Gorilla groups and families in Uganda & Bwindi impenetrable national park
There are over 15 gorilla groups you can trek in Uganda while on an Engabi Tours and Travel Gorilla Safaris Discovery Trip. There are 12 habituated groups in Bwindi impenetrable Forest and 1 group in Mgahinga Gorilla Park. There are 8 daily visitors that are allowed for each of the groups and you are with the Gorilla Families for a period of 1-2 hours. There are two groups that are undergoing Habituation and can be trekked. The two groups that are undergoing gorilla Habituation can be trekked with the one of a kind and the gorilla Habituation experience program where you are given 4 hours with the gorilla family on an all-day trek.
Meet the Habituated Gorilla Groups of Uganda.
The Gorilla Habituation Experience takes places in the southern Area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the Rushaga- Nkuringo sectors. There are over 4 visitors that are allowed with each group who are with researchers and trekkers. This being not just a Gorilla Visitation and a learning experience. There are 400 mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest and over 80 of them in Mgahinga National Park. The 13 Habituated Gorilla Groups that can be trekked in Uganda translate into 104 Gorilla permits in Uganda per day and the two groups that can be visited on Engabi Tours and Travel Gorilla Habituation Experience and have 15 groups open for trekking with a grand total of 112 permits. With Gorilla Habituation Experience Groups there are only 4 Visitors per group allowed. Rwanda has 80 permits per day.
Where are the Gorilla Habituated Groups in Uganda-Bwindi Impenetrable Forest/Mgahinga National Park found?
Below is a List of the Habituated Gorilla Groups and where they are located. The groups listed below are those currently available for Gorilla Tracking within Uganda
What are the Gorilla in the Buhoma Area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest?
The Buhoma region is the most famous region known for Gorilla Trekking offering the biggest and oldest Gorilla families that have been great grown formed of by our Engabi Tours and Travel tourists that always go to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for Gorilla trekking. Having over 3 gorilla groups that offer the best Uganda Gorilla trekking experience.
Mubare Group
This Mubare group (also called the M-Group) – was the very first group to actually be habituated for tracking by tourists. The habituation started in 1991 and this group received its very first tracking visitors in 1993. Mubare group is actually named after the stunning Mubare Hills in which this group was discovered.
Habinyanja Group
This Habinyanja Group was in 1997 habituated for tracking and received tourists in the year 1999. In the start it was a huge group, however a family was split from it named the Rushegura Group. These two groups crisscross each other now and again and co-exist peacefully.
Rushegura Group
This Rushegura Group was in 2000 habituated for tracking and received tourists in the year 2002. It is a huge group within the Buhoma area of Bwindi Forest.
What are the Gorilla Groups in the Ruhija region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest?
Ruhija region house 5 Gorilla Families is a very special region to visit for a great Gorilla Safari discovery trekking trip to Bwindi impenetrable Forest national park.
The Oruzogo Gorilla Group
The group is located in Ruhija and it has got 17 members. The group can be tracked from the Ruhija area of Bwindi Forest, it’s a larger group of 17 gorillas. The Oruzogo group has become very popular with tourists not just because of the size of the group, but because of the playful energy exhibited by the juveniles and toddlers in the group that keeps visitors entertained, to say the least. In case you want more sleep and rest as well as less driving,
The group started receiving visitors in 2011 and those who came to visit them loved the group. It’s not an extreme trek but you need medium endurance and stamina. The group is led by the Bakwate and there is 1 other silverback, 2 black backs, 5 adult females, 2 sub adults, 1 juvenile and 5 infants.
Bitukura Group
This Bitukura Group is among of the newest groups in Bwindi Forest- it is found and roams the verdant forest within the Ruhija area. There is restricted lodging in this area although that available is offered in moderate plus high-class lodges. Rushaga region of Bwindi Forest – habitat of the Nshongi Group as well as the Mishaya Gorilla Family
Mishaya Group
Following a family dispute- the Mishaya Gorilla family Split from the then biggest Gorilla Group in Bwindi Forest, the Nshongi Gorilla Family which two still live within the Rushaga region in Southern Bwindi Forest.
Nshongi Group
This currently is the biggest habituated gorilla family in Uganda with 25 members, at the opening of the group for visitors after Habituation it comprised of 25, and 10 left to form another family called the Mishaya Group.
Kyaguriro Gorilla Group
It’s located in Ruhija sector and has 20 members. This Kyaguriro A & B group is a family with a history in which a family split.
The continued leadership dormancy struggles from elders silver backs. This fueled a split of the family into two – (Kyaguriro A -Rukara and Kyaguriro B -Mukiza) in May of 2016. The family groups are made of Rukara which is composed of 10 members; 1 silverback, 2 black backs, 3 adult females, 2 juvenile and 2 infants. The second group is called Mukiza and it’s also made of 10 members; 1 silverback, 4 adult females, 1 sub adult as well as 4 infants.’
What are the Gorilla Groups in Rushaga region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest?
Kahungye Gorilla Group
The family is found in Rushaga with 17 members even after a recent split in the family creating the new Busingye Gorilla group. The family is led by Rumanzi and there are a total of 17 individuals that includes 3 silverbacks, 3 black backs, 3 adults, 3 sub adult, 3 juveniles and the two infants. This group was opened for visitors and gorilla tracking in 2011 after being habituated, a process that takes two years. Once again we note that the size of families’ changes, they split, divorce, have feuds and runoff in a huff, while the males may raid another group and grab a few females to come along.
The name Kahungye comes from a hill in the Rushaga area where the gorillas were discovered. The permits for a particular group have to be booked in advance to avoid missing out.
Busingye Gorilla Group
The group is located in Rushaga sector and it has got 9 members. The Busingye gorilla family is a splinter group which is an event that happened in August in 2012. It has got 9 members and among them are the 3 infants and what is called a sub adult. The group has created some excitement in internet forums since it’s a new group opened for tracking. Presently the group is being observed whether there are any signs of a return to the Kahungye Gorilla Group and it seems there is too much bad blood and no sign of reconciliation. The permits for tracking Busingye are being handled by the local Uganda Wildlife Authority office in Rushaga and this will change in the near feature.
Bweza Gorilla Group:
The family is found in Rushaga and has got 12 members and it’s an example of another family feud that leads another new gorilla family setting up household in the Rushaga area of Bwindi Forest. The Bweza Gorilla family is led by the silverback Kakono and is made of 12 individuals including; 2 silverbacks, 4 black backs, 3 adult females, 1 sub-adult, and two infants. This group broke away from the Nshongi Family group because of too many feuds within the group at the end of 2013.
The gorillas can be trekked in the Rushaga area of the park. This is great news as the summer month’s approach which normally means a scarcity of permits. Uganda Wildlife Authority has got more space available for tourists who intend to do gorilla tracking in the southern sector. He advises that the visitors can now book this family because it is one of the versatile and exciting groups one can visit for a memorable time while in Bwindi’s Impenetrable Park for gorilla tourism.
What are the Gorilla Groups in the Nkuringo Region of Bwindi Forest?
The Nkuringo region that is among the more physically challenging although rewarding regions in the of forest to enjoy Gorilla Tracking – habitat to the Nkuringo Gorilla Family that would be so awesome to hiking and adventure loving Engabi Tours and travel Gorilla Safaris discovery tourists.
Nkuringo Gorilla Group:
The Group is located in sector and has got 12 members. Tracking the family takes a bit more energy and stamina. This is the toughest trek in Uganda and has to do with the terrain at the beginning and end of the trek. There are not many complaints about being exhausted. The better word would be exhilarated after the experience of a life time. Even a 94-year-old woman in 2013 completed this trek and fulfilled her lifelong dream of seeing the gorillas in the wild. She was however carried on a stretcher by porters into the forest.
The family is led by the silverback Rafiki and is made up of 12 members with 2 silverbacks, 1 black back, 2 adult females, 2 sub adults, 3 juveniles and 2 infants.
What are the Gorilla Groups in Mgahinga National Park?
Mgahinga National Park.
The Mgahinga National Park is home is 80 gorillas having lots of exciting gorillas to trek while there. Having only 1 Gorilla group Habituated to trek while on Engabi tours and Travel Gorilla Safaris Discovery to Uganda.
The Nyakagezi Gorilla Group.
The family is located in Mgahinga National Park and has got 10 members in total. There are over 80 mountain gorillas that are found in Mgahinga National park. The group migratory spirit with in them and they think that they are frequent travelers, taking off for DRC and Rwanda. But they have not done so in the recent years. They returned to Mgahinga Gorilla Park in 2012 and this time they seem to have discovered home which is Mgahinga National Park.
The Nyakagezi Gorilla family is led by the silverback Mark and composed of 10 members, 5 individuals, 2 adult females, 2 juveniles and 1 infant. There are no new Gorilla Group Families being habituated in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Contact us to book any of the following Gorilla packages;
- 5 Days Gorilla safari
- 5 Days Congo safari
- 8 Days Rwanda Tanzania safari
- 20 Days Uganda Tanzania Safari