Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to the largest number of habituated gorillas in the world, as well as half of the mountain gorilla population, with the other half found in Volcanoes National Park.
The Rushegura mountain gorilla family can be trekked from the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The Rushegura family is led by Kabukojo, the silverback, who broke away from the Habinyanja gorilla family to start his own group.
At one point, another silverback known as Kabukojo tried to leave the group to form his own family but later returned with 10 females he had taken and rejoined the group. The Rushegura family is a splinter group from the Habinyanja gorilla family.
Other Gorilla Families in Buhoma
- Mubare Gorilla Family: The famous Mubare gorilla family is the oldest habituated gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. It was opened for tourism in 1993 and is named after the Mubare hills in Bwindi, where the family was first spotted by trackers. At the time of habituation, the family had 18 members, but the number reduced to 5, as separation is common among gorilla families. Ruhondeza, who led the group during habituation, passed away in 2012, and silverback Kanyonyi took over. Under Kanyonyi’s leadership, the family has grown to 8 members.
- Habinyanja Gorilla Family: The Habinyanja gorilla family was one of the first to be habituated in Bwindi. Habituation started in 1997, and the family was opened for tourism in 1999. The family’s name comes from the local word “Nyanja,” meaning water, as the group was first seen near a swamp in Bwindi. Uganda mountain gorilla permits cost $800 per person per trek, while gorilla habituation permits cost $1,500 per person. To trek the Rushegura family, it is recommended to book a permit 3-6 months in advance, as Buhoma is one of the most popular sectors of Bwindi National Park, and permits are in high demand.
The Best Time to Visit
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park can be visited all year round, but the best months are June to September and December to February. During these dry months, it is easier to reach the park, and the trekking trails are less slippery and muddy.
Mwirima and Rwansigazi, two silverbacks from the Habinyanja family, could not get along because one preferred to explore while the other wanted to stay in one area. This led to a peaceful separation, with Mwirima taking 12 members to form his own group.
The Rushegura gorilla family was habituated in 2000 and opened for tourism in 2002. The group now consists of 16 individuals, including 1 silverback, 4 blackbacks, 4 adult females, 4 infants, and 3 juveniles. The Rushegura family is named after the Rushegura area in Bwindi, where it separated from the Habinyanja family.
