Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern region of Uganda, at the edge of the Western Rift Valley, and is surrounded by a rich rainforest. The park is home to over 400 mountain gorillas, 120 mammal species, including primates like baboons and chimpanzees, 23 Albertine endemic species, and more than 350 bird species. Numerous exciting activities await you in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, such as gorilla trekking, which is the most popular activity. Gorilla habituation, cultural encounters, hiking through the forest, various hikes and trails within and around Bwindi, birdwatching, village activities, and mountain biking in Buhoma and other areas.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is renowned for its mountain gorilla population, as it is home to half of the world’s total. The park is considered the premier tracking destination in Uganda and East Africa. It offers a one-day experience where you can embark on an incredible walk through the dense tropical rainforest in search of the King of the Jungle, creating a breathtaking adventure. The term ‘impenetrable’ should not deter you; the park is accessible and provides ample space for trackers, along with opportunities to encounter other wildlife and plant species within the forest.
There are essentially four tracking locations within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Buhoma in the northern sector, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the southern region, and Ruhija in the east. Each sector hosts its own families of gorillas, ready for trekkers to engage with. Each family consists of over 15 habituated members, all led by a dominant silverback. With the introduction of newly habituated gorilla families, the total count is believed to have reached 18 families as of December 2018.
Gorilla families in each of the four sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest lies on the edge of the western rift valley in south western part of Uganda. This park is famous for its mountain Gorilla, harbouring half of the world’s population roaming freely in the great rainforests. These mountain gorillas consist of 98.9 % of the human DNA and they are referred to as Man’s closest cousins since their intelligence, behaviour and physical structure resemble that of man.
There are four locations for gorilla trekking in Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and these include Buhoma in the northern region, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the southern area and Ruhija in the eastern region. Each gorilla sector has families of its own. The gorillas are wild animals and they keep moving any time they feel like. The silverback is also free to move and break away from the family to form a new family. Below are the gorilla families in the four sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
BUHOMA SECTOR
A gorilla safari in buhoma sector is unforgettable and a life time experience at a low investment of 700 dollars beginning 1 July of 2020. Buhoma sector is located in the northern region in Kanungu district. It’s the first major sector of Bwindi to be opened for gorilla tracking and it consists the oldest habituated family known as Mubare followed by other families resulting from separation and breakaway due to different reasons in the group. Buhoma sector gorilla families include;
Mubare gorilla family
This is the first gorilla group to be formed in 1993 in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Mubare and the first group to be tracked by the first tracking team. The group derived its name from a word stone according to their local language: “Mubare”. This group consisted of 18 members during the time of habituation under the leadership of Ruhondenza a silver back. Back then the family encountered raids from gorilla hunters and it was the role of Ruhondenza to fight for the group. Despite his old age, he tried hard to fight back to protect the endangered species but he was over powered due to his old age. This created sorrow and sadness in his heart which caused his death in the sleep thinking he failed his family. He was later succeeded by Alpha silver back called Kanyonyi
Habinyanja gorilla family
This group is also located in the northern region of bwindi impenetrable forest and was established in 1997 receiving its first trekking visitors in 1999. Habinyanja got its name from a swamp in the forest and a name Nyanja meaning water hence Habinyanja. This group consists of 17 members and led by a dominant silver back called Muguri meaning an old man and this group had two silver backs. The of Muguri due to his old age led to the rise of two strong brothers mwirima and Rwansigazi who inherited the group. These two brothers had different motives which creating a misunderstanding whereby Mwirima cherished staying in close range with the group while Rwansigazi adored travelling. In 2002 the group separated leaving Habinyanja in the hands of Mwirima and Rwansigazi donated his group under a silver back called Makara
Rushegura gorilla family
This is another group in the northern region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This habituated group currently comprises of 15 member consisting a silver back, three blackbacks, three juveniles, three infants, one sub – adult and four adult mountain gorilla with a new born making 16 members. This group was opened for Gorilla tracking to visitors in 2002 and history has it broke angry from Habinyanja under Mwirima silver back and currently Kabukonjo.
Katwe gorilla family
This is a newly habituated group in Bwindi impenetrable national park in Buhoma. Gorilla tracking is a process of taming Wild Mountain gorillas to get used to human encounter. Information has it that it took up to 3 years to habituate this endanger species which comprises of two babies, four adult females and a dominant silver back.
NKURINGO SECTOR
Nkuringo gorilla family
Nkuringo gorilla family is situated in the southern region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Kisoro district. Nkuringo sector derived its name from the round hills, and the sector was established in 2004. It offers the most satisfying lifetime experience, though it has disturbing trails. This family was led by the Alpha silverback that died at the end of the habituation, leaving behind two sons Safari and Rafiki. Safari succeeded the father and took full responsibility of protecting the group.
Bushaho gorilla group
Bushaho gorilla group is found in the southern sector of the Nkuringo region in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The group currently consists of 9 members led by a dominant silverback. It is believed that this group is yet to expand if there are newly born or other recruits from unhabituated groups.
Christmas
This sector is the latest gorilla in the southern sector of Nkuringo in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The family comprises of 9 members, by 6 members are usually seen roaming. The family also has a leader named Christmas who was named after being born on Christmas day. Members of this group include one black back, two infant and three adult females.
RUHIJA SECTOR
This sector is situated in the eastern area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Ruhija comprises of three gorilla families, Oruzogo, Bitukura, Kyaguliro and a new established family of Mukiza and two habituation families. Ruhija sector receives a few tourists and its offers more eco-tourism experiences due to its strategic location. The following are the gorilla families in the eastern region.
Kyaguliro gorilla group
This sector is found in the east of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. It was established for research by Bwindi by Max Planck Institute in Bwindi by the evolution of tracking in this sector, anthropology requires direct permission from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Unlike other gorilla families, which require 8 trekking tourists, Kyaguliro needs 6 visitors to track the Gorilla. The family consists of 15 members led by Zeus the silverback, who died after being banished from the forest by Rukina.
Oruzogo
Oruzogo gorilla family was established in 2011 by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. This group is led by the oldest Gorilla in the famil,y called Tebirikwata, which group consists of 25 members, including 2 silverbacks. The group has kept on enlarging as a result of increased birth rates by Ntumurugi and Musi in a year. There was a joyous moment in Oruzogo gorilla family in 2013 when kankoba gave birth to two bouncing twins.
Bitukura gorilla group
This gorilla family shares a close bond of togetherness with the Kyaguliro family. Due to its peaceful and playful, it makes it easier to cooperate with others. This group of 24 members was first sighted at the river 2007, where it’s located. This group comprises four silverbacks. Before leadership was under Karumaji, but because of age, Ndahura, the second youngest, took over to protect the group.
Mukiza gorilla group
This is a new gorilla group in Ruhija, the eastern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The gorilla family was established basically for research by the Manx planc Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. This group broke away from Kyaguliro, and it’s referred to as Kyaguliro B
RUSHAGA GORILLA SECTOR
The Rushaga gorilla group is found in the southern region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Other than gorilla trekking, Rushaga has additional activities such as a mountain gorilla habituation experience. This sector includes gorilla families such as Mishaya, Busingye, Kahungye, Rwizi, Bweza, Nshongi, Mucunguzi, kutu and Bikingi.
Mishaya gorilla group
This group broke away from the Nshongi group in 2010 due to misunderstandings under Mishaya, the silverback. Mishaya silverback is a great fighter in that he managed to split off with some females, beginning with a group of seven members, which later boosted to 1,2, including the 3 infants. In 2015, due to constant fights, the group was down to 7 members. Mishaya is famously known for fighting while interacting with other mountain gorilla groups.
Bweza gorilla group
This group in the southern region of Bwindi comprises 7 mountain gorillas, including two infants and a silverback. Bweza is the most versatile and interesting gorilla group worth visiting while on a safari to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and it split from the Nshongi gorilla group.
Busingye gorilla group
Busingye means peace, but Busingye, as a silverback, is famous for his legendary fights with other gorilla groups, and whenever he comes in contact with a wild group, he recruits a new female from the other group after a merciless struggle. This gorilla group broke off from the Kahungye gorilla group in 2012, and it’s composed of 9 mountain gorillas, including one silverback, three infants, two adults and many youngsters.
Nshongi gorilla family
This group is led by Nshongi, the oldest silverback, and is one of the largest habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This is a unique gorilla group with four silverbacks under Nshongi. In 2010, the Nshongi group broke off as the rest went to reunite with their own families, leaving 26 members and then split, reducing to 18 members in 2013, leading to the rise of Bweza. Visitors should expect supplements such as forest birds, Apes and butterflies.
Mucunguzi gorilla family
The Mucunguzi gorilla group is a newly habituated gorilla family in the Rushaga region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Mucunguzi is a name that was given to the youngest silverback during the time of the Weza family. The name Mucunguzi means a saviour, and this group literally broke off from the Bweza gorilla group, and it’s composed of 8 members.
Kutu gorilla family
Kitu is a new family in the Rushaga gorilla sector, which is still under habituation and the best destination group for visitors who wish to embark on gorilla habituation. The group comprises 8 members with one silverback.
Rwigi gorilla family
Among the newly habituated families in the Rushaga gorilla group in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Rwigi is inclusive. This group broke away from the Kahungye group and is led by the Rwigi silverback, consisting of 6 members.
Bikingi gorilla family
This gorilla family is found in the Rushaga area, and habituation for the group began in 2012. This group comprises 15 members. Previously, Bikingi was designated for gorilla habituation experience, but later opened officially for trekking with the Rushaga region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.