Habituated Gorilla Families in Bwindi National Park
Habituated Gorilla Families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – as of March 2020
Uganda, The Pearl of Africa, together with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are home to about 1,063 mountain Gorillas (total global population) with over 50% of them residing in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.
In Bwindi, there are about 459 Gorillas comprising of 50 groups and 13 solitary individuals, as of 2018.
The Virunga Mountains area is home to 604 Mountain Gorillas as per the survey of 2018.
Mountain Gorillas are endangered species and attract over 30,000 tourists every year who visit East Africa for Gorilla tracking and Gorilla Habituation Activities.
What is the difference between Gorilla Tracking and Gorilla Habituation Experience?
In Gorilla tracking, tourists venture deep into the jungle, led by park rangers and guides, for a one-hour encounter with a family of Gorillas that they have been allocated. Only 8 people are allowed to visit a Gorilla family per day, meaning that only 8 permits can be issued. The families that are visited during Gorilla tracking are already habituated and can therefore tolerate the presence of human beings in their territory as long as they are not disturbed.
In the Gorilla Habituation Experience, tourists are allowed up to 4 hours to visit a Gorilla family that is semi habituated. This means that the family is still in the process of being made to tolerate the presence of humans in their territory. The identification of a family and the habituation process takes years, and when successful, the family is added to the list of groups that are open to Gorilla tracking activities. At the moment, the Gorilla habituation experience is only available in the southern part of Bwindi.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has 17 habituated Gorilla families, and 2 semi habituated Gorilla families.
The neighboring Mgahinga National Park currently has one habituated Gorilla family.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority issues Gorilla tracking permits on a first come, first served basis. Considering that availability of Gorilla tracking permits is very limited especially during the high season (July to October), it is recommended that you book your Gorilla tracking safari as early as possible. It is important to know the part of the vast Bwindi Forest where your allocated Gorilla group (from your permit) lives. With this knowledge, you can book a lodge which is located closest to the point where the trekking point begins. There have been cases where travelers have been booked at a lodge from where they have to drive for hours. Gorilla tracking begins early in the morning, thus the importance to book with a professional tour operator who understands the logistics. In Bwindi, the permits are allocated in 4 different sectors. These are Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga.
Below, we have a look at some of the Gorilla families and their location.
Buhoma Sector – Central Bwindi:
The Buhoma sector is the most popular and most visited part of Bwindi. This is where Gorilla tracking began in 1993, and also the area where some of the first lodges in Bwindi are located.
MUBARE GORILLA FAMILY
This was the first Gorilla family to be habituated in Uganda. It currently consists of 9 members, including 1 Silver Back. It was fully habituated in 1991 and was opened for tourism in 1993. It was named Mubare after Mubare Hill, the area where they were first sighted by trackers deep inside the Bwindi Forest. The group initially consisted of 18 members but movement to other groups, loss of life during fights and death of young ones reduced the number.
HABINYANJA GORILLA FAMILY
Comprising of 18 individuals, the Habinyanja gorilla family is another one located in the Buhoma sector and has 2 Silver Backs. It was fully habituated in 1997 with the first tourists visiting in 1999. The name Habinyanja is derived from the Rukiga name “Nyanja” which means “a place with water’’. This is in relation to the family having first being sighted at an area in Bwindi near a swamp. “Mugirisi”, meaning old man was dominant the Silver Back in charge of the group when it was first sighted. After dying due to old age, his two brothers Mwirima and Rwansigazi took over and appeared to share power. For some reason, the family later split into two, with the one that followed the ever wandering Rwansigazi keeping the Habinyanja name while the one that stayed with Mwirima being called Rushegura. Rwansigazi was to later cede leadership to Makara, who is the current dominant Silver Back.
RUSHEGURA GORILLA FAMILY
Comprising of 18 individuals, the Rushegura family which splintered from the Habinyanja family is led by 1 Silver Back. It had begun with 12 members including 5 females and was opened for tourist visits in 2002. Mwirima, the Silver Back still retains the leadership of this group which is known to be people friendly. The family stays in the vicinity of Buhoma Village and the young ones do sometimes “pose” for tourists to take a better photo.
KATWE GORILLA FAMILY
This is the newest habituated Gorilla family in Buhoma- north of Bwindi, consisting of 7 members with one being a Silver Back.
NKURINGO GORILLA FAMILY
This family comprising of 19 individuals is located in the Nkuringo area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In Rukiga, “Nkuringo means a “round hill”, and the group whose habituation process completed in 2004 was therefore named after the area it was first spotted. The hilly Nkuringo area is very popular especially for return tourists who have tracked other Gorilla families before. Before its habituation, the family could be spotted near the neighboring villages. It was also notorious for stealing bananas and other crops from farmers. This was one of the reasons it was habituated since some of the revenue collected through permits could be given back to the community, thus avoiding human- wildlife conflict.
Nkuringo, the elderly Silver Back leading this group died in 2008 leaving his two silverbacks known as Rafiki and Safari. Safari would take over the role of the dominant male since then.
BUSHAHO GORILLA FAMILY
This is another group found in the Nkuringo section of Bwindi. It comprises of 11 individuals. These include a silver back, 1 black back, 4 female adults, 2 semi adult females and 3 infants. In 2012, park trackers learnt that some members of the Nkuringo family had disappeared. Among the, was Bahati, a Silver Back. Upon close observation, the researchers discovered that he was one of the Gorillas who had broken away from Nkuringo and joined Bushaho where he was now the Silver Back. The group was habituated and has been open for tourists visits since then.
CHRISTMAS GORILLA FAMILY
This is one of the newest habituated Gorilla families in Bwindi, found in the Nkuringo area. Its successful introduction has increased the number of habituated Gorilla families in Nkuringo to three. It is led by a dominant Silver Back named Christmas, since he was born on 25th December. The group was therefore named after him. The group is believed to comprise of 9 members, although only 6 are regularly sighted during tracking. These are Christmas, three adult females, an infant and a black back.
RUSHAGA SECTOR – SOUTHERN BWINDI
NSHONGI GORILLA FAMILY
The habituation process of the Nshongi family begun in 2006 with the group being opened for tourism in 2009. Nshongi, which might be translated to mean “honey” was given the name after the deep red color of the River where it was first identified. At the time of successful habituation, this group had as many as 35 members (including 3 silver backs and 7 seven black backs which lived in harmony) which made it unique. Bweza was and remains the dominant Silver Back. However, fight for dominance among males led to many splinter groups afterwards. In 2010, some sections of the family broke away from Nshongi to form Mishaya group which was led by a Silver Back known as Mishaya. Several splinters led to the group remaining with 18 members at some point, later reducing to 7 individuals: 1 Silver back, 1 sub adult, 3 females, one sun adult and an infant. This family is found in the Rushaha sector, located in the southern part of Bwindi Forest.
NB: It is important to note that the group numbers keep on changing due to splitting, death and birth of new ones.
MISHAYA GORILLA FAMILY
This group split away from the Nshongi family, with Mishaya the silver back leading the group away. Mishaya is a known fighter who has always been good at fighting away attacking non habituated groups and winning new females to his group. During a serious invasion in 2011, a fight with a non-habituated Gorilla group left him and one of the infants in his group seriously injured. The Mishaya Gorilla family which is found in Rushaga, south of Bwindi had 7 members although some new Gorillas have been noted to join it in the recent past. Nshongi and Mishaya groups still live close to each other.
KAHUNGYE GORILLA FAMILY
This is yet another family located in Rushaga in the southern sector of Bwindi Forest. The Kahungye Gorilla family is among the recently habituated Gorilla families and was opened for tourism in 2011. The group was however to split within one year, forming another group called Busingye. Before the separation, Kahungye Group consisted of 27 members, 3 of them being Silver backs. Kahungye is a hill in Rushaga where the group was first sighted, thus given the name by researchers. Rumansi is the current dominating Silver Back, after reports that Gwigi broke away to form another group.
BWEZA GORILLA FAMILY
This group which broke away from Nshongi after several family conflicts consists of 9 members, one of the, being Bweza the dominant silver back. After the break away, The Uganda Wildlife Authority team thought that they would get back together. When this did not happen, they classified it as another Gorilla group and opened it up for tourist visits in December 2012.
BUSINGYE GORILLA FAMILY
This is a splinter group from the Kahungye family consisting of 9 members and which is led by Busingye, the silver back. Busingye, meaning “peace” split away to form his own family in June 2012. His ambitious nature and eagerness to fight other Gorilla groups is quite a contract to his name. Every time he comes across a wild gorilla family, he does not hesitate to display his power by protecting them and even grabbing a new female to his side. It is located in Rushaga sector, south of Bwindi.
Kutu gorilla family
Kutu gorilla family is located in Rushaga region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with 8 members and one dominant silverback as the head of the family.
Mucunguzi gorilla family
Mucunguzi gorilla family is located in the Rushaga sector with 8 members dominantly female; it broke away from Bweza family after a serious fight, and Mucunguzi, the Silver Back is the head of the group.
RWIGI FAMILY
The Rwigi family is a splinter faction from the Kahungye Gorilla Family. It is found in Rushaga in the southern sector of Bwindi forest and was unveiled for Gorilla tracking activities in April 2020. Rwigi the dominant silver back broke away from the Kahungye family after several quarrels with other Silver backs in the group. He left with a few females and juveniles to form his own family which has 3 adult females, 2 juveniles and an infant.
Bikyingi Gorilla Family (Habituation Experience)
Bikyingi Gorilla Family is one of the newest habituated groups located in Rushaga sector, in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. It has 15 individuals including 1 silverback. Bikyingi, the only silverback and leader of the group was given the same as his group, and has been noted to be very friendly to all his young ones. The habituation process of this family began in 2012, and together with the Bushaho Gorilla family also found in southern Bwindi, they are the 2 Gorilla families available for the Gorilla Habituation Experience.
Bwindi National Park is home to many more Mountain Gorillas and the number keeps on increasing as a result of tireless conservation efforts in Uganda. However, the above are the only habituated Gorilla groups currently that inhabit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
RUHIJA SECTOR
ORUZOGO GORILLA FAMILY
Located in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi, The Oruzogo family is the largest with 19 members. These include 4 Silver Back. Bakwate is the dominant silver back in this group. This group completed the habituation process in 2011 when it became open for tourism. By that time, it had 25 members led by Tibirikwata, the dominant silver back. The numbers have been changing since then as a result on splitting, death and new births.
BITUKURA GORILLA FAMILY
This is another Gorilla family found in the Ruhija sector. Named after River Bitukura, a River where it was first sighted, the group currently consists of 14 members including 4 Silver Backs. It was opened for tourism in October 2008 with the habituation process having began in July 2007. This is remarkable as the process took 15 months compared to the average period is 2 years. This was made easy by their peaceful co- existence with the neighboring Kyaguriro family, with whom they interact. This means that the Uganda Wildlife Authority trackers would occasionally come across this family. The family began with 24 members but the numbers have kept on changing due to break aways, death and new births. It has however remained one close knit family.
KYAGURIRO GORILLA FAMILY
This group was amongst the first Gorilla families to be habituated back in 1995. It has a fascinating history due to fights and take overs that have led to many splinter groups. Found in Ruhija on the eastern side of Bwindi National Park, the group was initially reserved for research. It was however opened for tourism due to a high demand for Gorilla tracking permits. It currently has 9 members led by Rukara, one of the 2 silver backs.
MUKIZA GORILLA FAMILY
This family that has 12 members is a splinter group from the Kyaguriro family. It is located in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi Forest National Park. Mukiza is the only Silver Back with the other members being adult females, black backs and juveniles. Rukara, an immigrant silver back from the Bitukura Gorilla family invaded the Kyaguriro family and took charge of part of the family. The constant feuds that followed led to Mukiza breaking off to form his own Mukiza family. This family is the latest addition to the list of habituated Gorilla families in Ruhija.
MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK
NYAKAGEZI GORILLA FAMILY
This family is found in Mgahinga National Park in southern Uganda, and the only habituated group in this park. This family of 10 Gorillas inhabits the Virunga volcanoes “the mountains that cook” in what is part of the Virunga massif. The Virunga volcanoes are shared between Uganda, Rwanda and the Domestic Republic of Congo, with about 80 Gorillas inhabiting the Ugandan part of the volcanoes. There were times in the past (over 6 years ago) when the Nyakagezi family would cross over to Rwanda. This has however not been recorded in recent years, especially after the take over of the group by Mark, the dominant Silver back and his brother Mafia after Bugingo who is their father retired. However, Bugingo had a tendency of leading the family to Rwanda and that is why you might find that information elsewhere.
How to book your gorilla tracking permit and safari.
One way is to book directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s online portal. However, we recommend that you book with a seasoned and reputable tour operator like Essenia Safari Experts Ltd. This is because we tailor make your safari not just to cover Gorilla tracking, but we also combine with our leading safari attractions in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya while offering professional logistical guidance and competitive prices.
At the moment, A gorilla tracking permit costs USD 600 per person until 30th June 2020. From 1st July 2020, the price will increase to USD 700.
Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National park currently costs USD 1,500 per person until 30th June 2022. When approved subject to availability, only 4 people are allowed to visit the allocated family per day, and they spend up to 4 hours with the Gorilla family.
Besides the mountain Gorillas, Uganda is also one of the best countries for Chimpanzee Tracking and Chimpanzee Habituation Experience. This is mainly done at Kibale Forest National Park. Presently, a Chimpanzee tracking permit costs USD 150 per person until 30th June 2020. From 1st July 2020, cost for Chimpanzee Tracking will increase to USD 200 per person.
For a Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, current cost of permit is USD 200 per person. From 1st July 2020, a Chimpanzee Habituation Experience permit will cost USD 250 per person, valid for 6 hours inside Kibale Forest National Park.
Our contacts: reservations@esseniasafaris.co.ke // www.esseniasafaris.com +254723775749 (calls and Whatsapp)
A Guide to the Serengeti – Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration
The Wildebeest Migration
This is one activity which is on top of every wildlife safari lover’s bucket list. Yet still, there are other thousands of travelers around the world who have experienced it once, twice or more but still can’t wait to be back to either Serengeti or Masai Mara to catch one more glimpse of the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth.
A wildebeest’s journey begins at birth and only ends at death. Unknown to many, the annual wildebeest migration that involves over 1.5 million wildebeests accompanied by Zebras and other antelopes is more of a life time process rather than an annual event. However, it is the movement between Serengeti in the north and Masai Mara in the south that gets most of the attention, more so because of the epic dives across the Crocodile infested Mara River in search of greener grazing pastures and water on the other side.
In this edition, we take you through the A to Z of the wildebeest migration.
January to March: Wildebeest Calving Season
This is the time when the marauding gnus gather on the wider Ngorongoro conservation area, south of the Serengeti after their long and tedious journey back from the Masai Mara, through the northern part of the Serengeti. At this time, the short rains have just ended and the area has adequate grass and watering spots. The gnus can be seen moving between the open grass savannah, the bushes and even swamps. Calving, one of the most important and interesting chapters in a Gnu’s life happens here between February and March, in what is popularly referred to as the wildebeest calving season. January is a hot month, and most of the females are heavily pregnant. This means that they will soon be giving birth, and tender grass is needed for the young calves to feed on. The Gnus are therefore waiting for the signs of the first rains. Their movement is therefore dictated by signs of rains, and no one knows how they sense the rains. It has been observed in the last few years that Wildebeests can delay giving birth depending on the weather patterns. In years when it has been very dry, and rains have delayed, they have also taken their time before introducing the young ones to the cruel African Savannah. Their movement during this season can be unpredictable, as they can move swiftly from one area to another within days. Once the rains begin, the females give birth (almost all at once) in what is referred to as synchronized birthing. During this window, as many as 8,000 calves are born every day for a period of about 3 weeks, with over half a million new wildebeests being born by the time it’s over.
It’s now rainy and there is enough pasture, and new calves born, translating to lesser movement of the animals. This is a very popular travel season and you have a high chance of witnessing the migration and wildebeest calving season in the Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek area. Considering the fact that a Gnu’s journey is mainly instinct led, this may vary by 10 or 20 kilometres, but without fail the wildebeest herds gather between Ndutu, Matiti Hill, Naabi Hill, the Goll kopjes to the east and Olduvai Gorge. If you want to stay here during this season, there is a selection of a lodge as well as permanent and semi-permanent tented camps to choose from.
Understanding the Synchronized birthing by Wildebeests:
One would wonder why Wildebeests would give birth during the February to March window, and almost all of them at a time. It’s only the Wildebeests that could answer that better, so it’s unfortunate that humans don’t have a way of communicating with them. However, as humans we are blessed with the ability to study and interpret nature.
Wildlife specialists consider the giving birth to many calves at the same time as the Wildebeest’s strategy to saturate predatory activity, as many calves born at the same time have a higher chance of survival than if the births were spread across the year. This is because predators that await the birth of the weak and powerless calves (easy prey) cannot be able to kill all the new born s. Most survive this and the future generation of wildebeests begins here.
It would not be fully correct to say that predators enjoy easy kills. Over the years, Wildebeest mothers have instinctively known to give birth on the shorter grass plains, from where it is easier to spot predators approaching. They are joined by other mothers who form protective barricades around the most vulnerable newly borns in order to ensure that they have a greater chance of survival. If you are in Serengeti around this time, it is not unusual to see protective mothers trying to fight back when big cats like Cheetahs and even Hyenas attack.
With most of the new calves being born at the beginning of the long rains season, the Serengeti teems with soft green grass which makes for a succulent diet for the young calves. As you will note later in this article, the calves need to be strong enough in readiness for the long, risky and tedious journey to Masai Mara. This freshly sprouted grass is therefore important to the new born Wildebeests, meaning that this is an ideal period for them to be born, as they have a better chance of survival into adulthood.
It has been noted that its not only the Wildebeests that give birth around this season. Zebras, Buffalos, Gazelles, Cheetahs, and even Lions are being sighted commonly nursing young ones so you can expect to see a lot of calves, cubs, and foals if you are visiting Tanzania during this time.
April and May: April marks the peak of the long rains season. The wildebeests and their weeks old calves are now following the grazing paths from Southern Serengeti towards the central plains. They will be spending the next two months traversing the central Serengeti plans as they graze. From Naabi Hills all the way to Seronera, Turner Springs and Lake Magadi, herds comprising of different herds of wildebeests can easily be sighted in Central Serengeti during this season, and spreading all the way to Kusini, Simba Kopje and Moru Kopje areas. There is a high presence of big cats here so you can expect breath taking predator and prey actions if you visit during this month. This being the most visited part of the Serengeti there are several lodges and tented camps to choose from.
These include Serengeti Serena Lodge, Kusini Camp, Serengeti Sopa Lodge, Seronera Wildlife Lodge, Serengeti Kati Kati, Ole Serai Luxury Camp- Turner Springs, Ole Serai Luxury Camp- Moru Kopjes, Serengeti Safari Lodge, Four Seasons Serengeti Lodge, Sametu Camp, Serengeti Heritage Camp among many others.
It is important to note that this is a muddy season so you should be ready for some adventure in the black cotton mud.
By end of May, the central Serengeti plains are becoming dry, and the pastures depleted. The migration has by now gained momentum and the migrating herds move towards the Grumeti River on the western Serengeti corridor. Due to the dispersal of the moving herds, it might take you hours driving between the leading herds and the tail end. Some herds may already be in Mbalageti and others as far as Nyamuma Hills. Huge herds can be seen congregating along the pools and channels of the Grumeti River which they need to cross in order to continue with their journey. (The River hasn’t had much water around this time in the last few years but that could change in the future). The River is crocodile infested but you may not see spectacular crossings and encounters like you might see on the Mara River.
There are not many lodges located West of the Serengeti so its recommended that you book your safari as early as possible. Some of the Lodges and camps located in this area are Mbalageti Lodge, Grumeti Migration Camp, Olakira Camp, Asanja Grumeti Camp and Kirawira Serena Camp.
From July, the Serengeti is now dry, and the landscape arid. This is the mating season, and the time the migrating herds are crossing the Mara River. There is no better time to witness River Crossings. The migration is now moving faster in pursuit of water and greener pastures.
August is the month when the migration is most constant. You have a great chance of witnessing River Crossings both from the Serengeti and Masai Mara side. The herds can be seen north of the Serengeti, south east of Masai Mara around the Sand River and in the central Masai Mara plains. They will then spread over moving to the Mara Triangle and other areas of the vast reserve. Between now and September, the Mara will be home to big herds of the migrating herds, although some have been seen to remain in Northern Serengeti over the last few years. (This has been occasioned by irregular rain patterns that ensure that there is adequate pasture both in northern Serengeti and Masai Mara). Herds have even been seen crossing to the Masai Mara only to turn towards the Serengeti after a few days, and vice versa). During this season, there are a few permanent and semi-permanent tented camps strategically located along the Kogatende and Bologonja areas in northern Serengeti.
In Masai Mara, there are several lodges and camps that offer you close proximity to where the action is taking place. In Central Maasai Mara, there are many lodges and camps to choose from, all located a few hours drive to the Mara River with en route game drives. If you want to be closer to the River, Ashnil Mara Camp, Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Entim Mara Camp, Governors Camp, Mara Crossings Camp, Mara River Camp, Rekero Camp, Mara Intrepids, Mara Explorer are some of the options to choose from. If you want to combine big cat sightings and the migration trail, camps located along the Talek River would be ideal. These Include, Fig Tree Camp, Mara Leisure Camp, Tipilikwani Mara Camp, Base Camp Masai Mara, Il Keliani, Azure Mara Haven and Mara Simba Lodge. They are all located along a prime game viewing area, and about two hours to some of the major crossing points.
In August and September, the concentration of Lions, Cheetahs, Leopard, Cheetahs and other predators near the migrating herds is high. You are likely to experience successful hunts, find predators or scavengers on a kill, or resting by the shades after enjoying a heavy meal.
By October, the migration is almost completing the cycle and scattered herds are heading southwards. By early November they have moved from Kenya to the eastern limits of the Serengeti. They retrace their steps north via Lobo and by December, they are spread around the Southern part. From here, they are joined by herds of Zebra and other plains game and are venturing deep into the southern plains where the vegetation is lush after the rains. The calving season will soon begin, and the Great Migrations continues to move rhythmically in a clockwise direction.
In as much as we have tried to be as accurate as possible, please note that this is only a guide based on our observation of the wildebeest migration over the years. The migration is however a natural, instinct led activity mainly motivated by pursuit of pasture and water. The wildlife moving patterns may therefore vary from time to time. We are available to offer tailor made safari packages based on accurate to near accurate movements.
Need a safari customized to suit your taste, budget and pace? Write to us on: holidays@esseniasafaris.co.ke.