Gorilla Families in Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is located in the northwestern part of Rwanda, covering an area of about 160sqkm covered by tropical rain forests and consists of five of the eight Volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains. Volcanoes National Park is home to about 340 Mountain Gorillas from the four Gorilla trekking destinations in the world. The park consists of about 10 habituated gorilla groups that can be seen by tourists on gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda. Most of these gorilla families have unique histories with significant characteristics. Each gorilla family is headed by a dominant silverback. Below are some of the gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park.

Susa Family: This is one of the largest and most famous mountain gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park named after the Susa River. The group consists of about 30 individuals including several silverbacks, females and infants. Susa gorilla Family is led by Susa the dominant silverback and is fully open for gorilla trekking safaris in Volcanoes National Park.

Amahoro Family: Amahoro means “peace” in Kinyarwanda, Amahoro is characterised as a peaceful gorilla family and is open for trekking in Volcanoes National Park. The Family consists of 17 members including females, silverbacks and infants that are led by Ubumwe the dominant silverbacks.

Hirwa Family: The Hirwa Family was established in 2006 when some members broke away from other families due to dominance and leadership. The Hirwa Family is one of the latest gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park and is usually spotted in the dense bamboo Forest and the volcanic slopes of the park.

Kwitonda Group: Kwitonda translates to “Humble” which means The Kwitonda group is characterised by peaceful and calm nature among the gorilla Families in Volcanoes National Park. Kwitonda Gorilla Group spends most of its time making social bonds and peaceful relations between its members. The Kwitonda Family is headed by the dominant silverback Kwitonda including several silverbacks, females and infants. The group is one of the most visited gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park during gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda.

Karisimbi Family: The Karisimbi family is situated around the Karisimbi Volcano after breaking away from the Susa gorilla group. The Karisimbi Family consists of 15 members including the dominant silverback, females, infants and other silverbacks. Seeing the Karisimbi Gorilla Family is sometimes challenging even after a long hike of Karisimbi Volcano.

Sabinyo Gorilla Family: This group was named after Mount Sabinyo which translates to “Old Man’s Tooth”. Sabinyo consists of about 8 members headed by Guhonda the dominant silverback. Being close to Mount Sabinyo, this gorilla family is one of the easiest gorilla families to spot and the most visited Family in Volcanoes National Park.

 Umubano Gorilla Family: The Umubano gorilla family consists of about 11 Members including 6 young ones and is headed by Charles the Dominant Silverback. The Umubano gorilla family broke away from the Amahoro gorilla group due to bad leadership and the need for dominance. Umubano means togetherness which means the group currently lives with its members in harmony.

Ugenda Family: This particular gorilla group is ever-moving thus the name Ugenda which translates to “Ever-moving”. The family broke away from other gorilla families because of its moving character in search of pasture and habitats thus forming its group. Ugenda group consists of about 11 members including 2 silverbacks, females and infants as well as Ugenda the dominant silverback. This Family is rarely spotted during gorilla trekking safaris because of its ever-moving character though it is open for tracking.

Bwenge Family: The Bwenge Family was recently established in 2007 and consists of 11 members including females, males and young ones. Bwenge Translated to Wisdom meaning the family was wise to break away from other families due to bad leadership and need for dominance. The Bwenge Gorilla Family lives around Karisoke Volcano and can be seen during a gorilla trekking safari in Volcanoes National Park though the trek involves going through the steep and muddy hills.

Agashya Gorilla Group: The group consists of about 25 members including several silverbacks, females and infants headed by Agasha the dominant silverback. The aggressive nature of Agashya helped in forming a larger group by stealing members from other groups such as Sabinyo and giving care to its members. The group was once led by Nyakarima and later was overtaken by Agashya because of its aggressive nature. Today, the group sits on top of Sabinyo Volcano most of the time.

Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park.

Volcanoes National Park is located in the northwestern part of Rwanda covers an area of about 160sqkm and is home to about 340 mountain gorillas and other mammal species such as golden Monkeys, L’Hoest Monkeys, red-tailed Monkeys, vervet monkeys, black and white-tailed Monkeys, olive baboons and other mammals that make it a prime gorilla trekking destination in Rwanda.

Gorilla trekking safaris in Volcanoes National Park start at Kinigi Visitor’s Information Center with a briefing to the tourists about gorilla trekking including the rules and guidelines to follow while observing the gorillas in their natural habitats. After the briefing, tourists are divided into groups of 8 pax per gorilla group and assigned park rangers for a safe gorilla trekking experience. Once you find the gorillas, you are granted to spend 1 full hour of experience with the gorillas as you take photographs and learn about their ways of life. Later you shall head back to the starting point which marks the end of your gorilla trekking experience.

How Much is Gorilla Trekking Permit in Volcanoes National Park?

Seeing the gorillas in their natural habitats requires a gorilla trekking permit which is issued by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). A gorilla trekking permit costs USD 1500 for Foreign Non-Residents and USD 1000 for Foreign Residents. Tourists planning to embark on gorilla trekking safaris are advised to book their gorilla trekking permits in advance to avoid inconveniences.

In conclusion, the mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park are a living testament to the power of conservation and the resilience of the natural world. Through the efforts of dedicated individuals and organizations, these magnificent animals have been saved from the brink of extinction, and today, they thrive in the lush, misty forests of the Virunga Volcanoes.