Gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable National Park count over 20 gorilla groups some of which are fully habituated while others are still undergoing habituation experience while other are still wild. Today Bwindi national park has a total of 19 habituated gorilla groups offering a total of 152 gorilla permits daily all year round and 2 gorilla families under gorilla habituation experience for tourists.

Uganda Gorilla Groups

1. Mubare gorilla family
2. Rushegura gorilla group
3. Habinyanja gorilla family
4. Oruzogo gorilla family
5. Bitukura gorilla family
6. Kyaguriro gorilla family
7. Mukiza gorilla group
8. Mucunguzi gorilla group
9. Rwigi gorilla family
10. Kutu gorilla group
11. Nshongi gorilla family
12. Kahungye gorilla family
13. Busingye group
14. Mishaya gorilla family
15. Bweza gorilla family
16. Bikingi gorilla family
17. Nkuringo gorilla family
18. Christmas gorilla family
19. Bushaho group

Gorilla groups in Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Buhoma area lies in the northern part of Bwindi National Park and famous as an area where the oldest group-Mubare gorilla family was habituated. Currently, Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park comprises of 4 (four) habituated families-translating into 16 gorilla permits and they include;

Mubare gorilla family
Mubare gorilla family is also popular as the M-Group-the first group to be habituated and open for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It was habituated in 1992 and in 1993, it was opened for tourism in Buhoma area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. At the time of habituation, Mubare gorilla family consisted of 12 mountain gorillas although other members joined other families while others passed on because of fights and they included Ruhondeza-a factor that reduced its size to five individuals. By 2013, 4 more members moved to Mubare gorilla group which currently accounts for 9 individuals.

The word Mubare denotes to place where the Mubare gorilla group was first sighted in Bwindi National Park. Mubare gorilla group is regarded as the easy to trek gorilla group in Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Rushegura gorilla group
Rushegura gorilla family is another most explored gorilla family in Buhoma sector of Bwindi National Park. It is one of the gorilla families with many members and to trek this group, visitors can begin treks from Buhoma park headquarters. It was set for gorilla trekking in 2002 in Buhoma sector of Bwindi National Park and Mwirima split from Habinyanja gorilla family with 7 more gorillas. Rushegura gorilla family succeeded under Mwirima silverback leadership but unfortunately, he passed on and the leadership of the family was taken over by Kabukojo with currently 19 mountain gorillas. Rushegura gorilla family comprises of many adult females approximately six, three black backs, five juveniles and infants most of which can be views while on gorilla trek.

Habinyanja gorilla family
Habinyanja gorilla group is also called the H-Group, one of the most exceptional habituated families in Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It was habituated in 1997, making it one of the ancient gorilla groups to be habituated and to be opened for trekking in Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The H-Group is named after Rukiga word-Nyanja that denotes an area with water. It comprises of 18 mountain gorillas and Makara is a silverback gorilla. A complete trek through the H-Group takes you about 5 hours or even more and you need to be physically well.

Gorilla groups in Ruhija sector of Bwindi National Park

Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is found in the east and comprises of 4 habituated gorilla families which include;

Oruzogo gorilla family
Oruzogo group is that one exceptional family you need to explore while on gorilla safari in Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It was habituated in 2009 and consists of 22 mountain gorillas which include Tibirikwata silverback and many other members. It is that one unique group to trek and excite you with the playful juveniles and toddlers.

Bitukura gorilla family
Bitukura gorilla family is an exceptional gorilla family in Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Habituating Bitukura gorilla group was complete within one and half year. It consists of 14 mountain gorillas with about 4 silverbacks but led by Ndahura silverback. 3 of the Bitukura gorilla family members moved to other families but the group is recovering slowly as new born baby gorillas are welcomed in the group.

Kyaguriro gorilla family
Kyaguriro gorilla group is found in Ruhija sector Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is set aside for research but when demand increases, it can be trekked. Kyaguliro gorilla family was habituated in 1999 and led by Zeus silverback gorilla but later replaced by Rukina after he passed on who also dies and now the group is led by Rukara.

Mukiza gorilla group
Mukiza gorilla family is a new gorilla group in Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This group derives its name from Mukiza silverback gorilla. Mukiza group comprises of 13 members with one silverback, six adult females, three infants, 2 sub adults and juvenile.

Gorilla groups in Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Mucunguzi gorilla group
Mucunguzi gorilla group is a newly habituated gorilla family in Rushaga area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The word Mucunguzi means ‘savior’ a name that is given to a third and youngest silverback at the time within Bweza gorilla group. Mucunguzi group split off from Bweza family. Mucunguzi gorilla group is composed of 8 mountain gorillas.

Rwigi gorilla family
Rwigi gorilla group is another newly habituated gorilla group in Rushaga gorilla trekking region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is led by Rwigi silverback gorilla. This group broke away from Kahungye group and comprises of 6 members.

Kutu gorilla group
Kutu is a new gorilla family in Rushaga area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This group is still under habituation and perfect for visitors who wish to embark on gorilla habituation experience. Kutu gorilla group has 8 members and 1 silverback.

Nshongi gorilla family
Nshongi gorilla family is one of the most amazing groups worth exploring while on gorilla trekking tour in Rushaga area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It comprises of 25 members making it one of the largest groups in Bwindi National Park. Nshongi group was habituated in 2009 and derives its name from River Nshongi that flows through this area. Trekking Nshongi group also allows you to catch a glimpse at other primates including black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons as well as birds, butterflies to mention but a few.

Kahungye gorilla family
Kahungye gorilla group was opened for gorilla trekking in 2011. It derives its name from hill in Rushaga sector where it was first sighted. Kahungye group has 27 members and led by Gwigi silverback. The word Gwigi denotes door.

Busingye group
Busingye gorilla group is in Rushaga region of Bwindi National Park. It was habituated in 2012 and at the time of habituation, the group comprised of 9 individuals. Busingye family broke away from Kahungye family.

Mishaya gorilla family
Mishaya gorilla group is found in Rushaga sector of Bwindi National park. It split from Nshongi gorilla family in 2010 and went with other members. Currently, it comprises of 12 members.

Bweza gorilla family
Bweza group split from Nshongi gorilla family in 2012. It consists of 9 members with one silver back gorilla. It is one of the easiest families to be habituated by team from Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Bikingi gorilla family
Bikingi gorilla group is found in Rushaga area and habituation for this group began in 2012. Currently, it comprises of about 15 members. Previously, Bikingi was designated for gorilla habituation experience but it is officially open for trekking in Rushaga region of Bwindi National Park.

Gorilla families in Nkuringo sector of Bwindi National Park

Nkuringo gorilla family
Nkuringo group is an incredible group to trek in Nkuringo sector of Bwindi National Park. It was habituated in 2004 under the leadership of Nkuringo silverback who passed on 2008. Nkuringo group comprises of 19 members making it one of the larger groups in Bwindi National Park.

Christmas gorilla family
Christmas gorilla group is a new habituated family in Nkuringo region of Bwindi National Park. It comprises of 9 individuals with Christmas being its leader.

Bushaho group
Bushaho gorilla family is a new group that is trekked in Bwindi National Park. Initially, it was set for gorilla habituation experience but it can now be trekked in Nkuringo region.

In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park gorilla treks start in any one of the 4 main trailheads; Buhoma sector in the north, Ruhija sector in the east, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the southern part. Each of these gorilla trekking regions feature habituated gorilla families and each of them accommodating only 8 visitors per day and the 20 groups translate into 160 gorilla permits.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is found in southwestern Uganda, 540kms away from Kampala that is approximately 9-10 hours’ drive. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a prominent home to nearly half of 1004 mountain gorillas that still thrive on earth today and only exist in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Because of huge concentration of mountain gorillas, Bwindi National Park accounts for over 20 habituated gorilla families most of which have been set for gorilla trekking and also research.