The Busingye gorilla group is found in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and split from the Kahungye family in 2012, when silverback Busingye broke away to form his own group.
An Ironic Name
Busingye means “peace” in the local dialect, which is a surprising name given the silverback’s reputation. He’s known as one of the more aggressive and ambitious silverbacks in Bwindi, regularly picking fights with silverbacks from other families and taking females from rival groups to add to his own. He’s equally committed to defending his family from outside threats, doing whatever it takes to keep the group intact once he’s built it.
Family Structure
The Busingye group currently has 9 members: 1 silverback, 5 blackbacks, and 3 infants. As with any gorilla family, this number shifts over time with new births, deaths, and further splits as members leave to form their own groups.
Gorilla Permits
Permits to trek the Busingye family cost $800 per person and can be purchased at Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters in Kampala, through a trusted tour operator, or at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park headquarters, though buying on arrival at the park is discouraged given limited daily availability. Booking well in advance is the safer option to avoid disappointment.
What to Expect on Trekking Day
Arrive at park headquarters early in the morning for a roughly 30-minute briefing on gorilla trekking rules, after which visitors are split into groups of 8, each assigned to a specific gorilla family. The trek itself can last 1 to 8 hours depending on where the family has moved, and includes a full hour with the gorillas once found, guided by trackers who share insight into the family’s behavior, history, and the broader conservation story behind it.
With a name that contradicts its silverback’s temperament and a firsthand connection to Bwindi’s larger family-splitting history in Rushaga, the Busingye group offers a memorable trekking story alongside the encounter itself. Book your gorilla trekking permit with our team today, and we’ll help you plan the trek alongside the rest of your Bwindi itinerary.
