Full list of Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Families / Gorilla Groups
Rwanda mountain gorilla families: Rwanda gorilla trekking experiences take place in Parc National des Volcans (Volcanoes National Park). This park is where gorilla maestro Dian Fossey undertook her research. Apparently, 1000 mountain gorillas are left in the world and half of this population resides in Uganda. The rest is shared between DRC and Rwanda.
Without a doubt, Rwanda remains a prime destination for gorilla trekking. Trekking the Virunga Mountains in search of gorillas is an extremely awesome experience. The accommodation facilities in this park will keep the spark alive. They are truly African with a great sense of style.
Just in case you have any extra days on your safari, endeavor to visit Akagera National Park. This wildlife park borders Tanzania in the east. It rewards a spectacular wildlife-watching experience. Down south is Nyungwe Forest National Park, a home to Rwanda’s Chimpanzees. It also turns out to be one of the best spots for birding in Rwanda.
Rwanda has about ten habituated mountain gorilla families. These include Sabyinyo, Susa, Karisimbi, Umubano, Amahoro, Kwitonda, Hirwa, Bwenge, Agashya and Ugyenda.
Susa Gorilla Family
- It has about twenty-nine members and 3 silverbacks.
- This was the largest mountain gorilla family before it split into two. Its name derives from the Susa River.
- This is the particular group that Dian Fossey studied. It gained more popularity when it bore twins: Impano and Byishimo.
Karisimbi Gorilla family
- The Karisimbi Gorilla group has 15 members with 3 silverbacks.
- It is also called Susa B because it is the group that split from the original Susa family.
- This group wanders around the slopes of Karisimbi Volcano.
Sabyinyo Gorilla family
- The Sabyinyo family has 12 members and two silverbacks.
- This group got its name from Mount Sabyinyo.
- It inhabits the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Gahinga. It stays between these two Virunga Volcano Mountains. Sabyinyo means “Old Man’s Teeth.”
Amahoro Gorilla family
- This group has about seventeen members with only one silverback.
- Amahoro means ‘peace’ in local Kinyarwanda. The family earned this name because of its extraordinary and gentle character. Its Silverback is the most peaceful and has lost a number of members to other groups after turning down challenges. Reaching this family is a tough hike.
Umubano Gorilla Family
- This group has eleven members with one Silverback.
- Umubano implicates ‘live together’ in local Kinyarwanda. This family split from the Amahoro gorilla family to form their own.
- Despite sharing the same territory with Amahoro, they still live together and peacefully.
Kwitonda Gorilla Family
- Kwitonda has eighteen members with two silverbacks
- The word “Kwitonda” implicates ‘humble one’. The group was named after their humble dominant Silverback.
- Being one of the most difficult to track, this group resides on the lower slopes of Mount Muhavura.
Hirwa Gorilla Family
- Hirwa has 12 members with one Silverback.
- Hirwa means ‘lucky one.’
- Hirwa was formed after merging some members from the Sabyinyo family and others from group 13.
- They have twins and wander around the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo.
Agasha Gorilla family
- Agasha has about twenty-five members and 2 Silverbacks
- Agasha implies ‘the news.’
- This group was previously named Group 13, but Agasha had won the challenge from its Silverback by then, claiming leadership of the group.
Agasha Gorilla family
Bwenge Gorilla family
- The Bwenge Gorilla family has ten members with one Silverback.
- Bwenge implies ‘brightness.’
- This family lives close to the Ugyenda family on Mount Bisoke.
The Uganda Group
- Eleven members and one silverback.
- Ugyenda implies ‘departure.’
- The Ugyenda gorilla family inhabits the region of Mount Visoke.
- Tracking this group is not so difficult.
To track gorillas in Volcanoes National Park , one needs to obtain a gorilla trekking permit from Rwanda Development Board at a fee of $1500 per person.
