There are ten (10) habituated gorilla families in Rwanda. Only eight (08) tourists are allowed to track a gorilla group. Gorilla Permits in Rwanda cost USD1,500 per person to spend one (01) hour with a habituated mountain gorilla group in Volcanoes National Park.
The Ten (10) habituated Gorilla Families In Rwanda
Susa Group (Susa A Family) – this is the gorilla group that was researched by Dian Fossey.
Susa gorilla family derives its name from River Susa which flows in the home range of these gorillas. The family is the most challenging to trek since it normally stays up in the higher ranges of the mountains however the Rwanda Development Boards’ advance team of local trackers will know where the group is located. Sometimes tourists have been barred from tracking the group because of its distant location and proximity with the unstable DR. Congo. However, for tourists that tracked this group, most have found it very impressive.
This was the biggest gorilla group prior to separating into two. The group had 42 individuals and when visited people would see so many gorillas scattered in the entire area. This group is renowned for its infant twins; Byishimo and Impano which are pretty playful. It as well as one of Rwanda’s oldest habituated gorillas like Poppy who was born in 1976. Poppy is thought to be among the gorillas which were in the initial gorilla group that Dian Fossey’s conducted her research.
Normally, a mother dumps one of its twins, since it is nearly hard for her to take care of the two infants. As we observed the mother – Nyabitondore, take good care of her twins, Impano and Byishimo, we occasionally imagined that she would run madly from this big task. However, now you can see the twins playing around amidst other gorillas.
Karisimbi Gorilla Family (Susa-B)
This family separated from the initial Susa (Susa-A) family and today it is referred to as Susa-B or the Karisimbi Gorilla Group. It has 15 individuals and normally found on the slopes of Mt Karisimbi Volcano (4507Meters) the highest peak of Rwanda. Karisimbi Group is better appropriate for serious hikers. It seems that they have formed their home in the higher mountain slopes of Karisimbi caldera. So visiting this group may take a full day hike. The group at times moves to higher altitude making the tracking pretty challenging. But, RDB tourism plus conservation guides will be aware of the location of the gorilla group the previous day. Tracking the gorilla family at times can be stopped due to its faraway location.
Sabyinyo Gorilla Family
Sabyinyo can easily be reached and it is led by a strong silverback Guhonda. This is the biggest silverback of all the gorilla groups since it is very massive in physical appearance. Actually Guhonda has maintained his main competitor, Ryango, from his group as a solitary silverback. In comparison to other gorilla families, Sabyinyo has fewer members although it is similarly impressive.
this group derived its name from Sabyinyo volcano and it actually means an “old man’s teeth”. The Sabyinyo is among the groups found nearest to the border of the park with 8 individuals that include one Silverback (which is the biggest in the entire park); three Adult females; a youthful female; two Juveniles as well as a baby gorilla.
Amahoro Gorilla Family
Amahoro which means “peaceful group”, is the calmest gorilla group. this group has seventeen individuals: a Silverback; two Black-backs; five Adult females; 2 Sub-adult males; 2 Juveniles as well as 5 Babies. Nonetheless, peace comes at a good price. Ubumwe, the silverback of this group is peaceful, really easy going as well as serene, he has sadly lost some group members to the Umubano group led by Charles.
To see the Amahoro you should manoeuvre over the somewhat steep climb but the climb is worth it when you finally find this amazing group.
Umubano Gorilla Family
The Umubano family comprises eleven (11) individuals: a Silverback; a Sub-adult male; three Adult females as well as six Babies. Umubano were initially members of the Amahoro group however separated following Ubumwe the then-dominant silverback being overpowered by Charles who is the current leader of Umubano.
As Charles grew into an adult silverback just like Ubumwe, he couldn’t stand taking orders around so he decided to fight and eventually challenged Ubumwe. this fight went on for some weeks and nearly months. Eventually, Charles was able to take a couple of females from Ubumwe hence forming a group; the Umubano. From that time, he commands a lot of respect and appreciated by Ubumwe. On a number of occasions interactions between these two silverbacks have been witnessed, however, no fights have been witnessed since that big fight. Umbano means “neighbourliness”
Agasha Gorilla Family (Group 13)
At habituation, the group had 13 members – hence it name “group 13“. Today the group has well over 25 members: a Silverback; twelve Adult females; two Sub adult females; three Juvenile as well as seven Babies. previously this group was led by Nyakarima who was overpowered by Agashya whose name means “the news”. In fact, Agashya made headlines by first observing and estimating the strengths of Nyakarima and finally challenged him to a brutal fight taking away his entire group. This greatly shocked Nyakarima and was an extraordinary event in witnessed gorilla history. Then Agashya shifted up the volcano to safeguard his group and ensure that Nyakarima didn’t find them. Since then, Agashya has increased the number of members in his group by snatching some from other groups and incorporating other solitary gorillas, speedily the group expanded from 12 up to 25 individuals.
Agashya is also known, at any first sign of danger, to take his entire group to the peak of the volcano. One time, while some tourists had gone to observe Group 13 this identical scenario occurred. Agashya imagined that there was an opponent silverback who was about to fight him. In reaction, he led his group to the volcano. Whenever we closed into the group they would go further away until we couldn’t go any further. so this is another challenging group to see.
Kwitonda Gorilla Family
This group has 20 members and it is led by Kwitonda the silverback whose name means the “humble one” it also has 2 silverbacks plus a blackback. It moved from the DR.Congo and normally stays far away which makes it challenging to trek. This along with Susa B are some of the most challenging groups to find.
Hirwa Gorilla Family (Hirwa in the local dialect means “lucky one”)
This group became renowned on 17th June 2006 after trackers witnessed its creation when some members from 2 separate families the Group 13 and the Sabyinyo group joined to form a smaller group at the time. Fortunately, some other gorillas also joined this group and today the Hirwa group has nine (09) individuals: one Silverback; three Adult females; two Sub adult females as well as 3 Babies.
Although it is the newest gorilla group, Hirwa shows strength and well safeguards its members. As of 15th/October/2019, this group has migrated into Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Read More: Hirwa Gorilla group migrates to Uganda
Bwenge Gorilla Family
This family has 11 members with a Silverback. It is majorly seen in the Slopes of Karisoke Volcano. Bwenge is the silverback that leads the group which was established in 2007 after he left his birth group and was joined by other females coming from other gorilla groups. The group has faced some challenging times; which included the death of six infants. Today this group is becoming strong with two successful births in the past couple of years as well as a strong silverback leader. This trek to visit the group is challenging and includes an ascent of nearly 3 hours. The trails at times are muddy and pretty steep. It seems this is the group which featured in the legendary movie ‘Gorillas in the Mist’.
Ugenda Gorilla Family
This Group lives in Rwanda’s Karisimbi area. it comprises of 11 gorillas including 2 silverbacks. “Ugenda” which means “being on the move” is a name that was given to the group based on its constant movement from one place to another. Because it is constantly moving, tracking it is normally challenging and involves prolonged movement to find them.
