Sabyinyo Gorilla Family in Rwanda

Sabyinyo Gorilla Family – The Sabyinyo Gorilla family is named after Mount Sabyinyo, which translates to “Old Man’s Teeth” in Kinyarwanda.

This magnificent area in the Virunga Mountains, including Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Mgahinga, has gentle foothills that have become home to this great family.

The Sabyinyo Gorilla family comprises about 9 members and is one of the closest groups, usually playing at the edges of the park.

They are friendly and easily accessed by trackers for trekking visitors. Learn more about mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park to understand their habitat and behavior.

History of the Sabyinyo Gorilla Family

The mysterious formation of this family occurred after the accidental death of a dominant silverback governing a group of thirteen in 1992.

This led to 13 females being integrated into another group with 11 females and 2 silverbacks, forming a new group called “Amavubi,” meaning wasps.

Initially the hardest to habituate, they were successfully habituated, and their name was changed to Sabyinyo. Discover more about the gorilla family allocation process and how new groups are formed.

The magnificent Sabyinyo Gorilla family is led by the oldest, biggest, and strongest giant silverback, Guhonda, who is the largest in the park, weighing about 220 kg.

Guhonda has an aggressive and leadership personality, keeping his main challenger, Ryango, away from the family to consolidate his position as the dominant silverback.