, Infants and juveniles.
