HABITUATED GORILLA GROUPS IN RWANDA
For any plans to track mountain gorillas in Rwanda, then Volcanoes National Park should be a must to include in your travel plan. This protected area makes up part of the Virunga Conservation Area which also covers parts of the Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga National Park in southwestern Uganda. For visitors on gorilla safari, you have 10 families that have been habituated and readily available for gorilla trekking. This represent about 80 permits that are available each day for purchase in Rwanda and each permit costs $1500.
Below is a list of habituated gorilla families in Rwanda.
The Susa ‘A’ family
If it is extra-ordinary experience that you wish to be part of while on gorilla safari in Rwanda then the Susa A group is that one family you need not to miss to explore. This group is a famous group that Dian Fossey also conducted her research for many years till she was murdered mysteriously in 1985. It also comprised of 40 members making it one of the largest families at a time. Due to fights and splits, the number of gorillas in this group reduced drastically. Today, there are not more than 28 gorillas that thrive within this family with 3 silverbacks. It is from here that Poppy whom Dian Fossey had studied lives. This family derived its name from River Susa that flows through this gorilla family. A trek to see group members of this group can be challenging and you need to be physically fit.
Karisimbi group
This group is also best known as the Susa ‘B’ a splitter family from the main Susa family. About 15 members make up this group and they straddle at the base of Mount Karisimbi and you will still need to be physically fit. Karisimbi volcano stands at altitude of about 4507 meters and it is the highest of all the Virunga Volcanoes.
Sabyinyo group
This group features as easiest to track in Volcanoes National Park. It is headed by the massive Guhonda silverback one of the strongest silverbacks in this protected area. It is also a smaller family and in 2014, about 8 members thrived in this group. Its group members spend most of their time around the gentle foothill slopes of Sabyinyo volcano and Gahinga volcano.
Amahoro group
The word ‘Amahoro’ denotes ‘peace’ and for peaceful gorilla treks then consider this group a must to track and you will have ample time with these magnificent creatures in the wild. Over 17 individuals make up this group and they usually roam around the slopes of Visoke Volcano. Ubumwe silverback gorilla family is the gentle silverback however, he lost his group members to Charles in the Umubano family.
Agashya
This group is also known as Group 13 the fact that it originally started with only 13 members. The word Agashya denotes special and indeed it is a special group of its own. Currently, it made up of 25 members with 1 silverback. In most cases, they wonder around foothills of Gahinga and Sabyinyo volcanoes.
Umubano
This is a splitter group of Amahoro gorilla family. The word Umubano denotes neighborliness and regardless of feud that led to its split, the two live harmoniously thus the word Umubano that denotes togetherness. This group is led by Ubumwe a dominant silverback gorilla. This habituated family is composed of 11 gorillas and treks through it require some physical fitness but not like a case of the Susa group.
Kwitonda group
This is led by a dominant Kwitonda silverback whose name denotes the humble one. Over 17 individuals thrive within this group. It is wanders around the slopes of Muhabura volcano and hiking through it also requires some physical wellness.
Hirwa
This is one of a recently introduced groups and splitter group from Agashya and Sabyinyo families. This habituated family was introduced on 17th June 2006 when trackers spotted its creation from other rising gorillas from the 2 different groups-Agashya and Sabyinyo. The group is made of 9 members and they wander around the foothills of Gahinga and Sabyinyo volcanoes.
Ugenda
This group is known for its roaming behavior and thus its name Ugenda that denotes to the mobile being on the move. It is composed of 11 members and they live around Mount Bisoke and it is not that challenging to trek them as it requires minimal physical wellness in you.
Bwenge
Bwenge locally denotes wisdom and the group’s members can easily be tracked on the slopes of Mount Karisoke. Unlike other groups, Bwenge has experienced much loss especially when its 6 infants passed on. However, it is currently thriving with new births being registered. Interestingly, some of this gorilla group’s members also featured in the Gorilla in the Mist movie. This group was founded in 2007 when its group members broke off with Bwenge from the original group and other females joined him.
In conclusion, for any plans to visit Rwanda for a gorilla safari, the above habituated families should be a must for you to explore. Note one permit is equivalent to one habituated family.