Gorilla families in Rushaga sector – Bwindi impenetrable National Park
Gorilla families in Rushaga sector – Rushaga is the perfect sector in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest when it comes to mountain gorilla tracking and it is also the only sector where visitors can do Gorilla Habituation Experience.
Nshongi gorilla family:
This is one of the largest habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest after the current split with where Mweza group was created. This group was previously composed of 36 members but today it boosts of over 25 mountain gorillas with dominant silverback, two sub silverbacks, three black backs, six adult females, six juveniles and three infants. This is one of the unique gorillas to have over four silverbacks and still, it is controlled by Nshongi who is not the oldest silverback in the group and surprisingly all the three silverbacks and seven silverbacks stayed peacefully and never had cases of power struggle. Nshongi gorilla group was established with a lot of fanfare and celebrities from far and wide who came in 2009. In 2010, Nshongi group broke off and only 26 mountain gorillas were left as others went to form their own families for instance Mishaya gorilla family. In 2013, the group still broke off and reduced to 18 members with new split establishing the current Bweza with ten gorillas. Being the largest gorilla group, visitors also have higher chances of sighting at other apes, forest birds and butterflies.
Mishaya gorilla group:
This group split from Nshongi group in 2010 due to disputes under silverback Mishaya. The silverback went away with other females and today it boasts of over seven mountain gorillas and one silverback. Mishaya silverback is a real fighter and he managed to gather many females around and the number shot up to twelve including 3 infants. Mishaya is the only adult mountain gorilla who is famous for fighting and often begins interacting with other mountain gorilla groups. However, by 2015 this group was left with only seven members due to continuous battles.
Kahungye gorilla family:
This group is composed of 13 mountain gorillas and three silverbacks and the dominant silverback is known as Rumansi, followed by the other 2 male mountain gorillas called Rwigi and Ruhamuka. This group was ready for gorilla tracking in 2011 but unfortunately not more than a year the group broke off and hence a new family call Busingye gorilla group was formed. Prior their split, the group was composed of 27 members including three silverbacks.
Busingye gorilla group:
This group is composed of 9 mountain gorillas and it includes one silverback, three infants, two adults and many young ones. Busingye gorilla group broke off from Kahungye gorilla group in 2012. It was Busingye silverback that decided to break away and form his own group. The word Busingye denotes “peace” which is a bit astonishing since his ambitious silverback is popular for his legendary fights with other gorilla families. He enjoys demonstrating his power and whenever he encounters a wild group he mercilessly takes a female gorilla to add to his own group.
Bweza gorilla group:
This group is comprised of only seven mountain members including one silverback and two infants. Bweza gorilla group is a splitter group of Nshongi gorilla family and it is the most versatile and exciting gorilla group that is worth visiting while on a safari to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
For those interested in gorilla habituation experience they can visit Bikingi and Bushaho gorilla families where they will spend four hours exploring the daily behaviors of these spectacular apes.
Kutu gorilla group:
Kutu gorilla family is located in the Rushaga Sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park. It currently has 8 members with1 dominant silverback. This group was previously available for gorilla habituation which only happens in the Rushaga sector. After several years of being visited, it was eventually ready to have guests visit it while on a gorilla trekking experience.
Mucunguzi gorilla group:
Mucunguzi gorilla family has 8 members. The name of the group is derived from the head of the group – Mucunguzi who is the dominant silverback. Mucunguzi attempted to fight the dominant gorilla in Bweza group but was defeated and later chased out of the group where it started living a solitary life. Eventually it attacked another gorilla family where it left with some females and started this gorilla family. It is located in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Bikingi gorilla group:
The name Bikingi was derived from the family’s home ranges. During the habituation process, the Bikingi Gorilla family was visited daily by vets that worked with the rangers in monitoring the gorillas to eliminate any traces of sickness and saving the lives of the gorillas where the need arose. The Bikingi gorilla family under the leadership of Bikingi the silverback can now be found in the Rushaga region of Bwindi. Contact Great Adventure safaris to book a gorilla tracking safari to see gorilla families in Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable National Park.