10 BEST Gorilla Trekking Families Volcanoes National Park
10 BEST Gorilla Trekking Families at Volcanoes National Park Rwanda to trek include; Susa (A) Gorilla Family Group, Amahoro Gorilla Family Group, Agashya Gorilla Family Group, Bwenge Gorilla Family Group, Hirwa Gorilla Family Group, Karisimbi Gorilla Family Group, Kwitonda Gorilla Family Group, Sabyinyo Gorilla Family Group, Ugyenda Gorilla Family Group, Umubano Gorilla Family Group. 10 BEST Gorilla Trekking Families at Volcanoes National Park give you remarkable adventures in the wild in groups of 8 with a lead park ranger guide for 2 to 3 hours.
All the Gorilla Family groups in Volcanoes Mountain National Park, inclusive of their family members are habituated; here below find the list:
- Agashya Gorilla Family Group or Group 12 [27 members]
- Amahoro Gorilla Family Group [18 members]
- Bwenge Gorilla Family Group [11 members]
- Hirwa Gorilla Family Group [13 members]
- Karisimbi Gorilla Family Group (Susa (B) [18members]
- Kwitonda Gorilla Family Group [20 members]
- Sabyinyo Gorilla Family Group [14 members]
- Susa (A) Gorilla Family Group [33 members]
- Ugyenda Gorilla Family Group [12 members]
- Umubano Gorilla Family Group [12 members]
Which Gorilla family groups are Habituated in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park?
The park consists of 10 habituated mountain Gorilla Families with different attributes and characteristics depending on their specific habitats and movement. These include; Susa group, Umubano, Ugenda, Sabinyo, Hirwa, Karisimbi, Amahoro, Bwengye, Kwitonda and Group 13 “Agasha group”.
Susa Group (Susa A Family)
At Volcanoes National Park, Susa Gorilla Group is the largest group with 27 Gorillas inclusive of three Silverbacks. It is a challenging group to track since it requires one to be physically fit to track in the forest due to its constant location in the Hilly areas and was named after River Susa that pours its waters into the green habitat.
Karisimbi Family (Susa-B)
Karisimbi Gorilla Group was named after the stunning Mount Karisimbi where the Gorilla Group was first seen. The Gorilla Family is also called Susa B Gorilla Group after separating for Susa A Gorilla Group. The Group includes 15 members with a dominant Silverback which leads the group. The group is amazing to track as they you follow the lofty inclines/ slopes of the Karisimbi Caldera although, depending on the physical fitness of the group some hikers tale the whole day.
Sabyinyo Gorilla Group
Sabinyo Gorilla Group can also be tracked in the park and is led by a dominant Silverback Gorilla called Guhonda and was named after the beautiful Mount Sabinyo Volcano. The term Sabinyo means Old Man’s Teeth in Kinyarwanda. The group comprises of 8 individuals i.e a silverback (Guhonda), three adult females, a young female and two immature gorillas with an infant gorilla.
Amahoro Gorilla Group
Amaahoro Gorilla Group is a very peaceful Gorilla Group comprising of 18 members i.e a silver back, two black backs, five adult females, 2 juveniles, 2 sub adult males and five babies. The group is led by a dominant Silverback called Ubumwe who is very simple, calm something that has made him loose his members to the Umubano group led by Charles.
Umubano Group
Umubano Gorilla Group comprise of 11 members including a silverback, an adult masculine and a subordinate female with six infants. The group was part of the Amahoro Gorilla Group under Ubumwe who lost to Charles who stared the Umubano Gorilla Group. Silverback Charles took with him adult females hence making him very influential and recognizable by Ubumwe. This has bonded the gap between them making theem interact and peaceful.
Agasha Group (13 Group)
Agasha Gorilla Group comprises of 13 members that increased to 25 members I.e a Silverback, 12 adult females, 2 sub ordinate adult females, 3 juvenile gorillas and 7 babies. Before the group was under the leadership of Silverback Nyakarima who lost victory to Agashya an incident that left Nyakarima distressed.
Kwitonda Family
Kwitonda Gorilla Group is under the leadership of a dominant Silverback called Kwitonda a term that means the Humble one. The group has 8 members with two dominant Silverbacks and a black back. It is very hard to trek this group due to the fact that it requires one to move longer distances to see it.
Hirwa Group (which means “lucky one”)
Hirwa Gorilla Group as formed from two different Groups i.e Sabinyo and Agashya Gorilla Groups. The Group has 9 members i.e a silverback, 3 mature females, 2 subordinate females with 3 infants and shows strength hence provides security for all its members.
Bwenge Family
Bwenge Gorilla Group is situated usually along the slopes of Karisoke Volcano with 11 members under a dominant Silverback called Bwenge. With the loss of six baby Gorillas, the group has stood out resilient under Bwenge a very tough, strong silverback who usually looks out and takes care of his members. The Group is quite challenging to track i.e 3 hours making it very hectic and difficult as you follow through rugged terrain to get to see them.
Ugenda Family
Ugenda Gorilla group comprise of 11 members with 2 silverbacks with the term Ugenda meaning relocate. The Group is fond of relocating all the time hence very timid and challenging to track due to prolonged distances one has to follow to see them.
Things to Wear During Gorilla Trekking at Volcanoes National Park
- Move with a denim shirt or a t-shirt with long sleeves to cover the arms so as to protect them from wild plants, bush thorns, insects, and morning mist/chill. These can also dry up so easily in case of rain.
- A Rain Jacket because it rains almost all the time due to the fact that Rwanda is situated close the equator. S
- Long pants that are not jeans since jeans get too heavy after getting wet while trekking for gorillas since this includes movement through the wet and thick forest vegetation. Long thick dry pants are recommended.
- Light weight Boots that cover your ankles since the trekking involves moving through muddy areas or one can ask for gum boots also called knee high rubber willies. While hiking one needs to wear hiking boots so as to flexibly trek along the steep terrain full of vines. Socks should be woolen so as to provide warmth.
- Building/Gardening gloves, should be made of cotton and padded along the palms and fingers since touching the various vines is inevitable.
Note: One should also carry with them the following;
- Cap/hat
- Waterproof plastic bag; this to help keep the camera/film
- Camera without a flash
What is the largest living member of the ape family?
Gorillas inhabit the thick green vegetation habitat forests of Western and Central tropical Africa in the countries of Uganda, Rwanda, DR Congo. The male Gorillas are larger than the females in size.
How many gorilla families are there in Rwanda?
Rwanda has about ten habituated mountain gorilla families that are trekked in the vast stunning Volcanoes National Park and these include; Sabyinyo, Susa, Karisimbi, Umubano, Amahoro, Kwitonda, Hirwa, Bwenge, Agashya and Ugyenda.
Who are the habituated gorilla families in Rwanda?
Full list of Gorilla Families / Groups in Volcanoes National Park
- Agashya Gorilla Family Group or Group 12 [27 members]
- Amahoro Gorilla Family Group [18 members]
- Bwenge Gorilla Family Group [11 members]
- Hirwa Gorilla Family Group [13 members]
- Karisimbi Gorilla Family Group (Susa (B) [18members]
- Kwitonda Gorilla Family Group [20 members]
- Sabyinyo Gorilla Family Group [14 members]
- Susa (A) Gorilla Family Group [33 members]
- Ugyenda Gorilla Family Group [12 members]
- Umubano Gorilla Family Group [12 members]
How many gorillas are in Rwanda right now?
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is exciting and safe for all travelers from all over the world interested in trekking and watching the rare species of Mountain gorillas. There are about 1,000 mountain gorillas in the wild i.e 604 in the Virunga Massif.