Gorilla Tracking Families in Uganda

Gorilla Tracking Families in Uganda

Gorilla tracking in Uganda is done in habituated gorilla families that are made familiar to the presence of humans. Uganda has almost half the number of mountain gorillas in the world which live in families under the leadership of a silverback which is the dominant male. Lately about 10 gorilla groups are open for tourism in Uganda. In the northern sector of Bwindi is Habinyanja Gorilla family, Mubare gorilla family, Rushegura gorilla group, Bitukura gorilla family and Oruzogo gorilla group. In the southern side is Mishaya gorilla family, Nkuringo gorilla group, Kahungye gorilla family, Nshongi gorilla family, Busingye gorilla family, and Bweza gorilla family plus Kyaguriro gorilla family which is open for Research.

Habinyanja Gorilla Family

Group population:  It has 19 gorilla tracking family members that is to say 1 silverback called Rwatsingazi, 5 adult females, 4 sub adults, 3 juveniles and 6 infants.

This family is under the command of Rwatsingazi who is the dominant silverback. However the females also have Kisho as the alpha female. This group was the largest ever habituated family in Bwindi but in 2002, the original Habinyanja group separated into two, known then as Habinyanja “A” and Habinyanja “B”. Unfortunately the family separated after and Habinyanja “A” migrated to the outskirts of the Bwindi forest National Park into the Democratic Republic of Congo but because of the political insurgencies in DR.Congo, they where they forced to return to Uganda. The Habinyanja “A” group is currently known as Rushegura. Read more

Rushegura Gorilla Family

Group population: It is composed of 17 Members of with 1 silverback, called Mwirima, 2 blackbacks, 3 adult females, 5 Juveniles and 6 infants

This group was part of the former Habinyanja gorilla family but broke away after the disagreement between the two brothers Mwirima and Rwatsingazi. This family is the closest to the tracking area in that at times the seen roam around close by lodge premises. Can you imagine a gorilla piping through your window.  Read more

Mubare gorilla family

Group population: It is composed of 9 members with 1 Silverback, 2 black back, 2 adult females, 1 sub adult and 3 infants.

It is the oldest habituated family in Bwindi national park after fully gazetting Bwindi national park in 1993. The family was habituated while under the leadership of Ruhondeza who meet his death in July 2012 after vigorous fight with a wild family. By the time of habituation, the group had 12 gorilla members who met destabilising conditions in the wilderness that lead to the separation of the family. By the time of Ruhondeza’s death, the gorilla family had only 5 members and after his death only 4 members remained. In this short period, his successor has been very vibrant in restoring the family victory by Read more

Nkuringo Gorilla Family

Group population: It is made up 14 members with 4 silverbacks, 2 black backs, 3 adult females, 0 sub adults, 2 juvinilles, 3 infants.

Nkuringo gorilla group is situated in the southern sector of Bwindi national park. Nkuringo locally means a round hill. During the time of habituation, Nkuringo was the dominant silverback but died in 2008. The family was opened for tourism in 2004 after habituation. It was one of the lucky communities to have twin mountain gorillas named Muhozi and Katungi but these unfortunately passed way   Read more

Nshongi Gorilla Family

Group population: The family has 7 members with 1 silverback Nshongi, 4 silverbacks and 2 Adult females.

This family was launched and opened for tourism in September 2009 with about 18 members but with many silverbacks. Because each silverback felt like taking independent decisions by mid 2012, the family broke into other families like Bweza gorilla family. The family acquired its name from  Read more

Kahungye Gorilla Family

Group population: It is composed of 18 members with 2 silverback but the dominant male is Gwigi, 3 black backs, 4 adult females, 1 sub adults, 3 juviniles and 5 infants’ silverbacks.

The family was habituated in 2011with Gwigi and the dominant male. It is found in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Kahungye hills from which the family gets its name.

Bitukura group Family:

Group population: It is made up of 12 members with 4 silverback, 1 blackback, 1 sub adult, 2 juviniles and 1 infant

In 2007, Bitukura gorilla family was opened for tourism but there habituation was not long since it was a break away family from an already habituated group. Normal habitation is for about 2 years but this family was under the watch of UWA rangers for about 15 months.