Gorilla Families in Rwanda are trekked only in Volcanoes National Park/Parc Nationale des Volcans a home to about 300 of the world’s 1063 remaining endangered mountain gorillas. 13 families of mountain gorillas are available for all Rwanda safari travelers to trek while on gorilla safari in Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri, each group can only be trekked by 8 visitors per day and they should have valid gorilla permits. Rwanda gorilla permits are available for booking through a reliable tour operator/Rwanda Development Board reservation team at USD1500.
Volcanoes National Park Rwanda is located in the Northwest, 2-3 hours of driving starting from Kigali and from Kabale/Kisoro, about 3-4 hours. It is one of the oldest parks Africa has, founded in 1925 and though it has over 20 gorilla groups, only 13 of them have been habituated and ready for gorilla trekking.
Gorilla Families in Rwanda
Susa A family
Susa A gorilla family is one of the 13 habituated families of mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. The group is credited for its distinct history one reason it is most sought for family by Rwanda gorilla safari travelers in Volcanoes NP. Susa A initially had a composition of up to 41 gorillas and it is here where Dian Fossey did her gorilla research.
Interestingly, while exploring Susa A family, you will have insight into its twin gorillas- Impano and Byishimo. If you looking for something a little challenging on Rwanda safari then Susa A family has you sorted. The Susa gorilla family of Volcanoes National Park derives its name from the Susa River and due to splits, it currently has about 28 gorillas.
Karisimbi gorilla family/Susa B
Karisimbi gorilla family is among the amazing families that await for you to explore while on Rwanda safari in Volcanoes National Park. Karisimbi group left original Susa A and it is undoubtedly one of the challenging groups of mountain gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes N/Park. It has 15 members, 2 silverbacks and often roams along Karisimbi Volcano.
Amahoro gorilla family
Amahoro is a local word meaning peace and indeed if you are searching for a peaceful family of mountain gorillas then you are covered here. It got its name considering its members’ humble characters and their peaceful leader. This family of mountain gorillas in particular ranges on the uphill and expect to trek a little via the steep slopes in order to find them.
Sabyinyo gorilla family
Taking its name from Sabyinyo Volcano, Sabyinyo group is led by the powerful Guhonda silverback. It is small family of 12 members but remarkable to interact with while on gorilla safari in Volcanoes National Park. The group also ranges around the park’s head offices.
Umubano family
Umubano gorilla family has a composition of 11 members and takes its name from Kinyarwanda word Umubano which is translated as togetherness. The group broke away from Amahoro group.
Hirwa gorilla family
Hirwa gorilla group family which has 12 members recently moved to Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park but later returned to Volcanoes N/Park. The group split from 3 families in Volcanoes National Park that is Susa, Sabyinyo and Group 13. The family left Susa under the leadership of Munyinya silverback gorilla.
Kwitonda family
Kwitonda gorilla family of Volcanoes NP derives its name after Kwitonda silverback. It is one of the humblest families Rwanda is known for. Initially, the group used to roam between the D.R. Congo & Volcanoes National Park/PNV. It has 18 members but trekking to find it requires you to navigate through the upper slopes of Mt. Muhabura.
Ugenda gorilla family
Ugenda gorilla family is another remarkable family you should expect to track while on gorilla tour in Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri. The group derives its name from word ‘Ugenda’ meaning on move and its members range around Mount Karisimbi and Bisoke.
Agashya/Group 13
Group 13 took its name at the time when it originally had 13 members. Today, the number of the 13 Group has increased up to 25 mountain gorillas. The word Agashya is translated as ‘news.’
Bwenge family
Bwenge family takes its name after Bwenge silverback gorilla. Bwenge means brightness and the group dwells near Ugenda gorilla group along Bisoke volcano.
Titus
Titus gorilla family of Volcanoes National Park takes its name from Titus silverback. The group has its own unique history-during the Dian Fossey’s research in Volcanoes National Park, Titus lost all its family members and he was the only one that survived poachers. While at Volcanoes National Park, Titus group family can easily be trekked along the slopes of Karisimbi and Bisoke Volcanoes.
Pablo
As of 2006, Pablo gorilla family comprised of 65 members remarkably bigger than any of the Volcanoes National Park’s gorilla family groups. Unfortunately, this was a huge population for a single silverback gorilla to maintain resulting into splits, formation of new families. The group has been led by different dominant male gorillas including Pablo, Cantsbee and recently Gicurasi silverback.
Igisha gorilla family
Igisha gorilla group family one of the gorilla groups in Volcanoes National Park and it takes its name from Igisha silverback gorilla. The group broke away from Susa A on 30th 2014 and left with over 23 members. Today, the group has a composition of 31 members and this includes 5 silverbacks, 1 black back, 9 adult females, 3 juveniles, 8 infants etc.
About mountain gorillas
Mountain gorillas are sub-species of the species Eastern gorilla and they thrive only in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Unlike the Grauer’s gorillas, mountain gorillas are slightly smaller and lighter though larger and heavier than the Western Lowland gorillas plus the Cross River gorillas.
Other than Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, mountain gorillas also exist in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in the D.R. Congo. In any of these gorilla safari parks, only persons above 15 years are considered to be eligible to go track mountain gorillas and each person must have a valid gorilla permit. In addition, rules and regulations for gorilla trekking must be observed by all trekkers on gorilla safari in Uganda, Rwanda or the D.R. Congo.
