The Habituated Gorilla Groups in Uganda

About half the total World’s mountain gorilla population is found in Uganda’s two beautiful Gorilla Parks-Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The most recent Mountain gorilla Census (of 2018) put their overall population at 1063 individuals from the 880 gorillas counted in 2011 from four National Parks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda.

This 2018 survey also put the number of mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park alone at 459 individuals from the 400 in the last census but between 80 and 85 individuals were said to be in the 34-square kilometer Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. With the increase in mountain gorilla population, it is also not surprising that the number of gorilla groups/families has grown over the years to over 22 habituated groups in Uganda.

The Gorilla families in Bwindi National Park are accessed by travelers within the four wonderful trekking sectors that include Nkuringo and Rushaga in the southern side of Bwindi, Buhoma in the north, and Ruhija sector in the Eastern end. The following are the 21 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi as well as one habituated group in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (as of 2022).

Buhoma trekking sector

Buhoma is the oldest and interestingly most popular trekking sector in Bwindi National Park with easier and moderately difficult to trek gorilla families that include;

Mubare Gorilla Group

Mubare was the first habituated gorilla group in Bwindi National Park and was named after the hills of Mubare, where it was first sighted. Its habituation was finalized in 1998 (five years after the introduction of gorilla tourism). There were about 12 members led by Ruhondeza at the time of formation but after years of conflicts resulting from wild silverbacks, several members were lost to the point of having only 5 members. However, more gorillas including another silverback joined the group thus increasing the number to 11 by 2013 and at the time of writing, there are about 10 members that including six silverbacks, one sub-adult female, and three infants.

Habinyanja Gorilla Group

Habinyanja Gorilla Group was opened for trekking a year after Mubare with over 25 members. It derived its name from the word “Nyanja” meaning “water body” in the local Rukiga dialect, owing to the swamp where it was first sighted. During its early years, this group had many mature and strong silverbacks which brought about constant wrangles as they all wanted to take over leadership. This instead led to the split into two separate gorilla families thus the birth of Rushegura. There are now about 17 members in the group with one silverback, five adult females, one blackback, one sub-adult female, three juveniles, and six infants.

Rushegura Gorilla Group

Rushegura was opened for tracking in 2002 and was formed with about 12 members including five females, resulting from constant conflicts in the Habinyanja group. Its name originated from “Ebishegura”, a tree species that dominates their home range. It is one of the shortest-to-trek gorilla groups because they are also near Buhoma Village and are normally spotted by guests of Gorilla Forest Camp. There are presently about 17 members in the group and they include one silverback (Kabukojo), four adult females, four blackbacks, four juveniles, and four infants.

Katwe Gorilla Group

Katwe is one of the newer gorilla groups in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park opened for trekking in August 2018 after three whole years of habituation. This group came in at the right time after several years of the sector having only 3 habituated gorilla groups. It is comprised of about 7 members only that including one silverback, two adult females, two blackbacks, and two infants.

Muyambi Gorilla Group

This is the newest Gorilla Group in the sector and one of the most recently habituated in the Park, launched in 2019. It is another break-away group from Habinyanja Group with some of the interesting members within the sector. It received a new member in May 2020 and presently has 7 members that include one silverback (named Muyambi).

Ruhija Trekking sector

Bitukura Gorilla Group

Habituation of this group began in 2007 and took only 15 months because members of the group were severally encountered by Uganda Wildlife Authority Rangers hence were not strangers to humans. It is comprised of 13 members that include four silverbacks (led by Ndahura), four adult females, two juveniles, and three infants.

Oruzogo Gorilla Group

This one received its first visitors in 2011 after two years of habituation. Besides being a moderate-to-trek group, it is popularly known for feeding around areas dominated by Alchornea hitela, unique plant species that are locally referred to as “Oruzogo”. In the past, it was widely known for its playful infants that have grown into juveniles and is presently made up of 17 members that include two silverbacks, five adult females, two blackbacks, two sub-adult females, and several juveniles.

Kyaguliro Gorilla Group

Kyaguliro Gorilla Group is not normally trekked but rather dedicated for Research purposes. Its habituation officially started in 1995 and was until 7^th April 2015 led by Rukina who died as a result of lightning. After his passing, the group was taken over by a young and inexperienced silverback known as Mukiza although his leadership was short-lived. The group was attacked by an older and immigrating silverback-Rukara from Bitukura who later on took over leadership. Mukiza left with some members to form another group (Mukiza).

Mukiza Gorilla Group

The most recent Gorilla Group in the sector was formed in 2015 when Mukiza left with some members, after losing leadership to an immigrating silverback (Rukara) from Bitukura Group. There are now about 10 members led by Mukiza while other members are four adult females, one sub-adult female, and four infants.

Rushaga Trekking sector

Nshongi Gorilla Group

Nshongi used to be the largest Gorilla Group in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with over 32 members but slowly lost its members to fights that resulted in new groups. It was formed in 2009 and derived its name from the beautiful Nshongi River because it is where the members were first seen. With the breakaway and formation of Mishaya Gorilla Group in 2010, the group remained with about 26 members. More still, the further formation of the Bweza Gorilla Group left Nshongi Group with less than 15 members. They welcomed a new member in May 2020 and there are now 10 members that include one silverback, three adult females, one sub-adult female, two juveniles, and three infants.

Bikingi Gorilla Group

Like Bushaho, habituation of Bikingi began in 2012 after it was discovered that former members of Mishaya Group and other non-habituated members were living independently hence habituation process was started and the group was named Bikingi. There are now about 15 members that comprise one silverback, five adult females, two sub-adult females, two juveniles, and five infants.

Mishaya Gorilla Group

Mishaya Gorilla Group was named after Mishaya, one of the silverbacks who chose to move out of the natal Group-Nshongi in July 2010. While at Nshongi, he was a renowned fighter, and given this character he was able to take along several females from several non-habituated gorilla groups thus building his family to 12 members that include three babies. However, he lost his life in 2014 and because he was the only silverback at the time, the group remained under the leadership of Mwine (blackback at the time) who through the years matured into a respectable silverback.

Kahungye Gorilla group

The habituation of Kahungye Gorilla Group was finalized in 2011 and at the time there were over 29 members with three silverbacks but the group broke off due to intra-silverback rivalry. It is from here that the Busingye Group was formed leaving the group with fewer members. Presently it has 17 members that include three silverbacks (dominated by Rumanzi), three adult females, three blackbacks, three sub-adult females, three juveniles, and two infants.

Busingye Gorilla Group

Formed as a breakaway group from Kahungye, it was officially recognized in 2012 and headed by Busingye. Given the peaceful nature of its dominant silverback, he was named Busingye and presently leads a family of other 8 more members that include three adult females, one juvenile, and four babies.

Bweza Gorilla Group

The once large Nshongi Gorilla Group reduced in size after Mishaya (one of the silverbacks) took a bold step with leave with many members (including Bweza) in 2010. However, two years later, Bweza also decided to leave Mishaya to form his own group although were always in close bond. Surprisingly, it was speculated by UWA Rangers that they could reunite but they didn’t return back. For this reason, the group was opened for trekking in 2014.

Kutu Gorilla Group

Kutu is one of the most recent Gorilla Groups in Bwindi National Park and has about 10 members only that include one silverback (named Kutu), four adult females, three blackbacks, and two infants.

Rwigi Gorilla group

Rwigi is a 10-member group that broke away from Kahungye Group, also in the Rushaga sector. It is said that he had disagreements with other silverbacks in Kahungye thus making him leave with some females and juveniles to form Rwigi.

Mucunguzi

Mucunguzi is a “Rukiga” word meaning “savior” or “redeemer” and was the group was named after one of the youngest silverbacks in Bweza Gorilla Group who later left his natal group to form his own. There are about 8 members with one silverback

Nkuringo trekking sector

Nkuringo Gorilla Group

Being the first and oldest Gorilla group in the sector, it was opened in 2004 after years of habituation. It derived its name from the round hills in the sector. It had 17 members at the time it was first sighted. One outstanding thing about this group is the death of Rafiki, the dominant silverback on 1^st June 2020. Leadership was taken over by Rwamutwe (a powerful blackback) and the group presently has only 11 members that include two blackbacks, two adult females, two sub-adult females, three juveniles, and two infants.

Bushaho Gorilla Group

Bushaho Gorilla Group was first spotted in 2012 after breaking away from Nkuringo, their natal group. After noticing that some of the members were missing, Park Rangers launched a search for them and it was discovered that Silverback Bahati had left with some members. Close monitoring was done and the habituation process immediately began then they were named Bushaho.

Christmas Gorilla Group

This is one of the newest Gorilla Groups in Bwindi National Park, opened for trekking in 2019. While there are over 9 members here, only 6 are usually spotted during trekking adventures and they include one silverback known as Christmas, three females, one blackback, and one infant.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Nyakagezi Gorilla Group

This is the only habituated gorilla group in the small Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and was in the past known for foraging within a large area, up to neighboring Parks in the Virunga Massif. Having welcomed a new member in May 2013, the group grew to about 10 members that including four silverbacks, two adult females, two juveniles, and two infants.