Gorilla Families in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park
Trekking gorillas in the Gorilla National Park in Rwanda offers a lifetime memorable experience as you visit these endangered species in their natural bedding of the Volcano bamboo forest and they live in families as we do have Gorilla families in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
Majority of tourists visit Rwanda only to track these endangered primates that are said to be sharing almost 80% of their DNA with human beings. Small groups of people are privileged visitors who can experience one of the most memorable wildlife encounters on earth; twelve families are habituated to be trekked and some are easier to access than others. Eight permits are allocated to visitors per each family making it around 96 permits equaling the number of visitors allowed to trek per day in Rwanda. Each and every gorilla family has something unique to offer different from another one. This may be in terms of character, the size, family organization and many as each group may have its unique way of living, organization and hierarchy from the family leader, the wife and children.
Below we tried to bring to your attention, a description of the Gorilla families in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
Susa Family (Susa A)
Susa group is the largest group of gorillas among the Gorilla families in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. This group was made up of 42 members before splitting into two to separate the 2 silverbacks (male gorillas). Currently the group counts 33 members. Susa group is the first group that Diana Fossey has studied. As its inhabitant is the lower of Kalisimbi (which is the highest volcano); It is the hardest to track yet it is the most preferred group by many trekkers.
Sabyinyo Family
This group is led by two silverbacks, among the two, one that leads this group is the largest in the whole Gorillas families in Rwanda’s Volcano National Park. This group is made up of 15 gorillas. This group usually roams on the slope of Sabyinyo Mountain which makes it the easiest to trekk.
Amahoro Family
This gorilla family is known for its peaceful behavior. This name “amahoro” means peace in the local language “Kinyarwanda”. The peaceful character has made this group lose a number of their members to other aggressive groups that are looking to expand their families. This group is living on the slope of Bisoke Mountain. It’s hard to trek this group as the terrain to Bisoke Mountain is extraneous. This group is mainly liked by visitors who appreciate this groups’ peaceful character and those that love and make peace in their nature.
Agashya Family
Agashya family is another gorilla family in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National park used to be called 13 due to the number of gorillas that this group used to have. After the leader of this group “Nyakarima” was overthrown by another silverback called “Agashya” the group was called after him from then. The name agashya means “a new thing” in Kinyarwanda. Since then the group has expanded and currently it has around 27 members. This group lives on the slopes of Sabyinyo Mountain.
Umubano Family
The Kinyarwanda word “Umubano” means “Live togather”. This gorilla family group was formed after a silverback called Charles was separated from Amahoro group to form its own group together with other 13 members. This group is still living in the same neighborhood with Amahoro group in Bisoke Mountain slopes.
Kwitonda Family
The Kwitonda gorilla family has 23 members including four silverbacks it inhabits on the slopes of Muhabura Mountain. It is named after its dominant silverback “Kwitonda” popularly known for his humble character. This group migrated to Rwanda from Virunga National Park on the side of the neighboring Democratic Republic of Rwanda.
Hirwa Family
Hirwa family is also one of Gorilla families in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National park and was formed by members from Sabyinyo group and 13 group of gorilla families but later on other members joined to increase the number to 16 members. This gorilla family group lives on the slopes between Sabyinyo and Gahinga Mountain. This group is among the luckiest group that was blessed to have twins in their family born in 2011. The name Hirwa means to be blessed in Kinyarwanda.
Kalisimbi Family
The Kalisimbi gorilla family group lives on the slope of Kalisimbi Mountain just like the name of the group. Made of 16 members, this group was born from the split of the SUSA group, the reason why it is called “SUSA B”.
This group is the hardest to treek as it inhabits on the upper slopes of Kalisimbi that sits on the altitude of 4507 meters. The choice of this placement was made after the split in an attempt to move away from troubles with their mother group. It is preferred by trekkers who are physically fit and who love serious hiking experience.
Ugenda Family
Ugenda made up of 11 family members, is a gorilla group family also in the Rwanda Volcanoes National Park with its name meaning mobility. This group lives on the slopes of Bosoke Mountain but it is always on the move from one place to another. Its hiking is not very difficult though it’s hard to find it in the same place. If you love taking adventures you might book a trek with this group.
Bwenge Family
Bwenge gorilla family group is a group of 11 members and silverback. Its name means “wisdom” in Kinyarwanda language. This Gorilla family group in the Gorilla families in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park inhabits the slope of Bisoke Mountain and it is the easiest group to trek.
Titus Group
The Titus gorilla family group is named after its silverback. Titus is one of the oldest gorillas in the Gorilla families in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Poachers killed all his family members and were the only to survive. It managed to build another family after going through many hardships to grow. It is known for its resilient behavior and emerged as the most successful gorilla family group among other gorilla family groups that inhabited Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. It inhabits the slopes of Kalisimbi and Bisoke mountains.
To be able to trek gorillas in Rwanda you need to have a trekking permit offered by the Rwanda Development Board, and it is bought and processed online. A gorilla trekking permit costs 1500 US $. Special offers are available for particular cases. When you are not willing to travel in a group and you want your special trek, you pay 15,000 US$, for this special offer you receive the gorilla trekking briefing at your own Hotel and you can pass more time with gorillas other than the one hour given to trekkers in groups
Other special offers are occasional and seasonal. To get all information about trekking gorillas in Rwanda, and have a choice of gorilla to trek Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris will always be there for you. We will help you design a well-tailored itinerary that meets your interests. We will also help you by booking accommodation closer to the park and other attractions to spice up your journey as well as offering a comfortable transport during your stay in our well maintained 4×4 customized vehicles. Simply contact us so that we can organize for you the memorable gorilla trekking trip or combine it with other Rwanda Tourist destinations for your Rwanda safaris.
