Habituated gorilla families in Bwindi.
The Katwe Gorilla Family has 7 members (1 silverback, 2 adult females, 2 blackbacks, and 2 subadult females), updated Dec 2019. The fourth and latest habituated gorilla group in the Buhoma Sector is the Katwe gorilla family. It is being headed by the dominant silverback “Mahane.”
Bwindi currently
It’s Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforest, which dates back over 25,000 years and contains almost 400 species of plants.
Locals around Bwindi National Forest call it “Bwindi bwa nyinamuraki
Kampala-Kabale-Kanungu-Buhoma
This route follows a tarmac highway to Kabale (414 km) and takes 5-6 hours. The next section, which follows winding murram roads for 120 km, passes through Kanungu and Kanyantorogo and takes 4-5 hrs. A 4WD vehicle is required.
Kampala-Ntungamo-Rukungiri-kihihi-Buhoma
This, the quickest and most direct route from Kampala, follows tarmac roads to Rukungiri (390 km), followed by 82 km on murram roads to Buhoma. It is the easiest and simplest way to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Kampala-Kabale-Ruhija-Buhoma
The Kabale-Ruhija-Buhoma segment on this route is 95 kilometres on a murram road and takes 3-4 hours. The Ruhija section is in poor condition and should only be attempted with a 4WD vehicle. The public does not frequently use this road.
Kampala-Kabale-Nkuringo
Nkuringo is 105 km from Kabale. The drive takes 4 hours on a mountainous murram road. The road from Kisoro is a winding 35 km that takes 1-1.5 hours. A 4WD vehicle is recommended for both approaches to Nkuringo.
Route 3 via Ntungamo
1 km after Ntungamo town, turn right at the sign posted Rukungiri. This is an all-weather tarmac road that will even be completed eventually through to the Ishasha border post. Above all, this is the fastest route if travelling directly from the east. At Rukungiri, follow signs for Kanungu, where you will pick up the Kabale-Buhoma route at the traffic circle.
The Buhoma Sector has 7 habituated gorilla families that can be visited by tourists;
– Rushe Gura Gorilla Family with 17 individuals
– Mubare Gorilla Family with 8 individuals
– Muyambi Gorilla Family with 6 individuals
– Katwe Gorilla Family with 7 individuals.
– Habi Nyanja Gorilla Family with 12 individuals
– Binyindo Gorilla Family with 9 individuals.
– Kanywanyi Gorilla Family with 5 individuals.
Habinyanja Gorilla group.
The group was first visited by the tourists in 1999. This name comes from a local word referred to as Nyanja, meaning a body of water. and it has got 18 members.
Rushegura gorilla family
This group was habituated in 2000 for tracking and received tourists in 2002. It is a huge group within the Buhoma area. This ‘Habinyanya 2 group’ quickly received a new name that derives from ‘Ebishegura.’ it comprises of 19 members, 1 silverback and is located in Buhoma
Mubare gorilla family
The first group to be habituated for tracking, the habituation started in 1991, and this group was named after the stunning Mubare Hills in which this group was discovered. It has a family size of 9 members.
Ruhija area
Kyaguliro: A Gorilla Family with 7 individuals
– Bitukura Gorilla Family with 13 individuals
– Mukiza Gorilla Family with 22 individuals
– Oruzogo Gorilla Family with 12 individuals
– Kyaguliro B with 8 individuals
– Happy Gorilla Family with 5 individuals
The Bitukura gorilla family has 13 individuals. This group was habituated in just 15 months, much faster than the usual two years. The family is led by Ndahura, the second youngest silverback, even though there are four other silverbacks, two of whom are older.
Kyaguliro Gorilla family
The group has a size of 7 members, including Kyaguliro, for instance. It is another habituated gorilla group that is not visited by tourists and has been reserved for research and other studies, for instance.
Oruzogo gorilla family
The name oruogo comes from the plant species found near the group’s home range. Although this family is located in the Ruhija sector. it can also be accessed from Buhoma sector. This group was formed in 2011 with 25 members, including two silverbacks.
Mukiza Gorilla family
Originally this group was known as Kyaguliro before being split after the death of the leading silverback, Rukina. The unfortunate death of Rukina inaugurated Mukiza as the new leader of the family.
Happy Gorilla family
This gorilla family is composed of 5 individuals.
The family is fully habituated, and soon it is going to be added into the Central Reservation System.
Rushaga area
The Rushanga area has the highest number of habituated gorilla families. The sector is also one of the most beautiful areas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and it’s only a 5-6-hour drive from Kigali airport. However, like other gorilla families, there were misunderstandings among the silverbacks, which led to separation of the group. Habituation of the Nshongi Gorilla family began in 2007, and it was opened for tourism in 2009
The Rushaga Sector has 10 habituated gorilla families;
Nshongi Gorilla Family
Bweza Gorilla Family
Mucunguzi Gorilla Family
Kahungye Gorilla Family
Bikingi Gorilla Family
Mishaya Gorilla Family
Kutu Gorilla Family
Busingye Gorilla Family
Rwigi Gorilla Family with 7 individuals
Tindatine Gorilla Family
The gorilla family has 7 individuals. Rwigi Gorilla Family is a splitter group from Bweza Gorilla Family in the Rushaga Sector
Mishaya Gorilla Family
It was one of the silverbacks who left the Nshongi mountain gorilla family to start his own group. He fought other gorilla families and took females to add to his family.
Bweza Gorilla family
This group split from the Nshongi family in August 2012 after Mishaya had already broken away. this group is led by the only silverback in the family of 12 individuals.
kutu Gorilla family
This gorilla family has 8 individuals. In other words, gorillas were being headed and guided by one dominant silverback; however, it is available for gorilla habituation experience, and therefore all those visitors interested and available for gorilla habituation will have to book with Abunda Discoveries Uganda for the best gorilla habituation experience safari with the group because it offers the best services.
it has four gorilla families with 13 individuals
The Bushaho gorilla family with 8 individuals
christmas gorilla family with 8 individuals
posho gorilla family with 17 individuals
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has different sectors with different gorilla groups.
