Known to be a violent family in Virunga National Park, Mapuwa inhabits areas near the Uganda-D.R. Congo border, Bunagana, in the Jomba region. It is one of the eight gorilla families within the biologically diverse Virunga National Park of D.R. Congo. Other families here include Lulengo, Rugendo, Humba, Kabirizi, Bageni, Nyakamwe, and Munyaga.
The story of this family begins in August 1995 when silverback Mapuwa, together with his brother Ruzirabwoba, decided to leave their father’s family, Rugendo, and start a solitary life. Three years later, silverback Mapuwa decided to form his own group, and on 1st August 1998, Mapuwa attacked the Lulengo family and grabbed two female gorillas – Jicho and Mafaze.
Since then, silverback Mapuwa has never stopped fighting and expanding his family. In 2002, he encountered Pili-Pili, whom he battled and managed to capture three gorillas, adding them to his group. The group has since kept increasing with new births and currently, it is made up of 15 members including 1 silverback (Mapuwa), 6 adult females, 3 blackbacks, 3 juveniles, and 2 babies.
Tracking the Mapuwa family is quite interesting as you get a chance to track both Mapuwa and Lulengo, which are known to live in close proximity in the Jomba sector.
The trek begins early in the morning after a briefing conducted by the head ranger; travelers then head off into the misty jungles of the Jomba sector near the border with Uganda. The views of the entire Virunga massif and Rwenzori ranges are clear, and visitors have a chance to combine gorilla trekking in D.R. Congo with golden monkey trekking or a second gorilla trekking experience in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.
