One of the recently habituated mountain gorilla families, Oruzogo family is located in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi National Park. The Ruhija region is located in the east of Bwindi National Park and is one of the easily accessible gorilla regions in the park via Kabale-Kisoro Highway and from the Buhoma sector in the north.
Despite its challenging treks and rugged terrain, Oruzogo has become one of the most interesting gorilla groups to trek in Uganda due to its playful and lively nature that entertains visitors.
The habituation of Oruzogo started in December 2009 and was completed in 2011 when the group was declared fit for tourism activities. Its name was derived from a resident plant, “Oruzogoto,” which inhabits an area where the group was first sighted.
The introduction of the Oruzogo family brought the total number of families in this region to three: Bitukura and Kyaguriro, used for research purposes, but later sub-divided into Kyaguriro A and Kyaguriro B, bringing the total number of gorilla families in the Ruhija sector to four.
Oruzogo family is the largest of all families in the Ruhija sector with a total of 22 members under the leadership of silverback Bakwate. Some of the key members include silverback Bakwate (meaning intelligent and a fast learner), silverback Tibirikwata, adult female Mutesi (calm and relaxed), black back Busungu (hot-tempered), adult female Kakobe (resembles a baboon because of her long and protruding nose like that of a baboon), adult female Kashundwe (has a mole on the nose), adult female Nyakiina (has a depression on her nose bridge), and adult female Birungi (pretty).
Other vigorous and youthful black backs in the Oruzogo family include Kaganga (the giant due to his protruding crest), Bwoba (coward), and Otaka (tiny and peaceful).
Juveniles in the Oruzogo family include Karimi (tongue), Kashura (with hairless eyebrows), and Kiromba. Infants include Katoto (the smallest), Buchura (the last born), and Kanywani (the friendly one). The Oruzogo family has grown steadily with a bit of luck, given an increase in the number of births by the adult females – Nta Murungi and Musi, who gave birth in June and October 2011, respectively.
More luck befell the group when Kakobe gave birth to a set of twins in 2012; therefore, it is in this family that visitors have a chance to get entertained by cheerful and playful juveniles and baby gorillas.
