Gorilla Families in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
10 Gorilla Families In Rwanda include: Sabinyo, Susa, Umubano, Amahoro, Kwitonda, Hiora, Bwenge, Ugyenda, Bwenye and Agashe.
Gorilla Families in Rwanda: Gorilla trekking is still Africa’s best ranked activity in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga & Kahuzi Biega National Park.
Rwanda Gorilla trekking is considered for luxury travelers because of the high cost of the gorilla permit at $1500, coupled with luxury lodges, yet its an ideal place to go gorilla trekking for those with limited time.
Volcanoes National Park is located 3 hours by road from Kigali International Airport, and it is possible to go Gorilla trekking in 1 day, which differentiates it from other destinations of: Uganda’s Bwindi & Congo’s Virunga. Rwanda still ranks a well ordered, secure and high end place to go gorilla trekking.
There are 10 habituated gorilla families/groups in Rwanda, and 80 permits are issued out per day, by which only 8 gorilla trekking permits are issued to track each group. Each gorilla family has something Unique in terms of size, behavious, dominance, among others. Most groups are led by peacefull Silveracks.
List Of The 10 Gorilla Families In Rwanda
Susa Family (SUSA A)
Susa Family is the Largest Gorilla family in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. The family previously had 42 members, but later split into Susa A and B.
Susa A family now comprises of 35 gorilla individuals including 2 Silverbacks. The group is not only known for its twins, but also a group that Dian Fossey first studied in the years past.
The SUSA A group is the most preferred group to trek in Volcanoes National Park, despite being hard.
Sabyinyo Family:
Sabyinyo Gorilla family consists of 15 members, out of which 2 are Silver backs. The group began immediately after the death of the dominant Silverback of Group 13. The females then joined group 11, where the number of females increased to 4, & silverbacks 2, resulting to the new name, Sabyinyo gorilla group. The Silverback safeguarding this group is the biggest in the entire Volcanoes National Park.
Amahoro Family
Amahoro from the Rwanda’s native tribe of Kinyarwanda means Peace. The Amahoro gorilla family is popular for its peaceful nature, which has led to the loss of its members to the other aggressive silverbacks who seek to extend their respective families.
The Amahoro gorilla family now settle on the slopes of Mountain Visoke, and comprises of 20 members, including 2 silverbacks. This group is a bit challenging to trek, due to its difficult mountainous structure.
Agashya Family.
The former group 13, now called Agashya gorilla family obtained its name from the first 13 gorilla members, that came together and started up a family of their own. At first, the group was lead by a Nyakarima, a dorminant silverback was overcome by Agashya, after which the group is now called. Agashya still safe guards his family, and their numbers increased to the current 27 gorilla individuals.
Umubano (‘Live Together’) Family
Comprising of 13 members, The Umubano group is the new formed group, that was formed by Umubano Silverback, after frequent fights between him and Charles. Amahoro being peaceful, the group later split when Charles decided to leave the group and formed his own, because, he couldn’t bare the all time fights between the two The group now settles adjacent to Amahoro but within the same territory.
Kwitonde Family
4 out of the 23 gorilla members are Silverbacks from the Kwitonda Family Group. The Kwitonda Gorilla family group got its name from Kwitonda silverback who became famous for his humble nature.
Formerly, the group first live in Democratic Republic of Congo, but now occupying Mountain Muhabura slopes in Volcanoes National Park
Hirwa Gorilla Family
Hira Family was formed by group 13 and Sabyinyo Gorilla families, after which no other gorilla individual joined, leaving the group with an exact sum of 16 members and 1 Silverback. This group is known to take refuge between 2 mountains of Mgahinga & Sabyinyo.
The Hirwa Family is lucky to have had twins in 2011, a reason why it was named Hirwa, which means “Luck one”
Karisimbi Gorilla Family
Following its Name “Karisimbi”, The Karisimbi gorilla Family inhabits the upper slopes of Mount Karisimbi, on an altitude of 4507m in Volcanoes National Park. The family, also dubbed ‘Susa B’ is safeguarded by a silverback who preferred taking his group to a hard to reach place, so as to stay away from conflicts.
Therefore lovers of the Karisimbi group, must be physically and mentally strong to trek this gorilla family.
Ugenda Family
Ugenda, which means ‘Mobile’ is made up of 11 members with 2 silverbacks. This group is always roaming around and has no specific settlement. This group is usually in Mount Bisoke, and with a relatively fare hike (That is, less difficult).
Bwenge Family:
Bwenge Gorilla Family settles on the Mountain slopes of Visoke, and contains 11 members, including 1 silverback. Bwenge family was formed in 2007, when Bwenge (the silverback), left his mother group to form his own with oethr females who also left other groups to join his.
Bwenge Gorilla Family suffered a great loss, when 6 of its infants met their death. This group is the easiest to trek, among other Gorilla Family groups in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda.
