Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to the Nyakagezi gorilla family. There are over 80 mountain gorillas in this 33.7 square kilometer national park, which is also home to 79 species of birds, unique golden monkeys, and three of the eight Virunga range volcanoes. Book a Uganda trek to see how a Nyakagezi visit fits into your safari.
The famous Nyakagezi mountain gorilla family is the only habituated gorilla family in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southern Uganda. The rest of Uganda’s gorilla families are located in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
A Family That Once Roamed Three Countries
The group was known for roaming between Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda, but has remained on the Ugandan side since 2012.
One interesting fact about the Nyakagezi gorilla family is that the old silverback, Bugingo, still lives in the group. This is unusual among gorillas, because when another silverback takes over leadership, the defeated one is usually banished to live alone in the forest or seeks refuge in another gorilla family.
Group Structure and Permits
There are only eight permits available each day to visit the Nyakagezi gorilla family. The group consists of 10 members, including 2 adult females, 4 silverbacks, 2 blackbacks, 2 juveniles, and 1 infant. The family was initially led by Bugingo at the time of habituation but is now led by Mark.
Having four silverbacks within a single group is itself unusual, since most gorilla families settle around one dominant male. This dynamic gives the Nyakagezi family a distinctive social structure that researchers and guides often point out to visitors during the trek.
Why Nyakagezi Is an Easy Family to Trek
The Nyakagezi mountain gorilla family is one of the easiest groups to trek because it has a narrow home range for feeding, nesting, and relaxing. Due to the abundance of food in the area, the group does not need to move long distances to forage throughout the day.
This makes trekking to find them considerably less demanding compared to some of the gorilla families in Bwindi, whose larger home ranges can mean longer, steeper hikes before a sighting. For travelers looking for a rewarding gorilla encounter without an especially strenuous trek, the Nyakagezi family in Mgahinga is often a strong choice, particularly when combined with golden monkey tracking or a hike up one of the park’s Virunga volcanoes during the same visit.
