There are over 12 habituated Rwanda gorilla families and groups in Volcanoes National Park, Musanze. Gorilla trekking is a magnet for many travelers and has endlessly continued to attract an enormous number of tourists to Rwanda, who come just to catch a glimpse of these mighty apes.
Only 3 countries are lucky to be home to the mountain gorillas: slightly over 1000 in number, they can only be found in the lush jungles of southwestern Uganda, northern Rwanda, and eastern D.R. Congo.
In Uganda, travelers can encounter the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park. In Rwanda, it is carried out in Volcanoes National Park, while in Congo, it is done in Virunga National Park.
Particularly, a handful of gorilla families have been habituated and are ready for trekking all year round in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. The park is home to up to 12 habituated gorilla families, creating an opportunity for 96 people to meet mountain gorillas on a daily basis.
Each gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park is unique in its own way, ranging from location, group size, character, family composition, and history/profile, among other factors.
Below are some of the habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda:
- Susa family (Susa A): The Susa gorilla family is the largest and most famous gorilla group in Volcanoes National Park, currently comprising 33 members with 2 Silverbacks. Susa A originally had a population of 42 members before it split. It is this size of the family that attracts a remarkable number of visitors to track it, including the rare twins found in this group. Susa A lives at the lower base of Mount Karisimbi and was one of the first groups trekked by Dian Fossey. It is the most challenging group to trek but still the most preferred by all trekkers in Volcanoes National Park.
- Karisimbi group (Susa B): Just like the name suggests, the Karisimbi gorilla family split from the original Susa family in 2008 and became independent. It consists of up to 16 members with two Silverbacks and resides on the upper slopes of Mount Karisimbi. Trekking this group involves hiking to higher slopes of Mount Karisimbi.
- Hirwa group: The Hirwa gorilla group, meaning “The Lucky One,” completed its habituation in 2006. It is a group of 16 members that formed from gorillas joining from other families. It is located at the foothills of Gahinga and Sabyinyo volcanoes. In 2011, the group was blessed with a set of twins.
- Sabyinyo family: The Sabyinyo gorilla group derives its name from Mount Sabyinyo. It inhabits the slopes between Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Gahinga within the Virunga ranges. Made up of 13 gorilla members and 2 mighty Silverbacks, the group includes one of the largest Silverbacks in Volcanoes National Park. Trekking the Sabyinyo family also offers a rewarding experience.
- Umubano family: The Umubano gorilla family split from the Amahoro family after serious clashes between the leading Silverbacks. Umubano’s Charles failed to come to terms with Ubumwe – Amahoro’s dominant Silverback, so they decided to split peacefully. Since then, the families have remained strong allies, sometimes meeting and spending an entire day together peacefully.
- Bwenge gorilla group: The Bwenge gorilla group consists of 11 members with 1 Silverback. It lives within the slopes of Karisoke Mountain. The family is led by Silverback Bwenge. The habituation of the Bwenge group was completed in 2007 when Silverback Bwenge separated from his original family, later joined by other female gorillas. Following a tragedy where six infants died, the group has since increased in number after the birth of 2 babies and the able leader who controls the group. This family gained fame after appearing in the movie “Gorillas in the Mist.”
- Agashya family – 13 group: Currently, the Agashya gorilla family has over 25 members. At the time of habituation, Agashya was first habituated with only 13 members, hence its name. The family was named after the dominant Silverback, Agashya, who defeated the former leader Nyakarima. Agashya occupies the same territory as the Sabyinyo group.
- Amahoro family: The Amahoro gorilla family consists of up to 18 members, including two Silverbacks led by Ubumwe as the dominant Silverback. Amahoro, which means “peace” in Kinyarwanda, has been truly the most peaceful group in the park for all the years since it was first habituated. The Amahoro group lives on the slopes of Mount Karisimbi; therefore, trekking it is challenging due to the rugged slopes of Mount Karisimbi, but meeting the group is worth every effort.
- Kwitonda group: The Kwitonda gorilla family is led by the Silverback Kwitonda, which means “the humble one.” The group previously lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo before resettling to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
- Pablo Gorilla Family: The Pablo gorilla family is named after the lead Silverback, Pablo, who led the group for one year before being overthrown by Cantsbee. The family is closely monitored by the Dian Fossey Fund due to its close relationship with Dian Fossey’s original Group 5, which she monitored before her death in 1985.
- Titus family: The Titus gorilla group was one of the first families to be habituated during the time of Dian Fossey, giving the family a great historical significance. It derives its name from its head Silverback, Titus. The family was initially threatened by poachers, resulting in the loss of many members, but the group steadily regained numbers and is now fully habituated for trekking all year round.
- Muhoza Family: The Muhoza gorilla family is named after the 460-pound Silverback, Muhoza. It consists of 12 mountain gorillas of different ages – infants, juveniles, and mother gorillas. It is the newest gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park, under the leadership of the young Muhoza. It is located on the lower mountain slopes, making it probably the easiest family to trek in Volcanoes National Park.
