The Rugendo family was one of the first mountain gorilla groups to be habituated in Virunga National Park in 1985. At that time, the group was led by the silverback Rugendo. He remained the leader until 2001, when he was sadly killed.
His son, Senkwekwe, took over but also died in 2007 under mysterious circumstances. The group had no dominant silverback until 2008, when a lone male named Bukima, a former member of the Buhanga group, became the new leader. He continues to lead the family.
Today, the Rugendo family has 9 members, including 3 silverbacks, 1 blackback, 1 adult female, 2 sub-adult females, and 2 babies. This group can be visited from Bukima and Bikenge areas of Virunga National Park.
Other Gorilla Families That Formed from Rugendo Group
- Humba Gorilla Family: This family was formed when two silverbacks, Humba and Nyakamwe, left the Rugendo group to start their own family. They left with 9 members. Later, Nyakamwe split from Humba to form a separate group.
- Nyakamwe Gorilla Family: Nyakamwe formed his own group after leaving his older brother Humba. He took 10 individuals with him and left Humba with 6. The Nyakamwe family can be visited from the Bukima sector of Virunga National Park and now has 11 members.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a gorilla trekking permit costs $400 during the high season and $200 in the low season. It is best to book permits 3 to 6 months in advance because they are limited.
The Democratic Republic of Congo can be visited throughout the year, but the best time is during the dry season from June to September. During this time, the roads to the national parks are easier to use and trekking trails are in better condition.
