Meet Uganda’s 21 Gorilla Families

A journey into the heart of the forest

The first sound is not what you expect. It isn’t the powerful chest beat or the breaking branches but its breath. Heavy, calm and ancient that tell the presence of some living creature. Somewhere deep in western Uganda’s Bwindi forest, the silverback exhales and time itself stays still. At the moment you are not a tourist, not even a human being. You are another heart of the ancient forest.

Every years thousands of tourists fulfill their once in a lifetime wish and safari experience by visiting these gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. They are 21 gorilla families in Uganda and 20 gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and 1 Nyakigezi Gorilla Family in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

At Exclusive Gorilla Vacations we don’t just take you to the forest. We take you deep into the lives of these Mountain Gorilla each with a name, leader, family and a success story for its resilience, hardwork and survival.

This is your guide into the lives of these Mountain Gorilla families of Uganda. We will dive into each family and what you need to know. We hope by the time you finish reading this blog, you will have chosen the gorilla family you would like to visit.

Why visit gorilla families in Uganda?

Uganda is home to over 50% of the  remaining world’s Mountain Gorilla population that freely roam in Bwindi Implementable Forest and the gentle slopes of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

With over 21 gorilla families, Uganda offers the best and affordable gorilla trekking experience. The continued collaborative efforts by Uganda Wildlife Authority, NGOs, Communities have ensured hat the gorilla population has stabilized and even grown overtime.

Every gorilla permit bought supports anti poaching patrols, veterinary care and support local community project hence having a positive impact to conservation.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is divided in to four sectors that have gorilla families visited by tourists for gorilla trekking experience. Buhoma sector(5 families), Rushaga Sector(8 families), Ruhija sector(5 Families), Nkuringo sector(3).

Gorilla families in Buhoma Sector

Buhoma sector is one of the four sectors that form Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and it’s the Park’s Headhunter’s. It is located on the northern side of Bwindi National Park and home to 5 gorilla families.

Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, Katwe and Binyido families. Each of these families is only visited once in a day by a maximum of 8 visitors to reduce stress on the family members.

Mubare Gorilla Family

Highlight

– 6 members

– First habituated in 1991

– Silverback- First led by Ruhondeza then Kanyonyi, now headed by Maraya

– High infanticide rate

This was the very first mountain gorilla family to ever be habituated in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The family is named after the nearby Mubare hills and can be found in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi. It is composed of 1 Silverbuck named Maraya, 3 adult females and 2 infants.

The habituation process for the Mubare mountain gorilla family started in October 1991 by the skillful Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) experts and ended two (2) years later. At the time of its habituation it was under the leadership of Ruhondeza who fathered a family of eighteen (18).

Over its many years it has suffered a number of misfortunes like raids by wild mountain gorilla families, kidnappings, deaths and defections by some members which greatly reduced the group’s numbers.

The group received one of its worst raids by a wild mountain gorilla family in 2012 which injured and kidnapped most of its members.

Ruhondeza tried to fight them off but because of his old age he was over-powered. He therefore absconded deep into the forest because of the unbearable sadness in his heart leaving the leadership in the hands of Kanyonyi.

We are told that he died three (3) months later in his sleep when he was above his fifties and his grave can be visited by tourists today.

Sometime in November 2017, scientists noted that a solo silverback male, Maraya had taken over the leadership of the group after getting into a violent fight with Kanyonyi in which the latter was killed.

The Mubare leadership is known to practice infanticide to eliminate competition as they age.

Habinyanja Gorilla Family

Highlights

– 16 members

– First habituated in 1996

-Silverback First led by Mugurisi then Rwasigazi and Mwirima currently under Makara

-Adventurous behavior

This family is quite adventurous; often explores new locations far from their familiar grounds. It is led by by Makara and the family is found in Nyamishamba area within the Buhoma sector. 

The Habinyanja group is made up of 1 silverback, 4 black backs, 4 sub-adult (teenage) males, 4 adult females, 2 juveniles and 1 infant. 

The group’s habituation started in1996 and it was under the leadership of an old silverback called Mugurusi whose name means “old man”.

After some time Mugurusi passed on and left power in the hands of two brothers Rwansigazi and Mwirima; the latter very reserved while the former very adventurous.

They ruled together for some time but their leadership styles were highly dissimilar and this caused divisions in the family. In order to prevent a possible battle, the group decided to peacefully split in 2002.

The group that left with Rwansigazi still has the name Habinyaja while the other family members who preferred Mwirima’s leadership style remained at a place called Rushegura to form the present day Rushegura mountain gorilla family. The gorilla family is under the leadership of Makara

Rushegura Gorilla Family

Highlights

-17 memebers

– Formed in February 2002

– Silverback- First was Mwirima and the current is Kabukojo

This is a sister family to the Habinyanja mountain gorilla family.  The family was first led by an alpha silverback called Mwirima who was the brother to the former dominant silverback of the Habinyanja mountain gorilla family called Rwansigazi. 

The group is named after a place where the two brothers split to form their independent families. This is one of Bwindi’s most friendly mountain gorillas. The family is calm and very welcoming to visitors.

This gorilla family is sometimes seen looking for food near Buhoma, the headquarters of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. They are also known to go exploring villages near the forest.

Katwe Gorilla Family

Highlights

-7 Members

-Silverback Mahaane

-Formed in 2018 breaking away from Mubare family after the death of Kanyonyi

Katwe Gorilla family is comprised of 7 members including 1 Silverback, 2 black backs, 2 mature females and 2 sub-adults. It’s name is derived from the hillsides where the researchers first met it. Most members of this Katwe Gorilla family were originally from Mubare group the  oldest studied gorilla family in Bwindi.

Kashundwe and Malaika are the two adult females who came from Mubare family are under the leadership of Mahaane. 

Binyindo Gorilla Family

Highlights

– 9 Members

Silveback Binyindo

The Binyindo group has a total of 9 members including 1 dominant silverback, 5 adult females, 2 juviniles and 1 infant. The family is found in Buhoma sector , named after the silverback called Binyindo.

Mountain Gorilla Families in Ruhija Sector

Ruhija sector is located on the eastern side if Bwindi Forest which has 4 mountain gorilla families: Bitukura family (11) , Oruzogo family(17), Kyaguliro family(8) and Mukiza family(13). It is on the highest elevation compared to the other sectors.

Bitukura Gorilla Family

Highlights

– 11 Members

– Habituated in July  2007 to October 2008(Shortest)

– Silverback First led by Ndahura and currently Mugisha 

The mountain gorilla family is named after the river where it was first seen (a time when it had 24 members) called Bitukura. The family is led by a silverback Mugisha, 1 other silverback, 4 adult females, 1 blackback, 1 juvenile male, 1 sub-adult male, and 2 infants. This group can be found while enjoying a trek along the Ruhija trail head of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Bitukura’s habituation began in July 2007 and ended in October 2008 which was shorter than the average habituation time which takes at least 2 (two) years.

This group was not first led by the oldest silverback but by Ndahura the second youngest of three (3) silverbacks in the group. The group over the years lost some of its members (including Rukara silverback) to other mountain gorilla families.

Ndahura and Ruhara (one of the adult females) had a baby to add to the famiily. The group also has periodic “gettogethers” with the Kyaguriro mountain gorilla family of the same Ruhija sector.

Mugisha took over as head of the group after Ndahura died on December 18, 2016, following a fall from a tree (at 28, he was the park’s oldest gorilla at the time).

Oruzogo Gorilla Family

Highlights

-17 Members

-Habituated in 2008

– Silverback- first led by Tibirikwata and currently Bakwate

Oruzogo gorilla family was named after the researchers observed a unique behaviour when gorillas favored and fed mainly of Alchornea hitela plant, local people called it Oruzogo.

Given that mountain gorillas typically don’t eat this plant, this behavior makes this family unique. The habituation process of this group was started in 2008.

The family has  3 silverbacks with the dominant called Bakwate, 2 blackbacks, 5 adult females, 3 sub-adult males, 2 juveniles and 2 infants.

Kyaguliro Gorilla Family

Highlights

-8 Members

– Habituated in 1995 and studied by Max Planck Institute(MPI)

– Silverback- First led by Zeus then Rukina then Rukara

Kyaguliro gorilla family is comprised of 1 silverback, 2 blackbacks, 2 adult females, 2 sub-adults, and 1 infant. The habituation of this family started in 1995 by Max Planck Institute researchers.

It was first led by Zeus who was overthrown by Rukina in 2014. In 2015, Rukina was stroked by lightening.

After him, Mukiza was the new leader who was very inexperienced. Rukara  from Bitukura conducted an ambush that led to  the splitting of Kyaguliro A under Rukara and Kyaguliro B (Mukiza) in May 2016.

Mukiza Gorilla Family

Highlights

-13 memebers

– Broke off from Kyaguliro in 2016

– Silverback Mukiza

Mukiza Gorilla family is comprised of 1 silverback(Mukiza), 6 adult females, 1 sub-adult male, 2 juvenile females, and 3 infants.

It broke from Kyaguliro family after an ambuse by Rukara in 2016 and lives independently. It is closely watched over by researchers from Max Planck Institute(MPI) to study its behaviors. This family requires energetic and physically fit people to track them.

Gorilla families is Rushaga Sector.

Rushaga sector is one of the four sectors that form up Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It has the highest number of gorilla families (8) in Bwindi : Busingye(12),

Bweza(11), Bikingi(9), Muchunguzi(15), Nshongi(8), Kutu(8), Mishaya(10) and Kahungye(19).

Busingye Gorilla Family

Highlights

-12 members

– Part of the Kahungye family habituated in 2008

-Silverback Busingye

This group gets its name from its alpha silverback called Busingye. Other family memebers include 5 adult females, 1 sub-adult blackback male, 3 juveniles, and 2 infants.

 The word “Busingye” translates in English to mean “peace” but this is not the accurate description of this family’s silverback. He is aggressive and enjoys picking fights with other mountain gorilla families.

Busingye silverback was formerly a member of the Kahungye mountain gorilla family in the Rushaga sector. In June 2012, he broke away from the Kahungye family with seven (7) members.

Busingye has mastered the art of snatching females from other mountain gorilla families to add to his own. He has been able to grow the family to its current 12 members.

Nshongi Gorilla Family

– 8 Members

-Habituated in 2006

– Silverback Nshongi

This mountain gorilla family can be found in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National park and is led by an alpha silverback called Nshongi.

The group received its name from a nearby stream which was named “Omushongi Gwoboki” which in English means honey. The stream was called so because of the brownish color of its waters.

The group was opened up for tourists’ visits in September 2009 with the biggest habituated mountain gorilla group to ever be visited by tourists (36 mountain gorillas in one place).

Divisions began in July 2010 when Mishaya broke away with ten (10) members forming his own Mishaya mountain gorilla family.

Just two years later another silverback called Bweza left with some group members to form his own family. 1 silverback, 1 black back, 3 females, 1 sub-adult, and 2 infants.

Bweza Gorilla Family

Highlights

–11 members

– Broke-off from Nshongi gorilla family in 2012.

-Silverback currently Rulehuka.

Bweza Gorilla family is another product of the Nshongi Mountain Gorilla family which was the largest mountain gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.  

Kakono is the Silverback, the family also has 2 other silverbacks, 4 adult females, 1 juvenile, and 3 infant males.

The group’s alpha silverback Bweza broke off from the Nshongi family to form his own family.

The family is now under the leadership of Rulehuka and it prefers rooming around the park boundaries in search of food.

Mishaya Gorilla Family

Highlights

-10 members

-Broke away from Nshongi in 2010

-Silverback First was Mishaya then Mwine and currently Tinfayo

This group was named after its first alpha silverback Mishaya.  It has 1 Silverback(Tinfayo), 1 blackback, 4 mature females, 1 sub-adult female, and 3 infants.

Mishaya was the pioneer of rebellions in the Nshongi mountain gorilla family, breaking away with ten (10) of its members in July 2010. He laid an example for another silverback in the family called Bweza who also broke away from the Nshongi group two years later to form his own family.

He was known as a starter of fights but in April 2012 he started a fight with a wild mountain gorilla group that lost him the life of an infant and almost cost him his own life.

Thanks to the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project which quickly came to his rescue. Mishaya later passed on in February 2014 from an intestinal blockage and Mwiine took over.

Without a strong leader, the remaining members dispersed and joined other families in the Rushaga region of the Bwindi Impenetrable Park. Some of the gorillas joined the Bweza and Bikingi groups, but the remaining could not be tracked down for a while.

In May 2018, the group was under the leadership of Tinfayo who had broken away from the Nshongi family.

Kahungye Gorilla Family

Highlights

-19 members

– Silverback first led by Gwigi and currently Ruziika

The family is named after a hill in their resting place called Kahungye. The family is led by a dominant Silverback called Ruzika, 1 other silverback, 3 blackbacks, 7 adult females, 2 sub-adult females, 2 juveniles, and 3 infants.

The group was opened to visitors in October 2011 after its successful habituation. The group was huge with 27 members including three (3) very powerful silverbacks.

However a disgruntled Busingye mountain gorilla split with this family reducing the family to just above thirteen (13) mountain gorillas.

Kahungye was by its most dominant silverback called Gwigi whose name means “door” in a local dialect with the current leader called Ruziika.

Bikingi Gorilla Family

Highlights

-9 Members

– First habituated in 2013

– Silverback was headed by Bikingi

This gorilla family comprised of members from Mishaya group and non habituated Mountain Gorillas.

The clear dominant siverback of this group is not known after the death of its former leaders like Mishaya and Bikingi who hosted 24 Mountain Gorillas. Several members joined Kahungye gorilla family when Silverback(Bikingi) died in 2018)

Kutu Gorilla Family

Highlights

-8 members

Kutu is one of the gorilla families found in Rushaga sector. It has 8 members with 1 dominant silverback. This family was available for gorilla habituation experience by visitors but after the habituation process it available for gorilla tracking experience by the visitors.

Muchunguzi Gorilla Family

Highlights

-15 members

– Silverback Muchunguzi

The family is named after its dominant silverback called Muchunguzi. He was former member of the Bweza gorilla family but was chased away.

He lived a solitary life until he attacked Bikingi group and stole some females to start its own family.

Gorilla Families in Nkuringo Sector

Nkuringo sector is located on thhe western side of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You can access Nkurringo sector for gorilla trekking experience. It has gorilla families like Nkuringo gorilla family, Bishasho gorilla family and Christmas family.

Nkuringo Gorilla Family

Highlights

-15 members

– Silverback once under the leadership of Nkuringo and Rafiki

This mountain gorilla family lives in one of the most tedious and challenging gorilla tracking trailheads in the whole of Bwindi but encountering it is one of the most satisfying experiences of a lifetime.

The family was named after their founding alpha silverback called Nkuringo whose name in Rukiga translates as “Round Hill”. The family’s successful habituation ended in 2004 and Nkuringo died four years later.

He was survived by two sons called Rafiki (meaning friend in Kiswahili) who died in 2020 and Safari. Safari took on the leadership of the family and has been able to firmly hold all its members together through times of happiness and seasons of trial.

The family blissfully welcomed healthy baby twins just seven months into Safari’s reign and they were named Muhoozi and Katungi.

Unfortunately, Katungi could not live to see his second birthday. Today the family has  1 silverback, 3 blackbacks, 8 adult females, 2 juvenile males, and 1 infant.

Bushasho Gorilla Family

Highlights

-12 members

– Formerly belonged to Nkuringo family

– Silverback  Bahati since 2012

The Bushasho Gorilla family is led by Bahati Silverback. It is comprised of 1 silverback 1 blackback, 4 adult females, 2 sub-adult females, and 4 infants.

The family was after the Bushaho region where they are often spotted foraging for food.  This gorilla family is open for tourism and you can spend a a maximum of 1 hour with the family members.

Christmas Gorilla Family

Highlights

-9 members

– Silverback Christmas

Christmas Gorilla family is named after its dorminant silverback called Christmas  with 9 members. It is one of the families that are found on the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Gorilla Families in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Nyakigezi Gorilla Family

Highlights

-8 Members

-Silverback Mark

Nyakagezi is the only habituated Mountain Gorilla family in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and comprises of 8 members who can be seen while on a Mountain Gorilla Tracking Safari in Uganda. The family has  3 silverbacks with Mark as the leader, 2 adult females, 1 juvenile male, and 2 infants.

Nyakagezi is an itinerant mountain gorilla family which frequently crosses over to the neighboring countries of Congo DR and Rwanda. However Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has since 2012 observed the group to enjoy its Ugandan citizenship more.

They have been more settled than they were in the past. They are believed to have fled the Congo side of the Virunga Conservation Area (VCA) because of the continued illegal logging there.

The Nyakagezi mountain gorilla family was first led by an alpha silverback called Bugiingo (who today is way over 50 years). It was due to old age that he was replaced by one of his sons called Mark.

Bugingo is also the father of most of the mountain gorillas in the Nyakagezi mountain gorilla family. Due to Nyakagezi’s nature of traveling, UWA has placed the gorilla permits for this family at the UWA office in Kisoro.

Meeting a mountain gorilla family is not merely wildlife viewing; it’s a transformative encounter that reconnects us to the raw pulse of the natural world. To watch a Silverback’s quiet authority, a mother’s tender care, or juveniles tumbling in play is to witness a reflection of ourselves, stripped bare of pretense, thriving in the mist-shrouded green heart of Africa.

Uganda, the guardian of these irreplaceable families, offers not just a safari, but a pilgrimage. It’s a journey to stand humbled before the “gentle giants,” to understand the intricate web of life they anchor, and to become, through the very act of responsible visitation, a participant in their enduring future.

Ready to trace the paths of the ancient forest giants? Contact Exclusive Gorilla Vacations today. Let our expertise craft your unforgettable journey into the realm of Uganda’s gorilla families ; where wonder walks, and legends breathe. (Explore our curated Ugandan Gorilla Safari Packages)