The Habinyanja gorilla family can be trekked from the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The group gets its name from the local word “Nyanja,” meaning “water,” because it was first spotted near a swamp in Bwindi. Book a Uganda trek to see how a Habinyanja visit fits into your safari.
The Habinyanja mountain gorilla family was habituated in 1997 and first visited by tourists in 1999. At the time of habituation, the group was led by silverback Mugurisi.
The Split That Created Rushegura
After some years, Mugurisi passed away, leaving leadership to his two sons, Mwirima and Rwansigazi.
Rwansigazi loved exploring new places, while Mwirima preferred staying in one area. In 2002, the two silverbacks peacefully separated.
The members who stayed with Rwansigazi remained as the Habinyanja gorilla family, while those who followed Mwirima became the Rushegura gorilla family.
A Poaching Attack and Change in Leadership
In 2011, the Habinyanja mountain gorilla family faced a serious setback when poachers attacked the group, killing a blackback named Mizano with spear wounds.
Leadership of the group later passed from Rwansigazi to silverback Makara, who now leads the family.
Other Gorilla Families in Buhoma, Uganda
Rushegura Gorilla Family
The Rushegura mountain gorilla family gets its name from the Rushegura area in Bwindi, where Mwirima separated from his brother Rwansigazi to form his own family. Originally, the Habinyanja mountain gorilla family was led by Mugurisi. After his death, his two sons took over leadership, but they couldn’t get along due to their different personalities, one adventurous, the other preferring to stay put.
Mwirima left with 7 members to form the Rushegura gorilla family, while Rwansigazi stayed with the Habinyanja gorilla family. The two families are often seen near each other, and no fights have been reported since their separation.
Mubare Gorilla Family
The famous Mubare gorilla family is the oldest habituated gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. During its habituation, the group was led by silverback Ruhondeza and had 12 members.
The Mubare gorilla family gets its name from the Mubare Hills in Bwindi, where the group was first spotted by trackers. It is one of the easiest gorilla groups to trek, as it is sometimes seen near the Buhoma park headquarters. The Mubare gorilla family is now led by silverback Makara and has 17 members.
Gorilla Permits
Gorilla permits in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park cost $800 per person, while gorilla habituation permits cost $1,500 per person.
Gorilla habituation gives visitors a chance to spend more time with the mountain gorillas, offering a deeper look into the same kind of family dynamics and history that shaped groups like Habinyanja, Rushegura, and Mubare over the years.
