Mountain gorillas in Rwanda reside in Volcanoes National Park, which is located within the Virunga Mountain ranges on the slopes of Mt. Karisimbi and Mt. Bisoke, both located on the fringes of the park and other popular destinations for gorilla trekking.
Volcanoes National Park is home to over 380 gorillas which make up the 12 fully habituated gorilla families. During gorilla treks, gorilla families are assigned based on tourists’ preferences, age and overall level of fitness since some gorilla groups live deep in the forest at very higher altitudes which are hard to access and require longer tracking hours which might not be managed by some trekkers.
Gorilla tracking permits cost $1500 per person since mountain gorillas are one of Rwanda’s most prestigious attractions.
There are currently 12 gorilla family groups spread across the park and these include Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, Amahoro, Agashya, Kwitonda, Umubano, Susa, Hirwa, Ugyenda, Bwenge, Muhoza and Igisha.
Susa Gorilla Family (Susa A)
Studied by renowned primatologist Dian Fossey, it was the first group to be fully habituated and originally consisted of 42 members before it encountered a conflict that led to its division. Usually located at very high-altitude areas within the mountains, trekking it is a challenge concurred by many due to its energetic and playful members who are entertaining to watch especially the young twins Impano and Byishimo. Its name was derived from “Susa” river along which they resided during the habituation process.
Karisimbi Gorilla Family (Susa-B)
With around 15 members, this is the group that successfully broke away from Susa Group hence at times known as Susa B group. Residing along the steep slopes of Mount Karisimbi, the group also offers a challenge of trekking it. It at times moves even further in that the rangers have to go ahead of the trekking group to confirm whether they are close by or not. In cases where the group has migrated to very far areas, the trek is usually postponed.
Sabyinyo Gorilla Group
Located along the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo where their name is also derived from, this family has 18 members led by Guhonda one of the largest and heaviest silverbacks in the park. Since their leader is so heavy weighing around 220kg they can’t go to high altitude areas hence making it easy to trek them because they stay near the park’s boundaries.
Amahoro Gorilla Family
Residing on the steep slopes of Mount Bisoke, this group has 21 members led by a dominant yet calm silverback called Ubumwe. A favorite among trekkers who adore its infants and peaceful nature depicted in its name “Amahoro” which means “peace” in Kinyarwanda. The group has however faced conflicts with an aggressive silverback named Charles that caused a feud and split the group to form Umubano group.
Umubano Gorilla Family
Once part of the Amahoro Gorilla group, it is led by Charles who broke away from Amahoro to form his own group. During the conflict, he parted with some adult females who reproduced and the family currently has 11 individuals consisting of 6 infants. Despite having had conflicts with Amahoro, these two groups stay close to each other a unique behavior exhibited in their group name “Umubano” means living together
Agashya Gorilla Family
First led by Nyakarima when it was still known as “Group 13,” the group split up after a battle between Nyakarima and Agashya who won and took over the family and fled with them to the top of the Mount Sabyinyo.
Currently led by Agashya who kept growing the group by recruiting members in solitude and others from other families, the group now has 25 members and stay close to Sabyinyo group.
Igisha Gorilla Family
Led by Igisha who was once part of Susa group, he split from the group in November 2014 with other 23 members to form the current group. The group is now composed of 5 silverbacks, a blackback, 9 adult females, 5 adolescents and 8 infants.
Kwitonda Gorilla Group
This group is always on the move, moving from one place to another which poses a challenge of trekking them, it actually originated from Congo. However, it looks like they now settled on the slopes of Mount Muhabura. It has 18 members with 2 silverbacks led by Kwitonda which translates as “humble one” in Kinyarwanda.
Hirwa Gorilla Family
The Sabyinyo family and several members of Group 13 got together to form their own group, which is why this is a relatively new group. They live on Mount Sabyinyo’s slopes, where they are guarded by a dominating silverback.
The group was fortunate to have additional people join them freely, which is why the name Hirwa, which means “lucky one,” was chosen. Observed in 2006, this uncommon group now consists of 16 individuals, including twins.
Staying on the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo, it is a new group consisting of members from both Sabyinyo and Group 13 families who came together to form their own family. It was habituated in 2006 and named Hirwa meaning “lucky one” because its members joined peacefully at their own will. It comprises of 16 members of which 2 are twins, a rare occurrence among gorillas.
Bwenge Group Family
Another new group established in 2007, it has 11 members led by Bwenge a dominant silverback that founded the group after breaking away from its family. It is located on the muddy and steep slopes of Karisoke Volcano. Bwenge means “wisdom.” Interestingly, this is the family whose members featured in the famous movie “Gorillas in the Mist.”
Ugenda Gorilla Family
The nomadic lifestyle of this group that keeps it moving from one place to another in search of better living conditions and food makes trekking them troublesome. Its group name was derived from Ugenda which means “being on the move.” The group has 11 members with 2 silverbacks inclusive and stays around the Karisimbi Region.
Muhoza Gorilla Family
The most recent family created by dominant silverback Muhoza in 2016 and it originally had 7 members. The group has continuously grown with the addition of two adult females got from Hirwa family. They are now 14 in number consisting of 8 adult females, 1 silverback and 5 infants.
