The Bitukura gorilla group lives in the eastern Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with 15 members. The family takes its name from a river running through the forest, where the group was first found and continues to live today.
A Remarkably Fast Habituation
Habituation began in July 2007, and the family opened for trekking in October 2008, just 15 months later, making Bitukura the fastest gorilla family ever habituated in Bwindi, well under the typical 2-year process. This speed is credited to the family’s close relationship with the neighboring Kyaguriro family, whose gorillas the Bitukura group regularly interacted with, meaning rangers were already frequently in contact with them during Kyaguriro’s own habituation work. The two families are believed to still interact regularly today.
Family Size and Structure
Bitukura originally had 24 members at the time of habituation, a number that has dropped to 15 over the years, partly through members leaving to join or form other groups. Despite this, the family is known as one of Bwindi’s most peaceful, with three silverbacks living together without the conflict seen in some other groups.
Leadership History
Leadership passed from silverback Karamuzi, who led the group for more than 40 years before stepping back from an active leadership role, to Ndahura, one of the family’s younger silverbacks. Ndahura died in 2016 after falling from a tree, after which leadership passed to silverback Rukumu, who leads the family today alongside Karamuzi and third silverback Rukara.
Current members include Rukumu (dominant silverback), Karamuzi and Rukara (fellow silverbacks), adult females Betina, Ruhara, and Kamuga, blackbacks Mugisha and Obia, juveniles Twakire and Kabandize (the latter having moved over from the Kyaguriro family), and infants Kadogo and Mubwindi, the most recent addition, born to Ruhara.
With one of the fastest habituation stories in Bwindi and a reputation for calm, cooperative dynamics between its silverbacks, the Bitukura family offers a distinctive trek in the Ruhija sector. Book your gorilla trekking permit with our team today, and we’ll help you plan the trek alongside the rest of your Bwindi itinerary.
