This gorilla family is one of the eight gorilla families in Virunga national park in D.R. Congo. It was habituated and opened for tourists in 1989 and at that time was led by Rugendo the silverback. Currently, Rugendo gorilla family is dominated by mostly survivors of the mass gorilla murders that happened in 2007 where more than 5 members were killed including silverback Senkwekwe.

This gorilla group is located in Virunga national park, one of DR Congo’s famous mountain gorilla destination. Rugendo gorilla family had sons namely; Humba, Senkwekwe and Mapuwa who later on split from the group forming their individual families. Formerly, Rugendo gorilla family comprised 18 members under the leadership of Rugendo. In 1998, the group had a lot of struggles and internal conflicts where Humba the son of Rugendo fought with the father and split the group and wet to form his family with 9 members.

The gorilla family is now led by Bukima the silverback and this old gorilla family is now comprised of 9 members. Evidence shows that there has been great reforms in the regime of Bukima than in the Rugendo regime. This informs of leadership skills executed by Bukima the silverback.

This gorilla family is located in Virunga national park, a vast conservation area which covers an area of 7,768 square kilometers in the north – Kivu region near the town of Goma. It is located in the Albertine rift valley and in the Virunga ranges where you can take a hike to the Nyiragongo Mountain – an active volcano where molten magma can be seen boiling. The park is as well home to over 190 mammals in addition to the endangered mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, over 700 bird species including Double-toothed Barbet, Ruwenzori turacos and African goshawk among others.

Are you planning to take a gorilla trekking safari in D.R. Congo? Rugendo gorilla family gives you the best experience, which usually takes between 3 days to 5 days safari and most trips to Virunga national park begin from Kigali, Rwanda or fly-ins directly to Goma airport. The adventure departs every morning after briefing from the ranger station, where park officials take visitors through the briefing exercise after checking the validity of trekking permits. Then the park guide who is fully armed leads a group of 8 or fewer visitors in the forest to trek the Rugendo gorilla family.

This trek can take approximately 3 hours but highly depends on the movement of these gorillas or where they spent their last night. The best moments start after locating the family for the first time where visitors will enjoy their movements, communication, habits like feeding and grooming. All you need to know is that they are located in hilly jungles and some areas are rugged, this means that you should be in good health conditions in order to manage the long treks.

To be allowed to visit the Rugendo gorilla family, visitors are required to possess valid gorilla permits and advised to have strong hiking shoes, insect repellents to protect you from insect bites like mosquitos since D.R. Congo is comprised of thick jungles, required travel documents include a Congolese Visa which can be acquired at Goma boarder and yellow fever vaccination certificate.

Best time to visit Rugendo gorilla family in Virunga National Park.

D.R. Congo is characterized by tropical / equatorial climate and marked by two rainy and dry seasons, though diurnal weather cannot be predicted. But precisely, D.R. Congo can be suitably visited during dry season that range between June and September, as well as December to February. Gorilla trekking during wet season may be tougher and more hectic due to muddy trails in the forest. On the advantage, gorillas seem not to move long distances in wet season, meaning that you can locate them in a short time which is not the case during dry season.

Are you interested in trekking the Rugendo gorilla family? You will have a chance to trek gorillas in Africa’s most beautiful wilderness and best kept secret – Virunga National Park.