The number of Habituated Mountain Gorilla Families In Ruhija Region currently stands at four (04) groups. Ruhija Sector is located in the Eastern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and has three (03) habituated Mountain gorilla families that can be tracked in this region. The four (04) Habituated Mountain Gorilla Families in Ruhija include; Oruzogo, Bitukura, Kyaguliro, and Mukiza gorilla groups.
The 04 Habituated Mountain Gorilla Families in Ruhija Region
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Oruzogo Gorilla Family
With 17 members, the Oruzogo Gorilla group is just one of the three (03) other gorilla families that can be trekked in Ruhija Region. Oruzogo gorilla family is led by Silverback Bakwate, 02 blackbacks, and 5 infants that make for the large 17 member gorilla family with other members being female adults and juvenile gorillas that have earned their fame as the most playful mountain gorilla family in Ruhija. Oruzogo Gorilla Group tracking in Ruhija started in 2011 and provides for a fairly less strenuous – Medium Mountain gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Forest National Park.
- Bitukura Gorilla Family Group
The Bitukura Gorilla family of Ruhija Gorilla Trekking Region stands out from all the other mountain gorilla groups in both Ruhija and Bwindi Forest as a whole. Mountain Gorilla habituation – a process of regularly visiting a group of wild mountains to get them used to human visits by tourists -usually last 2 – 3 years however for Bitukura gorilla group – habituation only lasted 15month (Habituation of Bitukura Gorilla Group begun on July 2007 and the group was opened for tourism in October 2008). Besides undergoing the shortest habituation time, the gorilla family is also known to be the most sociable gorilla family in Bwindi and the only one with 4 Silverbacks living in peace with each other.
Bitukura Mountain gorilla Group is currently under the lead of silverback Ndahura.
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Kyaguliro Gorilla Family
With a member composition of up to 20 individuals, Kyaguliro Gorilla group habituation started out as early as 1995 but no gorilla trekking permits were ever officially sold out to tourists to trek this family of gorillas as it was set apart for research studies by the German Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology.
Kyaguliro Gorilla Family was for long led by Silverback Rukina who on the fateful date of 7th /April/ 2018 lost his life to lightning that struck him dead. This sudden death of Rukina left the family under the leadership of Mukiza- an inexperienced young fella. However, Mukiza’s reign over the entire Kyaguliro Gorilla family was short-lived after Rukara a fully grown Silverback from the Bitukura Gorilla group with whom they share vicinity to date raided the peaceful 20 members Kyaguliro group causing a split of the Kyaguliro gorilla Family into Kyaguliro A – led by Rukara, and Kyaguliro B – led by Mukiza – the split of the Kyaguliro gorilla group all happened in May 2016.
- Kyaguliro A – led by Rukara is made up of 10 members: 01 silverbacks, 02 blackbacks, 03 adult females, 02 juveniles, and 02 infant gorillas.
- Kyaguliro B – led by Mukiza is made up of 10 members: 01 silverback, 01 black back, 04 adult females, and 04 infant gorillas.
If your interest is Mountain Gorilla Research or Gorilla Filming In Bwindi Forest, then we recommend asking your tour operator to book you with the Kyaguliro Gorilla group – the bond between Kyaguliro A & B does promise a possibility of the two groups reuniting – who knows!! we will keep you posted on the newest developments.
Some Gorilla Safari tips to consider when planning your trip
- Mountain Gorilla trekking in all regions in Bwindi (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga & Nkuringo) starts as early as 8:00 am. We, therefore, recommend staying at a lodge within the same region where the gorilla group you are trekking is located. Please avoid risky scenarios of staying in Buhoma and trekking in Ruhija – some tour operators will say these two regions are close by, but take note that you will have to depart your lodge as early as 6:00 am to drive (in the African darkness) in order to get to Ruhija on time or your gorilla trekking briefing (8:00 am).
- Unlike other Gorilla trekking Regions of Bwindi, Ruhija is still fairly upcoming and only offers; Budget to midrange accommodation – there is NO luxury lodging – however, the future for Ruhija is still promising and hopefully, in the next couple of years, there will be some lodging improvement.
Our top recommended accommodation in Ruhija Gorilla Trekking Region include; Ruhija Gorilla Lodge, Agandi Uganda Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, and Broadbill Forest camp.
