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Nshongi Gorilla Family: Complete Trekking Guide

The Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has the highest number of habituated mountain gorilla families. The sector is also one of the most scenic areas of Bwindi National Park and is only a 5 to 6 hour drive from Kigali International Airport. Explore our Uganda safari packages to see how this sector fits into your trip.

The Nshongi Gorilla Family’s Origins

The renowned Nshongi mountain gorilla family was the largest habituated gorilla family in 2006, with 32 members. However, like other gorilla families, there were disagreements among the silverbacks, which led to the group splitting apart over time. Habituation of the Nshongi gorilla family began in 2007, and it was opened for tourism in 2009.

The Nshongi mountain gorilla family gets its name from the Nshongi River, where they were first seen by rangers in Bwindi. The river’s name comes from the local phrase “Omushongi Gwoboki,” meaning “honey,” since its deep color resembled honey. The group lives in a large forested area, giving visitors a chance to see other primates in the forest.

How the Family Split Over Time

In 2010, the silverback Mishaya left the Nshongi family to form his own group, leaving 26 members in the original family. This opened the way for other silverbacks to leave, and in 2013, Bweza also broke away to start his own gorilla family, leaving the Nshongi group with 18 members. Today, the Nshongi gorilla family consists of only 7 individuals.

Splinters of the Nshongi Gorilla Family

Mishaya Gorilla Family: The Mishaya gorilla family began when this silverback left the Nshongi mountain gorilla family to start his own group. He fought other gorilla groups and took females to add to his family. Mishaya was known for initiating fights with other gorilla families, which caused him several injuries and even led to the death of a 2-year-old infant at one time.

In February 2014, Mishaya was found dead by trackers, and the cause of his death remains unknown.

Bweza Gorilla Family: The Bweza gorilla family split from the Nshongi family in August 2012, after Mishaya had already broken away. The group is led by Bweza, the only silverback in the family of 12 individuals.

Trekking the Nshongi Family and Its Splinter Groups Today

The story of the Nshongi family illustrates just how dynamic gorilla social structures can be, with a single group of over 30 members eventually giving rise to three separate families within the Rushaga sector. For visitors, this means a trek to see the Nshongi family, or one of its offshoots, the Mishaya or Bweza groups, offers a chance to witness the direct result of this history, since all three families still occupy overlapping territory within Rushaga. Given how closely tied their stories are, guides in the sector are often well placed to explain the shifting relationships between these groups during the trek itself.


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Our Reviews & Testimonials

Read what our clients have to say about us. You can read even more reviews on TripAdvisor.

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Wir haben ein zweitägiges Gorilla Trekking von kigali zum Bwindi Nationalpark in Uganda gebucht und hatten ein einmaliges Erlebnis! Alles hat reibungslos geklappt, unser Fahrer Naboth war toll und absolut zuverlässig - von der Abholung in unserem Hotel - über die Fahrten vor Ort bis zur Rückfahrt nach Uganda. Die Gorilla Wanderung war ein echtes Abenteuer und nach 2 Stunden Wanderung haben wir eine Gorilla Familie mit 16 Gorillas gefunden, der wir uns bis auf einen Meter nähern konnten um sie zu beobachten. Die gorillas haben sich dabei absolut nicht stören lassen. Es war unglaublich. Auch die Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge war toll. Ich würde diese Tour jedem empfehlen!
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Celine Kloss
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Absolutely outstanding experience. We did a 12-day safari across Kenya and Uganda (Gorilla trekking, Maasai Mara, Nakuru, Naivasha, Amboseli) in January 2026 and it exceeded expectations. The guides were exceptional: deeply knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely passionate. They ensured we learned not only about wildlife, but also about local cultures, traditions, and daily life, which made the trip truly immersive. Communication with the agency was flawless end to end—responsive, clear, and proactive. Everything ran smoothly, on time, and exactly as promised. I’ll recommend this agency to all my friends and relatives! Hopefully we’ll come back soon as well!
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Mario Gonzalez
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We spent two weeks in Uganda and Tanzania organized by Magical Gorilla Adventures and we had the best time. Communication was really good and fast via WhatsApp. The accommodations were great. Our guide Peter in Uganda was amazing. He was really friendly and a very good driver. He put a lot of effort to give us experiences and the best memories. We learned a lot about Uganda and its culture and he knew a lot about animals. We saw a lot of animals in Murchison Falls Nationalspark. The chimpanzee tracking in Kibale was very memorable. Our highlight in Uganda was the Gorilla tracking in Bwindi. We were very close to the gorillas and had the best experience. After an overnight stop in Ruanda we flew to Tanzania and were picked up by our guide Macha. We visited Central Serengeti, Ndutu, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire Nationalpark and we saw so many animals. The cheetahs even played on our safari car and we saw more than 80 lions. Macha was a great driver and he spotted so many animals for us. The two weeks trip to Uganda and Tanzania was just amazing and we will never forget. Everything was organized very well. We definitely recommend Magical Gorilla Adventures and our guides Peter and Macha and would love to do another trip with them!
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Theresa
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We had an absolutely wonderful 17-day safari experience and can wholeheartedly recommend this company to anyone planning a trip. From the very beginning, communication was clear, professional, and fast. Emails were answered quickly, often much sooner than expected. Every question was addressed in detail, which gave us a lot of confidence before the trip. One of the biggest advantages was how flexible they were, both before and during the safari. They accommodated all our planning changes without any hesitation or feeling that we were “bothering” them. Adjustments to the itinerary were handled smoothly, and we always felt our preferences were truly listened to. The entire 17 days were organized seamlessly, and we could simply relax and enjoy the experience. Any changes or tweaks we requested on the road were taken care of quickly and efficiently. The trip felt very personal and tailored to us, rather than a standard, rigid package. Overall impression is that this is a company that genuinely cares about its guests and goes the extra mile to create a memorable safari. The combination of responsiveness, flexibility, and warm, attentive service made this one of our best trips ever. Highly recommended for anyone who values good communication, adaptable planning, and a worry-free safari experience
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Eran Vilensky
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Even though we booked very late, Magic Gorilla Adventures made it happen, allowing us to visit the Uganda Gorillas in their natural habitat. Our guide Colin first took us to Lake Bunyonyi, where we had a good lunch and a boat trip, and then to our lodge near the national park. The following day, we visited the Gorillas. Our Gorillas were up on the hill, so we had a challenging climb to reach them, but the rangers helped us. So, we could spend a fantastic time with them. Thank you, Colin, and thank you, Magical Gorilla Adventures, for these two beautiful days in Uganda.
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Rene Felder
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I had the best 7-day safari of my life with Magical Gorilla Adventures in Uganda. All communication and safari planning was very effective and clear from the start and they were supportive and patient with all the amendments and requests. Also, they give you great suggestions for the tour depending on your needs or wishes. Aina suggested me to do chimp trek, which was my favorite part of all the safari (thank you Aina!). As for our tour guide Eddie, he was the absolute best. He really went above and beyond for me to see all of the Big 5. I went to different safaris in Africa and had several tour guides and they all were good, but Eddie really was outstanding. I suggest that, if possible, book your safari with Eddie. Eddie always made sure to talk to other drivers and/or the national park’s authorities to look for the animals and he is also a good tracker, he knows where and how to look for the animals. He also made sure we were always safe and taking necessary precautions which is also a very important thing to look for in a tour guide. I strongly recommend Magical Gorilla Adventures for your safari, you won´t regret it.
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Elena Bravo
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**Wonderful Safari Experience** We had an amazing safari in Rwanda and Uganda, made even better by our guide, **Musa**. He was polite, professional, easy to talk to, and always looked after us. On the safari drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, he was fantastic at spotting animals and shared so much knowledge about wildlife, history, and the landscapes. The accommodations and food were excellent, and we felt very comfortable throughout the trip. We highly recommend this company — and especially Musa — for a great safari experience.
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Li Ka
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We had a great time on our safari! Our guide James was excellent, and Kolo was helpful in planning the whole trip according to our schedule and what we wanted to see. Highly recommended!
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Arvin Pal
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Magical Gorilla Adventures is zeker aan te raden. Reageren snel en ze hebben een prachtige 3-daagse safari voor ons geregeld. Alles was prima in orde! Goede en betrouwbare gids/driver, en prachtige lodges! Alles was perfect!
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Annemieke Manten
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Why Choose Us?

We plan gorilla treks that are enjoyable and affordable, because we love gorilla trekking as much as you do.

1

Who We Are

We are a gorilla trekking operator, agency, and Destination Management Company (DMC) based in Kampala, Uganda. Our Uganda Tourism Board license number is UTB/RTT/TO/2023/100931.

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2

Booking Gorilla Treks With Us

Along with our carefully planned gorilla trekking packages and years of experience, we offer flexible and friendly booking terms.

3

Our Honest Promise to You

We promise to plan, handle, and manage your gorilla trek carefully and correctly, from start to finish.

4

Our Values & Commitments

We are committed to excellent service and to making every gorilla trek as smooth as possible.

5

Our Cause

We profit from gorilla trekking tourism, and we make sure others do too. A portion of our profits supports single mothers in communities near the gorilla parks.


How We Work

We plan your gorilla trek the right way, starting with a clear and simple planning process.

1
We Listen to You

We listen to your gorilla trekking needs, then recommend and advise on the best options for your trip.

2
We Discuss Your Options

We talk through your options, match you to the right gorilla trekking itinerary, and refine it based on your feedback.

3
We Lock in Your Booking

We confirm your gorilla trekking booking and handle reservations while we finalize any remaining details.

Speak to a Gorilla Trekking Expert to Start Planning Your Trip

Call us now or book a video call, and we'll help you plan your gorilla trekking safari.

+256-787-230-575
Eddie Gorilla Trekking Guide
Eddie Guide with Alyssa