Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, situated in southwestern Uganda, is renowned for sheltering some of the best gorilla families to visit. Uganda has 51% of the remaining mountain gorillas on earth, and 459 of these live in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. With an impressive 23 habituated families, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the best place to see the critically endangered mountain gorillas.
These can be found in the 4 gorilla sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. There is the Ruhija sector in the eastern part and the Nkuringo sector in the southern part. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park also has the Rushaga sector in the southern part and the Buhoma sector in the north. The best gorilla families to visit in Bwindi include,
Mubare family
The Mubare gorilla family is situated in the Buhoma sector and has some of the most interesting stories to know. This is the first ever family to be habituated in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. During habituation, the Mubare family was headed by the silverback Ruhondeza. Following his death in 2012, Kanyonyi, his son, succeeded him. Kanyonyi was later killed by the current silverback, Maraya.
The Mubare family is composed of only 7 members, including 1 silverback, 3 adult females, 1 juvenile, and 2 infant gorillas. The family was historically known for several infanticides, especially by Ruhondeza. He would kill infants he perceived as future rivals. This was until he grew too old for the adult females to evade him and protect their babies.
Rushegura family
The Rushegura gorilla family is found within the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. With 16 members making up the Rushegura family, they consists of 2 silverbacks, 2 blackbacks, 5 adult females, 1 subadult female, 2 subadult males, and 4 infant gorillas. The dominant silverback is called Kabukojo, and the rest of the members are dependent on him for leadership and protection. This family gets its name from a tree species known by the locals as ‘Ebishegura.’ These were common at the place where they separated from another family.
Nkuringo family
The Nkuringo gorilla family lives in the Nkuringo sector and now has 14 members. Of these 2 a silverbacks, 2 are blackbacks, 6 are adult females, 1 is a juvenile, and 3 are infant gorillas. Rwamutwe is the dominant silverback leading the Nkuringo family. He succeeded Rafiki, who was unfortunately killed by poachers. The Nkuringo family is known for spending most of its day outside the park, foraging in the buffer zone. Also, the only recorded birth of twins in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was from the Nkuringo family.
Oruzogo family
The Oruzogo gorilla family lives in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and comprises 11 members. Kaganga is the only silverback in the Oruzogo family and offers guidance to the members. Besides him, the Oruzogo family has 6 blackbacks, 2 adult females, 1 juvenile, and 1 infant gorilla. The family gets its name from a plant locally known as Oruzogo, which they feed on, unlike other gorilla families.
Nshongi family
The Nshongi family can be found foraging in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Currently, the Nshongi Gorilla family consists of around 13 members, comprising 1 silverback, 1 blackback, 4 adult females, 1 subadult male, 1 subadult female, 1 juvenile, and 4 infant gorillas. The Nshongi family is led by the dominant silverback Bweza. The family got its name from the River Nshongi.
Busingye family
The Busingye gorilla family is also found in the Rushaga region, with 17 members. These members are comprised of 1 silverback, 7 adult females, 2 subadult females, and 7 infant gorillas. The dominant silverback is Mutatina, who offers leadership in the family. The Busingye family is named after Busingye, who was the leader during its breakaway from another gorilla family. The Busingye family is known to forage inside the forest and is rarely seen at its edges.
Cost of visiting a gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Visiting a gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park costs only USD 800 per person if you are a foreign non-resident. For the foreign residents, a gorilla trek is offered at only USD 700 per person. Citizens from the East African Community countries pay UGX 300,000 per person. This is for a gorilla trekking tour in any of the 4 gorilla sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This caters to the park entrance and guiding.
Gorilla habituation experiences are also offered only in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. A foreign non-resident will enjoy this at USD 1,500. A foreign resident and an East African Community citizen will pay USD 1,000 and UGX 750,000, respectively. Gorilla habituation experiences offer visitors 4 hours to be in the presence of a semi-habituated gorilla family. A gorilla trek only offers 1 hour in the presence of a habituated gorilla family.
