Gorilla Families Bwindi Forest

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to approximately half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population. There are several gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, each with their unique characteristics and social dynamics. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a protected area located in southwestern Uganda, on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. It covers an area of about 331 square kilometers and is one of the most biologically diverse areas on the planet, with a wide range of flora and fauna.

The park is home to approximately half of the world’s remaining population of mountain gorillas, which are listed as critically endangered. Visitors to the park can go on guided tours to see the gorillas in their natural habitat, but these tours are strictly regulated to minimize the impact on the gorillas and their habitat. In addition to the mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is also home to a variety of other primates, including chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys. The park is also home to over 350 species of birds, making it a popular destination for birdwatchers.

The landscape of the park is characterized by steep hills, valleys, and dense forests, which can be challenging to navigate. However, the rugged terrain has helped to protect the park’s wildlife and ecosystem from human encroachment and development. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is also an important source of income for the local communities living around the park. Tourism provides jobs and income for local guides, porters, and hotel staff, as well as generating revenue for community development projects.

Overall, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a unique and important conservation area, providing a habitat for endangered species and supporting the livelihoods of local communities. It is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in wildlife conservation and Ecotourism.

Here are some of the well-known gorilla families in Bwindi National Park:

1. Mubare Gorilla Family: This was the first habituated gorilla family in Buhoma side of Bwindi National Park in 1998. It was named after the Mubare Hills where it was first sighted. It is made up of 9 members including one silverback.

2. Habinyanja Gorilla Family: This is one of the largest gorilla families in Buhoma side of Bwindi National Park and was first visited by tourists in 1999, with 17 members, including one silverback. The group is known for being active and playful. Visitors tracking this family need about 3 to 8 hours and its easier if they stay at a lodging in Buhoma side.

3. Rushegura Gorilla Family: This is a peaceful family with 19 members, including one silverback. The group is known for being friendly and accepting of visitors. This family was put together in 2002 after one of the silverbacks from Habinyanja group decided to fall apart. The Rushegura name is derived from Ebishegura, a tree species common within the family’s territory. It’s always said that they are not usually far away from Buhoma village and sometimes even move through the gardens of Gorilla Forest Camp.

4. Nkuringo Family: This is a strong family with 19 members, including two silverbacks. The group is known for its spectacular views, as it lives on the slopes of a volcano. The family was habituated in 2008 to all the community around them gain from tourism and economic opportunities.

5. Bitukura Family: This family is in Ruhija side of Bwindi impenetrable National Park. It’s made up of 14 members, including four silverbacks. The group is known for its tight-knit social structure and the group is led by Ndahura who took over from now the retired karamuzi. The habituation process for this family took only 15 months.

6. Oruzogo Gorilla Family: This is a relatively new family in Ruhija side of Bwindi National Park. It was habituated in 2011. It is made up of 25 members, including two silverbacks. The group is known for its active and playful behavior. This family is popularly known for foraging and feeding on vegetation dominated by ALCHORNEA HITELA plant locally known as Oruzogo upon which family name comes from. For visitors who want to track the gorillas have to be in Ruhija as early as 6:30am latest.

7. Katwe Gollira Family: This is a newer family with 7members including 1 silverback. It’s located in Buhoma side of Bwindi National Park with 3 years of habituation experience.

8. Muyambi Gollira Family: this family was launched in 2019 with 7 members headed by one silverback Muyambi. It’s located in Buhoma side. These gorillas spend most of their time eating, resting, communicating and moving in the trees and on the ground. The group is blessed with a new member who arrived in 2020.The Kahungye Gorilla Family is currently made up of approximately 13 members, including 3 silverbacks, several adult females, juveniles, and infants. The dominant silverback is named Rumansi and he is estimated to be around 31 years old. The other two silverbacks are called Rwigi and Tabu, and they are estimated to be around 24 and 20 years old respectively.

9. The Kahungye Gorilla Family is known for its calm nature and impressive size. It is considered to be one of the larger gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and visitors who have tracked the group often report that they are well-behaved and easy to observe. Tracking the Kahungye Gorilla Family is a popular activity for tourists visiting Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, as it offers a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with these amazing primates in their natural habitat. However, visitors are required to obtain a permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority in order to participate in the gorilla tracking activities.

10. The Nshongi gorilla family is one of the habituated mountain gorilla groups found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda. The group was named after the Nshongi River where they were first sighted. Nshongi is a formidable leader who has managed to keep his family together despite of all challenges from rival groups.

The Nshongi gorilla family is known for its large size, consisting of 25 members, including 4 silverbacks, several females, and juveniles. The Nshongi gorilla family was habituated for tourism in 2009, and since then, visitors have been able to trek through the forest to observe and interact with the gorillas in their natural habitat. The experience of tracking the Nshongi gorilla family is a unique and unforgettable one, providing visitors with a rare opportunity to see these magnificent creatures up close and personal.

The conservation of the Nshongi gorilla family and other mountain gorilla groups in Bwindi impenetrable national park is critical for their survival, as they are an endangered species facing threats from habitat loss, poaching, and disease. The park and its conservation efforts are vital to protecting these amazing creatures for future generations to enjoy.

The Kyaguriro Gorilla Family is one of the gorilla families that can be found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. The family is named after the Kyaguriro sub-region of Bwindi where it was first habituated for tourism purposes. The Kyaguriro Gorilla Family consists of 16 members, including 2 silverbacks, several adult females, juveniles, and infants. The family is known for being relatively calm and friendly towards visitors, which makes it a popular choice for gorilla trekking.

The Rwigi gorilla family is one of the habituated gorilla groups that can be found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in southwestern Uganda. This family is named after the dominant silverback male, Rwigi, who leads the group. The Rwigi family consists of approximately 11 members, including several adult females, juveniles, and infants. The family is known to inhabit the Buhoma sector of Bwindi National Park, and they can sometimes be found in the nearby Rushaga sector as well.

The Muchunguzi gorilla family is one of the habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in southwestern Uganda. The group was named after a river that flows through its territory. The Mucunguzi family is relatively small compared to some other gorilla groups in the park with only about 10 members including a dominant silverback named Muchunguzi. The group is known for its playful juveniles and the calm demeanor of its Silverback.

The Mukiza gorilla family is one of the habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. The group is named after its dominant silverback Mukiza who took over leadership of the group after the previous silverback Rukina died in 2013. The Mukiza family is composed of about 10 individuals, including the silverback Mukiza, several adult females, and their offspring. The group is known for its playful and curious juveniles, who often interact with visitors during gorilla trekking experiences.

The Bushaho gorilla family is one of the habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is located in Nkuringo area. The family is named after the dominant silverback male, Bushaho, who leads the group. The Bushaho gorilla family consists of about 8 members, including 1 silverback,3 adult females, and juveniles. The family is known for its playful and curious nature, and they can often be seen interacting with each other and exploring their forest habitat.

The Mishaya gorilla family is one of the habituated gorilla families in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in Rushanga. The Mishaya family is relatively new, having been formed in 2010 when a number of gorillas from the Nshongi family split off and formed their own group. Currently, the Mishaya family has around 12 members, including a silverback named Mishaya. The family is known for being particularly active and playful, which makes them a popular choice for gorilla trekking tours in the park.

Busingye Gorilla family is one of the habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park located in Rushanga southwestern Uganda. The family is named after its dominant silverback, Busingye, which means “peaceful” in the local language. The Busingye family was formed in 2012 when Busingye, who was previously part of another gorilla family, broke off and formed his own group.

As of my knowledge cutoff in 2021, the family consisted of 9 members, including Busingye, 3 adult females, 2 juveniles, and 3 infants. Busingye is known for his calm demeanor and gentle nature, which has helped to keep the group together, reduce conflicts and is fondly known for foraging within the inner forest and very rarely comes toward the park edge.