Uganda Gorilla Groups
Did you know Uganda’s south-western jungles are some of the best gorilla trekking adventures in Africa? Not only are there four trailheads/sectors where you can catch a glimpse of these Great Apes from, but there are more than half the World’s population of these mountain gorillas.
The 2018 mountain gorilla survey indicated that there are over 459 individuals within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park while Mgahinga Gorilla National Park contained about 80 mountain gorillas, with combined 22 habituated Gorilla Groups in Uganda.
The Four renowned trailheads of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Nkuringo, Buhoma Ruhija and Rushaga) alone offer opportunities of enjoying daily tours for up-close experiences out in the jungle. Of these habituated gorilla groups in Uganda, 21 are in Bwindi then one is found within Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Buhoma Trekking sector
Being the first sector to be established, it is the most popular and has four habituated gorilla groups, that include;
Mubare Group
This was the first Uganda Gorilla Group, established in 1998 and got its name from the hills of Mubare where Park rangers first encountered its members. There were only 12 members led by Ruhondeza at the time of opening but following years of conflicts with other wild silverbacks, a number of its members were killed while others were forcefully taken. Only five members were left but Mubare received more members including another silverback joining the Group. This brought their number to 11 in 2013. At the time of writing, there were about 10 members that include 6 silverbacks, 1 sub-adult female and 3 babies.
Habinyanja Gorilla Group
This was the second gorilla group in Bwindi and Uganda in general, opened for trekking in 1999 with more than 25 members. The name was derived from the phrase “Nyanja”, meaning “water body” owing to the fact that it was first seen around a verdant swamp. During its habituation, the group comprised of strong and fully matured silverbacks, bringing about fights as each one of them wanted to be the head. One of these fights led to the break-away and formation of Rushegura group. There are now about 17 gorillas comprising 1 silverback, 1 blackback, 5 adult females, 1 sub-adult female, 3 juveniles and 6 babies at the time of writing.
Rushegura Group
Originally part of Habinyanja, Rushegura Gorilla Group was opened in 2002 with about 12 members including 5 females. The fights in their natal family (Habinyanja) pushed some strong silverbacks into grabbing some females to form independent groups. The group’s name was derived from the word “Ebishegura”, a local name for the dominant tree specie in their home range. Being one of the easiest-to-trek gorilla groups, it is usually allocated to the elderly, pregnant and travellers with low fitness levels. It now has about 17 members with 1 silverback (named Kabukojo), 4 blackbacks, 4 adult females, 4 juveniles and 4 young gorillas.
Katwe Group
This is one of the newer gorilla Groups in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and was introduced to gorilla tourism in August 2018 after undergoing the 2-3 years habituation process. This Group increased the number of gorilla permits in Buhoma sector after many years of having only 24 gorilla permits. It has only 7 gorillas that include 1 silverback, 2 adult females, 2 blackbacks and 2 young gorillas.
Muyambi Gorilla Group
Having existed since 2019, Muyambi is so far the newest Gorilla Group within Buhoma sector and is also a break-away Group from Habinyanja. One of its milestones is welcoming babies in May 2020, bringing their number to 7 individuals with 1 silverback (named Muyambi), a number of adult females and babies.
Ruhija trekking region
Bitukura Gorilla Family
UWA Park Rangers started Habituation of Bitukura Gorilla Group in 2007 but unlike other Groups that need 2-3 years before being opened for trekking, it only took 15 months. This was possible, given the fact that its members encountered Rangers from time to time before being habituated thus were already accustomed to human presence. Bitukura has 13 members that include 4 silverbacks (led by Ndahura), 4 adult females, 2 juveniles and 3 adorable babies.
Oruzogo Group
This moderate-to-trek group was opened in 2011 and is popular for foraging around areas dominated by Alchornea hitela, locally known as “Oruzogo” in the Rukiga dialect.
In the past, this gorilla group was renowned for its playful babies that have now grown into juveniles. The 17-member group is made up of 2 silverbacks, 5 adult females, 2 sub-adult females, 2 blackbacks and a number of juveniles.
Kyaguliro Group
The Kyaguliro Group is not visited but reserved for Research purposes and was first spotted in 1995. At the time of formation, It was under the leadership of Rukina, a popular silverback that lost his life to lightning. This led the group under the care of a young and amateur silverback known as “Mukiza”.
Given his wanting leadership, it wasn’t long before his group was ambushed by a more matured immigrating silverback (Rukara) from Bitukura Group. The later became the dominant silverback thus making Mukiza to leave with some members to form his own Group, named after him.
Mukiza Gorilla Group
This is the most recent Gorilla Group in Ruhija sector and was opened in 2015 after the exit of silverback Mukiza. After the fight with a stronger immigrating silverback (Rukara), Mukiza felt he had lost authority over Kyaguliro, prompting him to form his own Group. It was named after him and now there are 10 individuals that include 1 silverback, 4 adult females, 1 sub-adult female and 4 babies.
Rushaga trekking sector
Nshongi Group
Nshongi was once the largest Gorilla Group in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with over 32 members. The group however lost most of its members to fights that led to the establishment of other gorilla Groups
Nshongi came to public notice in 2009 and was named after the beautiful River that drains through its home range. Mishaya was the first group to be formed from here in 2010 after one of the silverbacks left with some gorillas hence leaving behind only 26 individuals.
Another silverback-Bweza also left with more members leaving only about 15 individuals behind. After welcoming a baby into Nshongi in May 2020 and several deaths, the number now stands at 10 members that include 1 silverback, 3 adult females, 1 sub-adult female, 2 juveniles as well as 3 infants.
Bikingi Gorilla Group
Bikingi Gorilla Group came into existence in 2012, after being sighted several times by UWA Park Rangers within Rushaga sector. It is originally a breakaway group from Mishaya family and other non-habituated members who were roaming independently. There are 15 members that comprise 1 silverback, 5 adult females, 2 sub-adult females, 2 juveniles and 5 baby gorillas.
Mishaya Gorilla Group
This group was named after its founding silverback-Mishaya. It is said that he left his natal family (Nshongi) in July 2010 but after several fights with silverback Nshongi. Mishaya left with a number of adult females, added some non-habituated gorillas to the group to make 12 members.
However, he lost his life in 2014 and Mwine- an inexperienced blackback at the time took over leadership of Mishaya Gorilla Group.
Kahungye Group
Kahungye Gorilla Group received its first visitors in 2011, comprising of 29 members that included 3 silverbacks. Following intra-silverback rivalry, the group was split into two. The outstanding Busingye Group was born from here when one of the silverbacks left with a number of females. There are now 17 members that comprise 3 silverbacks, 3 adult females, 3 sub-adult females, 3 blackbacks, 3 juveniles and 2 babies.
Busingye Family
Busingye was formed from Kahungye Gorilla group was came into public notice 2012 under the leadership of silverback Busingye. The Group name means “peace” in the local dialect, owing to the calm nature of its dominant silverback. It is currently made up of 9 members that include 1 silverback, 3adult females, 1 juvenile and 4 infants.
Bweza Group
This Group was formed from the once large and mighty Nshongi after one of the silverbacks known (Mishaya) grabbed some members in 2010 that included Bweza. Two years after settling with Mishaya, Bweza also decided to grab some members to start his own group. Interestingly, these two gorilla groups have still maintained a close contact after separation. Because of this, Park Rangers thought they would reunite but this didn’t happen until the group was opened for trekking in 2014.
Kutu Gorilla Group
This is another newer gorilla group within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, but limited information is provided on Kutu Group. However, there are about 10 members that include 1 silverback (named Kutu), 4 adult females, 3 blackbacks and 2 babies.
Rwigi Gorilla Group
This 10-member Gorilla Group is another of the newest ones in Bwindi. Its existence was as a result of breaking-away from Kahungye, also found in Rushaga sector. Its formation was from the conflicts that happened between silverbacks. This prompted Rwigi to leave with some adult females as well as juveniles to form this outstanding group.
Mucunguzi Gorilla Group
Mucunguzi” means “savior” or “redeemer” in the local Rukiga dialect and was named after the founding silverback. Interestingly, it was formed by the youngest silverback in Bweza Gorilla Family who left his natal group with some adult females. There are now 8 members including one silverback.
Nkuringo Trekking sector
Nkuringo Gorilla Group
Being the first habituated gorilla group in the sector, it was opened for trekking in 2004. His group derived its name from the round hills where its 17 members were first encountered by Park Rangers. One of the most serious blows to the group is the passing of its dominant silverback (Rafiki) on the 1st of June 2020.
After his passing, the group was left under the leadership of Rwamutwe (a strong blackback) and there are now 11 members that include 2 adult females, 2 blackbacks, 2 sub-adult females, 3 juveniles and 2 babies.
Bushaho Gorilla Group
Bushaho Gorilla Group was first encountered in 2012, following the walk-away of silverback Bahati from Nkuringo Group. It took the Park Rangers a while to notice his absence after a search for his members was launched. UWA Rangers found him wandering with some members and the group was later habituated and named Bushaho.
Christmas Gorilla Group
Christmas was started in 2019, making it one of the newest Gorilla Groups found within Bwindi. It has about 9 members, but only 6 of these gorillas are normally encountered during gorilla treks. These are 1 silverback (named Christmas because he was born during the festive season), 3 adult females, 1 blackback and 1 baby.
Gorilla Group in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Nyakagezi Gorilla Group
The tinny Mgahinga Gorilla National Park features only one habituated Gorilla group named “Nyakagezi”. It is popular for ranging within a vast area, even to neighboring Protected Areas of Volcanoes and Virunga National Parks. It welcomed a baby in May 2013 and there are about 10 members that include 4 silverbacks, 2 adult females, 2 juveniles and 2 babies.