The Kwitonda gorilla group traces back to 2003, when a silverback named Kwitonda led a migration from DR Congo into Rwanda, driven out of Congo by pressure from other gorilla families in the area. The group takes its name from that founding silverback.
Leadership History
Kwitonda died in 2012 at around 40 years old, after rangers had noticed his health declining under increasing pressure from younger males in the group. His body was found roughly 10 days after his death, in a location away from the rest of the family, and doctors concluded he died of natural causes tied to old age.
In an unusual move for a mountain gorilla family, Kwitonda had allowed other males in the group to mate with the family’s females before his death, despite this normally being the exclusive right of the dominant silverback. It’s believed he recognized his own weakening health and the group’s need to grow, and chose to strengthen family bonds this way rather than hold onto exclusive breeding rights as his condition worsened.
Leadership passed to Akarevuro, who had been a younger member during Kwitonda’s rule. Fellow silverbacks Kigoma and Magumu both accepted Akarevuro’s position as the new dominant leader without contest.
Family Structure Today
Kwitonda is the second-largest gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park, with 33 members: 2 silverbacks, 3 blackbacks, 9 adult females, 2 sub-adult males, 6 juveniles, and 10 infants.
Where Kwitonda Lives
The family occupies territory between Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabyinyo, along the border between Rwanda and Uganda. Kwitonda himself was known for a notably relaxed temperament toward both other gorillas and humans, a trait that may have shaped the family’s more permissive social structure during his leadership.
What to Bring for Your Trek
Pack sturdy trekking shoes, a long-sleeved khaki or green shirt, trousers, a hat, and a waterproof jacket for your trek to meet the Kwitonda family.
With one of the largest and most historically distinct families in Volcanoes National Park, trekking the Kwitonda group offers a genuinely different story from most other Rwanda gorilla families. Book your gorilla permit with our team today, and we’ll help you plan the trek alongside the rest of your Rwanda itinerary.
