Gorilla Families in Rushaga

Rushaga sector is located in the southern region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Rushaga sector is one of the four trailheads for gorilla trekking experiences in Uganda. Home to the highest number of habituated gorilla groups, the Rushaga sector is the most popular trailhead for gorilla trekking to travelers connecting to Uganda from Rwanda (Kigali). Furthermore, Rushaga is also popular for being the only trailhead where tourists can enjoy the gorilla habituation experience and get to spend four hours with the wild mountain gorillas.

Uganda is home to half of the world’s remaining population of mountain gorillas which are distributed into two respective gorilla national parks – Mgahinga gorilla national park and Bwindi impenetrable national park.

Rushaga sector is home to 8 habituated gorilla families. The sector is dominated by stunning hills and rugged rift valleys with spectacular views of the Virunga ranges. This makes gorilla trekking excursions in the sector scenic and exciting. Mountain gorilla groups in Rushaga sector include Nshongi, Kutu, Bikyingi, Mishaya, Busingye, Kahungye, Bweza, and Mucunguzi gorilla families. Rushaga is also home to two other gorilla groups that are still under habituation but are open to Uganda gorilla habituation experiences.

Nshongi Gorilla Family

Nshongi Gorilla Family was the largest habituated gorilla family in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The gorilla group was first discovered by researchers in 2006 and it was composed of 36 members at the time. But later, the number of family members kept reducing due to misunderstandings. It was first discovered by rangers near the Nshongi river where it derives its name from the local word “Omushongi Gwo’obwooki” which means honey. This is because of the river’s color which resembles honey.

Nshongi gorilla family underwent habituation in 2007 and was opened for gorilla trekking in 2009, with over three silverbacks. Later in 2010, the dominant silverback broke away from the family to form his own gorilla family and in 2013, another dominant silverback, Bweza also broke away to form his. The gorilla family was reduced to 18 members and has continued to reduce. Today, the Nshongi gorilla family comprises 7 members including 1 silverback, 3 adult females, 1 sub-adult female, 1 juvenile, and 1 infant.

Mishaya Gorilla Family

The Mishaya gorilla family in found in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The group was formed in 2010 after the dominant silverback, Mishaya, broke off from the Nshongi gorilla group to form his own. However, in 2014, the gorilla group lost its leader, Mishaya. This left the family with no male leader causing separations in the gorilla family as some of the members joined other gorilla families such as the Bweza and Bikingi gorilla families.

Nevertheless, researchers re-discovered what was believed to be the left of the Mishaya gorilla family in 2018, which was under the leadership of the dominant silverback, Tinfayo. Tinfayo was a former member of the Nshongi gorilla family who had left the group in 2012. Following its discovery, the new Mishaya gorilla family was re-habituated and is currently composed of 1 silverback, 1 blackback, 3 adult females, 1 sub-adult female, and 3 infants.

Bweza Gorilla Family

Bweza gorilla is one of the most interesting gorilla groups to trek in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The group was formed in 2013 after the silverback Katono broke off from the Nshongi gorilla family, following a dispute with Bweza. Katono challenged Bweza’s leadership and left the family with some of the members to form his own.

Still under the leadership of the dominant silverback, Katono, the Bweza gorilla family consists of 11 members including 3 silverbacks, 4 adult females, 1 juvenile, and 3 infants. The gorilla group is known for foraging mostly in community areas next to the park.

Kahungye Gorilla Family

Led by the dominant silverback, Ruziika, the Kahungye gorilla family is one of the habituated gorilla families in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The gorilla group started its habituation in 2008 with 29 members. However in 2012, one of the silverbacks, Busingye led a dispute that split the gorilla family into two. While Busingye left the group with some of the members to form his own family, Kahungye gorilla family grew and expanded. Today, the gorilla family has 25 members including 5 silverbacks, 2 blackbacks, 7 adult females, 3 sub-adult females, 2 juveniles, and 6 infants.

Busingye Gorilla Family

Busingye gorilla family is also one of Rushaga’s habituated gorilla families for gorilla trekking. The gorilla group is the most famous in the sector known for having playful and entertaining members, as well as foraging deep inside the forest with rare access to the park boundaries. Busingye gorilla family is led by the dominant silverback, Busingye who initially broke away from the Kahungye gorilla group in March 2008 to form his own. Busingye derives his name from a local word that translates as, “peaceful,” though his character is quite the contrary. Busingye is known to lead attacks on other gorilla families to expand his gorilla family. Busingye gorilla group currently consists of 9 individuals including 1 silverback, 1 blackback, 3 adult females, 2 juveniles, and 3 infants.

Bikingi Gorilla Family

Bikingi gorilla group found in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is currently led by Bikingi, a former solitary male. The group’s dominant silverback, Bikingi was killed by an unknown wild silverback who then took on leadership of the group in June 2018. The solitary silverback that killed the leading silverback was also named after the former, Bikingi, to preserve the identity of the gorilla group.

Following the death of the dominant silverback, Bikingi, the group split causing some of the members to join other gorilla groups. Nonetheless, after a close search, 9 members of the gorilla group including the solitary male were discovered and habituated in 2012. Bikingi gorilla family is currently made up of 11 members including 2 silverbacks, 5 adult females, 1 juvenile, and 4 infants.

Mucunguzi Gorilla Family

Mucunguzi gorilla family is the most unique habituated gorilla family in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The group is predominantly female (since it has many females), led by the dominant silverback, Mucunguzi from which the group derives its name. The word, “Mucunguzi” is a local word that means “savior.”

The gorilla family was formed after Mucunguzi invaded the Bikingi gorilla family and captured females to form his own. Mucunguzi was originally a member of the Bweza gorilla family but had broken off after a fight with the group’s leader. He then lived a solitary life until he invaded Bikingi to form the Mucunguzi gorilla family. Mucungzi gorilla family is currently made up of 12 members.

Kutu Gorilla Family

Kutu group is found in Rushaga Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. It is led by Silverback Ndugu. Kutu is one of the newly habituated groups. The group is composed of 20 members including 1 Silverback, 1 Blackback, 8 Adult females, 1 Sub-adult, 2 Juveniles and 7 Infants.

Trekking Gorilla Families in the Rushaga Sector of Bwindi

Trekking gorilla families in the Rushaga sector begins at the park headquarters in the sector with a briefing from the park rangers. You are then allocated a gorilla group for gorilla trekking. Only 8 people are allowed a particular gorilla group in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. One should be 15 years and above to trek.

After briefing and allocating gorilla groups to trek, visitors are led by armed rangers and guides on a search for the apes through the jungle. The guides will help you navigate the thick shrubbery of the forest’s gorgeous scenery. Spend an hour observing them and their natural habitat.

Like any other sector in Bwindi, a gorilla permit costs $800 per person for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, and Ugx 300,000 for East African Citizens. Furthermore, the cost of a gorilla habituation experience is $1,500 per person. Rushaga sector has 8 habituated gorilla groups for trekking, and thus 64 gorilla permits are issued per day. It has 4 habituation permits per day.

When is the Best Time to Visit Gorilla Families in the Rushaga Sector of Bwindi?

Generally, trekking gorilla families in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is good all year. However, the dry season from June through September and the short dry season from late December to early February is the best time to trek mountain gorillas in Rushaga. During this time, the jungle is less muddy, and slippery and the vegetation is shorter; thus, making access easy for tourists. Furthermore, the dry season is the best time for several other Uganda safaris such as wildlife viewing and hiking among others.

On the other hand, trekking gorilla families in the Rushaga sector is also possible during the rainy season (from March to May), especially for tourists who prefer fewer crowds in the park.

Accommodation in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi