Gorilla Groups in Uganda – Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park

Gorilla Groups in Uganda – Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park

Gorilla Groups in Uganda – Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park. Interested in knowing about all the gorilla groups in Uganda? Or want to know which is the best Uganda gorilla group to Trek? Uganda has a total number of 14 habituated gorilla families with each group comprising of 10 to 40 members of varying ages headed by a silverback gorillas (the oldest male) in the group. Bwindi impenetrable forest hosts 12 habituated gorilla groups groups and 2 more families available for gorilla habituation experience. Only 8 Gorilla permits  are availableeach day for each gorilla group. Gorilla families are given names depending on their formation history, group location and name of the dominant silverback.

Mgahinga national park hosts just one Uganda gorilla family – the Nyakagezi group. Few visitors go to Mgahinga for gorilla tours despite having one of the the largest gorilla families anywhere around. Mgahinga Gorilla park is the best place to go for Gorilla habituation experience. Detailed information for each of Uganda’s  mountain gorilla groups are summarized in the following paragraphs. Briefly, the gorilla groups in Uganda are:-

1. Mubare Gorilla Family – Buhoma (Bwindi)
2. Habinyanja Gorilla Family – Buhoma (Bwindi)
3. Rushegura Gorilla Family – Buhoma (Bwindi)
4. Bitukura Gorilla Family- Ruhija (Bwindi)
5. Oruzogo Gorilla Family – Ruhija (Bwindi)
6. Nkuringo Gorilla Family – Nkuringo (Bwindi)
7. Nshongi Gorilla Family – Rushaga (Bwindi)
8. Mishaya Gorilla Family – Rushaga (Bwindi)
9. Kahungye Gorilla Family – Rushaga (Bwindi)
10. Bweza Gorilla Family- Rushaga (Bwindi)
11. Busingye Gorilla Family – Rushaga (Bwindi)
12. Kyaguriro Gorilla Family – (Ruhija)
13. Nyakagezi Gorilla Family – (Mgahinga)
14. Gorilla Families in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park

Mubare Gorilla Family – Buhoma (Bwindi)

Because of their location, this is the easiest family to track in Bwindi. The name Mubare originated from the first gorilla trackers in the area. The group currently contains 8 members led by Kanyonyi.  This is the oldest gorilla group in Uganda and opened back in 1993. Initially under the leadership of Ruhondeza, the group has decreased in number over the years from 18 members when first sighted. Infighting, death and member migration to other groups left about 5 by 2012.

Ruhondeza’s leadership ended when another group attacked and took away his females in 2012. Ruhondeza lived for over 50 years and continued to be monitored by researches till his death. His grave is marked and can be located by a guide.

Habinyanja Gorilla Family – Buhoma (Bwindi)

Gorilla Groups in Uganda – Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park. This gorilla group ranks among the very first to open to tourists. The group contains 17 members and the current silverback, Makara, leads them after replacing Habinyanja. Conservationists first habituated the group in 1997 under the leadership of silverback Mugurisi, also known as “Old Man.” Researchers named the group “Habinyanja,” meaning “place with water” in Rukiga, because they first spotted them near a swamp in Bwindi.

After Mugurisi passed away from old age, his two brothers, Rwansigazi and Mwirima, assumed leadership, each displaying distinct personalities. Mwirima preferred to stay within a specific range, while Rwansigazi roamed across different sections of the forest. In 2002, the brothers peacefully split the group: Rwansigazi led part of the gorillas, keeping the name “Habinyanja,” while Mwirima’s group became known as the Rushegura family.

Rushegura Gorilla Family – Buhoma (Bwindi)

The Rushegura group contains 19 members, including one silverback. Conservationists formed this group in 2002 when Rwansigazi and Mwirima split from the larger Habinyanja group. Researchers named the group “Rushegura” after Ebishegura, a tree species common within the family’s territory.

Mwirima has built a stable and calm family, and under his leadership, the group grew from 12 to 19 members by April 2010. At about 25 years old, Mwirima demonstrates strength and dominance, confronting wild groups that challenge his authority without hesitation. Because of their stability and calm nature, the gorillas do not shy away from people and often appear around lodge gardens, offering visitors remarkable viewing opportunities.

Bitukura Gorilla Family- Ruhija (Bwindi)

The Bitukura Family now has 14 members, down from its original 24. Silverback Ndahura leads the group after taking over from the now-retired Karamuzi. The family, which also includes three other silverbacks, takes its name from a river near their territory. While habituation for mountain gorillas usually takes two or more years, researchers completed the process with this family in just 15 months. Visitors first entered the group in October 2008, but the gorillas had already interacted frequently with park rangers whenever they mingled with the already-habituated Kyaguriro family.

Oruzogo Gorilla Family – Ruhija (Bwindi)

With 25, members, this is a large group by usual standards. It is the second family in the Ruhija area and includes two silverbacks. Tibirikwata leads the group that first opened to visitors in 2011. The group has grown and is much loved by visitors because of its playful youngsters resulting from several births from the females Ntamurungi (June 2011), Musi (October 2011), and Kakoba (March 2012).

Nkuringo Gorilla Family – Nkuringo (Bwindi)

Nkuringo the great silverback initially led this group that now includes 19 individuals. After his death in 2008, he left two silverbacks Rafiki and Safari. Safari, his son took over from him. The group was first spotted near a round hill hence the name “Nkuringo” in Rukiga. Because the group lived near the villages outside the park, they had frequent encounters with humans and often sneaked to eat crops hence having creating conflicts. It was decided to habituate the group in 2008 to allow the community gain from tourism and see the conservation of gorillas as bringing economic opportunities to them.

Nshongi Gorilla Family – Rushaga (Bwindi)

When conservationists opened the group to visitors in 2009, the Nshongi family had 37 members, making it the largest mountain gorilla group ever habituated. Today, the family has 26 members, including four silverbacks. Researchers named the group “Nshongi” after a nearby river, noting its deep honey-like color.

When tourists first visited in September 2009, the family stood out for its unusually large size. Before the group split in 2010, the gorillas lived together peacefully despite having multiple silverbacks. After the split, dominant silverback Nshongi retained 26 members, while silverback Mishaya led 10 individuals to form a new group.

Mishaya Gorilla Family – Rushaga (Bwindi)

When Mishaya left Nshongi in 2010, he developed a reputation of starting fights with other gorilla families not only to protect his own, but to also steal females from neighbors. He succeeded in gathering a few females but was wounded in one of the fights with a wild gorilla family (not habituated). Luckily he was treated by gorilla conservation doctors nearby. The group now has 12 individuals with Mishaya the only dominant silverback.

Kahungye Gorilla Family – Rushaga (Bwindi)

This group contains 13 members including 3 silverbacks led by Rumansi. Ruhamuka and Rwigi are the other old males. The group was only recently (2011) opened for visitors. The group had 27 members when habituated but split shortly after creating another group Busingye. The Kahungye group is led by “Gwigi” (door in the local dialect).

Bweza Gorilla Family- Rushaga (Bwindi)

This group was opened to visitors in 2012. The group evolves from the Nshongi gorilla family which was the largest family ever habituated in Bwindi. When Silverback Mishaya separated from Nshongi in 2010, Bweza left him two years later (2012) with six members. The group contains 9 individuals still led by Bweza.

Busingye Gorilla Family – Rushaga (Bwindi)

Conservationists opened this group to visitors in 2013. Silverback Busingye leads the group of nine members after splitting from the Kahungye family in 2012. Although his name means “peace,” Busingye often engages in fights and steals females from neighboring gorilla groups. He displays ambition and dominance, seizing every opportunity to assert his power.

Kyaguriro Gorilla Family – (Ruhija)

The Kyaguriro group contains 15 members, led by Rukina, who seized power from the old Zeus. Conservationists set this group apart for research and allow visitors only limited access. Researchers have made interesting discoveries by studying the group, revealing behavioral differences between gorilla families in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo..

Gorilla Families in Mgahinga National Park

Nyakagezi Gorilla Family – (Mgahinga)

Mgahinga National Park hosts only one habituated gorilla group. Silverback Mark leads this group of 10, which also includes two other silverbacks. The gorillas move unpredictably and often travel between Rwanda and Congo, making it difficult for visitors to track them. Although the group currently stays in Uganda, tourists must contact park authorities through their tour operators to learn the gorillas’ exact location.