GORILLA FAMILIES IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK.
Volcanoes national park, boasts with 10 habituated gorilla groups, and they are listed as below:
1-BWENGE GROUP
The word “BWENGE” Locally means wisdom; this group is composed of 11 individuals and a silverback, it’s found on mountain Bisoke and its relatively easy to hike so for those who are lazy to trek, this group is advisable for you.Bwenge family was found in 2007 by Bwenge who had named after him. It left his native family and was joined by a few female members from other families.
Sadly it witnessed a very dark moment, when 6 of its infants died.
2-UGENDA FAMILY
This family is made up of 11 individuals with 2 silverbacks. The word “UGENDA”means mobile which genuinely relates to this groups mobility. It’s always on the move and it’s very hard to settle in one place.
It apparently inhabits on mt Bisoke and it is not very difficult to hike.
3-TITUS FAMILY
This family was named after the silverback TITUS a primate which as born during the time when Dian Fossey was still carrying out her research at Karisoke research center. Very sadly the family got murdered by poachers, which left him as the only survivor. Titus went through a lot of hard times when growing up but still it managed to overcome all the situations and emerge as one of the most successful silverbacks to ever inhabit into VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK. It inhabits on mountain Karisimbi and Bisoke Volcanoes.
KARISIMBI FAMILY
It inhabits on the slopes of mountain Karisimbi just like the name. Its complies of 16 members with 1 silverback. It came from Susa family that’s why some of the people call it Susa B. This family is currently the hardest to trek because it’s found on the upper slopes of mountain Karisimbi which is 4507m above sea level. Some of the reasons why this family is very far to reach is becase the Silverback of the family wanted to stay away from troubles.
ADVICE
If you’re in need of a real physical challenge or to keep your health status fit, or a serious hiking challenge, then this group suits you well, better reserve permits for this group.
4-KWITONDA FAMILY
This group tallies a huge number of members 23 including 4 silverbacks. It usually inhabits on the slopes of mountain muhabura. The family got its name from the late dominant silverback which was called “KWITONDA” which was famously known for his humble character. It natively came from DRC but then migrated to Volcanoes National Park, so this is one of the reasons as to why it lives on the slopes of mountain muhabura.
5-HIRWA FAMILY
This is a new group in the park; it’s made up of 16 members with 1 silverback. The members of sabinyo.
It emerges between the slopes of mountain Gahinga and Sabinyo.HIRWA is one of the luckiest groups in Volcanoes National Park, it’s one of the few which managed to have twins. In 2011 Volcanoes National Park were celebrating because it’s the year when HIRWA family welcomed twins.
Did you know?
HIRWA means LUCKY.
6-UMUBANO FAMILY
Umubano family is made up of 13 members including 2 silverbacks; it was formed by the members of amahoro family afterone of the family’s silverbacks named Charles went off and formed its own family. Amahoro family famously known for their peace. But Charles and Ubumwe has their endless battles till Charles couldn’t resist to make his own family (UMUBANO GROUP) apparently it lives in the same territory Amahoro group.
7-AGASHYA FAMILY
This group was formerly known as group 13, but it recently changed the name. It got the name due to the number of 13 individuals which started the family. It was initially led by a silverback called Nyakarima who was later on overtaken by another dominant leader named AGASHYA who leads till date.
Agashya means “news” well very surprising the group named after him. This group now has more members than before! The tally is about 27 individuals with 1 silverback.
It is also found on the slopes of mountain sabinyo.
8-AMAHORO FAMILY
In Kinyarwanda amahoro means “peace” therefore this family is known for their ways of peace. The character of peace this group has, caused it to lose some of its family members to aggressive silverbacks that yearn to expand their respective families. This group resides on the slopes of mountain Bisoke and it complies of 18 individuals with 2 silverbacks.
Note: This group is very hard to trek as the terrain to the slopes of mt Bisoke is strenuous.
If you need peace and character in your life, then book the permit of this gorilla family.
9-SABYINYO FAMILY
It currently has 13 individuals with 2 silverbacks. It came into existence shortly after the death of a dominant silverback which led to group 13.
FACTS: One of the silver backs that leads this group is one of the largest in the park.
It usually resides on the slopes of mountain sabinyo and it’s very easy to track.
10-SUSA FAMILY
This is the biggest mountain gorilla family in the park.
It currently composed of 33 members with 2 silverbacks though it had 42 members before they broke.
EXCITING THINGS-Susa has the most exciting things in Volcanoes National Park. One is the Twins and oh yes the size of the group. Dian Fossey first studied about this group during her time in Rwanda. This is the hardest group to trek but it turns out to be the most preferred most gorilla trackers in Volcanoes National Park.
It inhabits on the lower base of mountain Karisimbi.
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