RWANDA GORILLA FAMILIES – Volcanoes National Park is home to 10 gorilla groups, with a total of 380 mountain gorillas.
The park is part of the larger Virunga mountain range, which extends into the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and is home to about 500 mountain gorillas in total.
Groups of mountain gorillas live together in families, with one dominant silverback leading the group.
On gorilla tours, the allocation of a gorilla family is based on the preferences, accommodation, and overall fitness of the tourists.
Some gorilla groups live in deep parts of the forest and require longer monitoring. Gorilla families in Rwanda are split into two groups: those used for research purposes and those used for tourism.
The two research groups, Shida and Beetsme, have the highest numbers of individuals.
Eight people are permitted to observe each of the gorilla families in Rwanda.
Two of the mountain gorilla families in Rwanda are reserved for scientific research, while the others are for tourism.
The gorilla groups that are only accessible to researchers and scientists are Pablo’s and Beetsme’s families, which are the largest groups among all the other gorilla groups.
Below are the habituated gorilla groups and the best gorilla families to trek in Rwanda:
Susa Gorilla Group (Susa A Family)
One of the most popular groups of gorillas visited by tourists is the “Susa” group, which was studied by the renowned zoologist Dian Fossey. The name “Susa” was derived from the nearby Susa River.
The group initially numbered 42 members but split into two due to a dispute. Today, the group consists of 28 members, including 3 silverback gorillas.
The Susa group lives high in the mountains, making them difficult to track, which can take up to a full day.
The park rangers are aware of the group’s location but may not allow tourists access to the group on days when the gorillas are too far away.
The famous Susa twins, Byishimo and Impano, are two of the most active and exciting gorillas in the group. If you’re adventurous and fit, this might be the gorilla family for you.
Karisimbi Gorilla Group (Susa-B)
The Karisimbi gorilla group consists of 15 members and is typically found on the slopes of Mount Karisimbi.
This group separated from the Susa-A group after a long conflict, hence the name Susa-B, or more commonly, “Karisimbi.”
It is difficult to track this group of gorillas, and if they venture too far on any given day, the gorilla tracking activities may be canceled.
Trackers usually travel ahead of visitors to confirm the position of the gorillas and then inform colleagues leading the tourists of their location.
If you are in good physical condition and able to make the long hike up the slopes of Karisimbi, you will be rewarded with stunning scenery.
Sabyinyo Gorilla Group
Guhonda is the leader of a small family of about 8 gorillas. He is a 220 kg silverback, considered to be one of the largest in the park.
The name Guhonda comes from the Sabyinyo “Old Man’s Teeth” Volcano around which the group lives.
He has kept the family together by keeping his rival, Ryango, out of the group.
The group includes playful juveniles and is easy to spot as they stay close to the park’s edge, making it a great area for Golden Monkey Trekking in Rwanda.
Amahoro Gorilla Group
The Amahoro gorilla family consists of 17 members led by the dominant silverback, Ubumwe.
The name “Amahoro” means “Peaceful,” and Ubumwe has always shown this quality when leading the group.
Despite losing a few members to another silverback, Charles, who formed the Umubano group, Ubumwe has remained calm and peaceful.
The Amahoro gorillas live on the slopes of Mount Bisoke.
Climbing the steep slope to get to the group is difficult, but visitors love this group for its juveniles, predictability, and calmness.
Umubano Gorilla Group
The name “Umubano” translates to “All-Inclusive.” This family of gorillas used to be part of the Amahoro family until Charles, the leader of the group, broke away from Amahoro’s dominant silverback, Ubumwe.
After years of fighting, Charles took some of the females from the family to form his own.
Today, the Umubano family consists of 11 individuals and 6 youngsters, living in the vicinity of Amahoro.
This group is a popular tourist destination due to the low effort required to get to them and their unique personalities.
Agashya Gorilla Group
This group was referred to as “Group 13” and was led by Nyakairima before Agashya challenged him to a fatal battle, after which he took over the family.
This family takeover was the first one recorded by gorilla researchers.
After moving as far as possible away from Nyakairima, Agashya continued to expand his family by stealing from other groups and attacking loners.
The group lives near the Sabyinyo gorilla group. When Agashya senses trouble, he gathers all members and runs to his favorite safe place up the volcano.
This makes the gorilla group difficult to monitor. The group has grown from 13 to around 25 members.
Kwitonda Gorilla Group
This group consists of 18 individuals, including two silverbacks.
Led by Kwitonda, this group is originally from the Congolese highlands.
They live on the slopes of Mount Muhabura, but they tend to move around a large geographical area, making tracking difficult but exciting.
Hirwa Gorilla Group
This group is relatively new and was formed when some individuals from Group 13 and the Sabyinyo family decided to form their own group.
The group is led by a very dominant and protective silverback, offering a unique experience for those seeking a Private Gorilla Trekking Experience in Rwanda.
The name “Hirwa” means “Lucky One” because they were lucky enough to have more individuals join them voluntarily.
This group formation was first seen in 2006, and now there are 16 members, including twins.
It can be hard to find this group on some days.
Bwenge Family Group
Bwenge is a silverback gorilla whose name means “Wisdom.”
Some members of this gorilla group were featured in the movie “Gorillas in the Mist.”
The group was created in 2007 when Bwenge, the dominant silverback, left his birth group and was joined by females from other families.
There are 11 individuals in the family, but getting to them is challenging as they live on a steep, sometimes muddy hilltop on the Karisoke volcano’s slopes.
Ugenda Gorilla Family
Ugenda is a group of about 11 members, including 2 silverbacks, who live in the vicinity of Mount Karisimbi.
The name Ugenda comes from the Kinyarwanda word for “being on the move,” describing the group’s roving nature.
Due to their nomadic lifestyle, it can be very hard to keep track of them on certain days.
Not only will you have the opportunity to see all of these families during your gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, but you will also be able to take home beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime memories of the gorillas and their way of life.
