Gorilla Families in Rwanda

Gorilla trekking is a lifetime experience whereby a person is able to hike in the high mountain of the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and meet the majestic mountain gorillas. These human like creatures are said to be sharing 98% of their DNA with human beings. Rwanda offers one of the best gorilla trekking experience as you visit these endangered species in their natural bedding of the Volcano bamboo forest. Gorilla Families in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park are quite fascinating.

Trekking gorillas involves visit an assigned gorilla family to experience how they live in a family like environment as human beings do. To be visited, gorillas are trained on how to behave and tolerate the presence of human beings who visit them. The Volcanoes National Park has so far Twelve families habituated. Each family is allocated 8 people per day for the visit. That means that 96 permit 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. Also each family has specific place where they live, though they can make movements and the park has trackers who knows where each family is located. In 2005, Rwanda began officially naming mountain gorillas in what has become a global annual celebration.

With this piece of writing, we are bringing you the families and a summary description of each.

Susa Family

Susa group is the largest group of gorillas among the Gorilla Families in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. It was made up of 42 gorilla before splitting into two to separate groups. Currently the group counts 33 members. Susa group is the first group that Dian 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 lead this group is the largest in the whole Volcano National Park. This group is made up of 15 gorillas. This group usually roams on the slop of Sabyinyo Mountain which makes it the easiest to trek.

Amahoro Family

This gorilla family is known by its peaceful behaving. This name “amahoro” means peace in the local language “Kinyarwanda”. The peaceful character has made this group loose a number of their members to other aggressive groups that are looking for expanding 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 group in the 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 in the slops 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 neighbourhood with Amahoro group in Bisoke Mountain slopes.

Kwitonda Family

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 gorilla family was formed by members from Sabyinyo group and 13 group of gorilla family but later on other members joined to increase the number to 16 members. This gorilla family group lives in 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

Kalisimbi gorilla family group lives on the slop of Kalisimbi Mountain just like the name of the group. Made of 16 members, this group was born from the split of 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 move away from troubles with their mother group. It is preferred by trekkers who are physically fit and who loves serious hiking experience.

Ugenda Family

Ugendamade 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 its had to find it in the same place. If you love taking adventure you might book to trek this group.

Bwenge Family

Bwenge gorilla family group is a group comprising 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 on the slope of Bisoke Mountain and it is the easiest group to trek.

Titus Group

The titius 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 was the only to survive. It managed to build another family after going through many hardship 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 the Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. It inhabits on 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 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 you need to trek gorillas in Rwanda, and have a choice of gorilla to trek Unique Rwanda Vacation Experts will always be there for you. We will help you design a well-tailored itinerary that meets you interests.

We will also help you will 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 visit our website https://rwandaecocompany.com/ and browse our popular itineraries or simply place your inquiry to let our tour experts design a tailored gorilla trekking safaris that best fits you.