The Umubano gorilla family separated from the Amahoro gorilla family when two silverbacks, Ubumbwe and Charles, couldn’t get along and decided to part ways. The name “Umubano” comes from a Kinyarwanda word meaning “living together.” The Umubano family shares the same territory as the Amahoro family. Book a Rwanda trek to see how an Umubano visit fits into your safari.
The group has 13 members, including 2 silverbacks, 3 adult females, 6 infants, and 1 sub-adult. The Umubano and Amahoro families are often seen interacting peacefully, without conflict. Trekking to see the Umubano family can take 30 minutes to 3 hours, depending on their location from the previous day.
Umubano is not the only gorilla family to visit in Volcanoes National Park. There are 9 other groups that visitors can trek, with group allocation depending on factors like age, fitness level, and other considerations.
Other Activities after Visiting Umubano
Mountain Climbing: Volcanoes National Park is home to four of the Virunga Massif volcanoes: Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Gahinga, Mount Karisimbi, and Mount Bisoke. Mountain gorillas live on the slopes of these volcanoes, and besides gorilla trekking, visitors can also enjoy climbing them. Each mountain offers wide views from the top.
Birding: The park is home to 178 bird species, some of which are endemic to the Virunga area. Examples include the collared apalis, Rwenzori turaco, handsome francolin, red-faced woodland warbler, Archer’s ground robin, and strange weaver bird.
Umubano Gorilla Permits and Trekking Details
Gorilla permits are only available to people aged 15 and above. Each permit costs $1,500 per person. Only eight people are allowed to trek one mountain gorilla family per day. Gorilla trekking is an unforgettable experience, giving visitors an hour to observe mountain gorillas as they go about their daily activities.
Volcanoes National Park can be visited year round, but the best times are during the long dry season from June to September and the short dry season from December to February. See our full best time to visit Rwanda guide for more detail.
