Top 10 Gorilla Families in Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park
There are 10 gorilla families in Rwanda found in Volcanoes National Park, the only park of Rwanda where you encounter with these endangered mountain Gorillas. In 2016, the park was documented to have about 380 mountain gorillas. The park is part of volcanic ranges spanning Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mountain gorillas just like humans live in family groups led by a dominant silverback therefore you will find each family with one silverback or even more with the dominant leading them.
During gorilla trekking adventurous activities, each family is assigned a group of 8 individuals usually depending on the individual preferences and physical fitness. Only one group of 8people visits a gorilla family in a day meaning that 80 gorilla trekking permits are issued out to 80 individual trackers in a day.
Most gorilla families in Rwanda prefer living at high altitudes very deep into the the thick forests demanding physical fitness of an individual track to reach them. They keep on changing habitat locations with in the forests depending on their demands as they build a nest for a night on a daily basis.
Each family group comes wit it’s different challenges when it comes to tracking it. From the thick forests, to different rugged terrains but porters are always on board to assist tourists where necessary.
Habituated gorilla families in Rwanda, Volcanoes National park include ;
- Susa Gorilla Group (Susa A Family)
- Amahoro Gorilla Group
- Umubano Gorilla Group
- Agashya Gorilla Group
- Kwitonda Gorilla Group
- Hirwa Gorilla Group
- Karisimbi Gorilla Group (Susa-B)
- Sabyinyo Gorilla Group
- Bwenge Family Group
- Ugenda Gorilla Family
Best gorilla families in Rwanda | Gorilla Groups to Track in Volcanoes National Park
Susa Gorilla Family (Susa A)
The group adds up to 28 individual gorillas with 3 silverbacks but led by one dominant silverback.it was made famous by the works of Dian Fossey and It is one of the most preferred by visitors to the park.
The group consisted of 42 members before the split up caused because of misunderstandings between the silverback.
Though much preferred, it is very hard to track compared to other gorilla families in Rwanda as it is mostly found on the high altitudes on the steep mountains taking tourists a couple of hours trying to encounter it.
Though park rangers always always tend to know their exact locations, sometimes they wander off very far from their habitats and tourists may not be allowed to track them. the playful twins of the group, Impano and Byishimo, make it very active and fun to watch.
It is a perfect choice for gorilla trackers who are physically fit and driven by the love for adventure.
Karisimbi Gorilla Family (Susa A):
This is the gorilla families in Rwanda that broke from Susa A. it consists of 15members and mostly found on the steep slops of Karisimbi Volcano. It is another difficult group to be tracked such that sometimes it wanders of to very distant locations leading to cancellation of the gorilla tracking activities for that particular day.
The tracking team of the park always goes to track these gorilla families in Rwanda first to confirm their location and then communicate with the park guides in charge of trackers to that specific group to make finding them fast as possible.
Trekking this gorilla family is very demanding in terms of physical fitness hence it will will require a tracker who got that stamina to maneuver through all the challenging terrains.
Sabinyo Gorilla Family:
This is the smallest gorilla families in Rwanda comprising of 8 individual gorillas led by a dominant silverback called Guhonda, the largest of them all in the park weighing about 220 kilograms.
He strongly protect and defends his group from rivals like Ryango, another fight full silverback. The group is featured with juveniles that are very playful making it very exciting to watch and it can easily be located as it stays near the park’s edge.
Amahoro Gorilla Family:
This gorilla family is comprising of 17 members which are led by a dominant silverback called Ubumbwe, meaning peaceful all witnessed by its way of conduct when leading.
A dominant silverback called Charles from another group takes advantage of Ubumbwe’s calmness and he steals females to add to his group called Umubano.
Amahoro gorilla family can easily be accessed at the steep slopes mount Bisoke but you will still need enough stamina to get over the steep slopes to its habitat.
Umubano Gorilla family:
Umubano family group consists of 11 members , led by a dominant silverback called Charles who was once part of Amahoro family group all his youthful stage.
As he got older, he started taking advantage of the leader’s peaceful and calm characters, undermining and confronting him and hence split from him taking away some females to start his own family.
It is very easy to trek as it is found near the park head quarters making it very suitable for elderly and disabled trackers.
Agashya Gorilla Family:
This group also commonly known as group 13 was first led by a dominant silverback called Nyakarima before losing it to Agashya who was a member.
The two silverback challenged each other in a very deadly fight and Agashya won it, taking off with the entire family of 13 up the volcanoes, moving away far as he could from Nyakarima.
He continued adding to his group by confiscating females from other groups and it is right now is adding up to 25 members leaving near Sabyinyo family group at the steep slopes of the volcanoes.
Agashya is over protective about his group to an extent that whenever he senses danger, he moves to safety on the top of the volcano with his entire family, this way, it is very hard to track it.
Kwitonda Gorilla Family:
it is led by a dominant silverback called Kwitonda, comprising of 18 members with two silverback. The group came from the Virunga gorilla groups in Democratic Republic of Congo and is found at the steep slopes of Mount Muhavura.
It tends to move very deep into the forests making it hard to be tracked.
Hirwa Gorilla Family: this is as a result of individual gorillas from Agashya and Sabyinyo coming together to form one group consisting of 13memebers. It is found on the slops of Mount Sabyinyo, led by a very protective silverback.
Hirwa means the lucky one witnessed by the members who joined the group voluntarily in 2016 and now the group is comprising of 16 members inclusive of A pair of twins.
Bwenge Gorilla family:
some of the gorilla members of this group featured in the Movie “Gorillas in the Mist” making them very famous.
Bwenge means wisdom, the dominant silverback leading the group he formed in 2007 after his birth group, joined by other females from different members and adding up to 11members, leaving on the slopes Karisoke volcano.
Ugenda Gorilla family:
it comprises of 11members, inclusive of 2 silverback living around Karisimbi. Ugenda means being on the move witnessed by their wandering behavior to different habitats.
Gorilla Family Tree
A gorilla family tree is a visual representation of the relationships within a group of gorillas, typically focused on a single family or troop. Gorillas live in social groups, usually led by a dominant male called a silverback. The family tree would show the hierarchy and connections among the members, including the silverback, females, and offspring.
Here’s a breakdown of what a gorilla family tree might look like:
1. Silverback
- Position: The top of the family tree.
- Role: The leader and protector of the group. The silverback is the dominant male and is responsible for making decisions, protecting the group from threats, and leading them to food sources.
2. Adult Females
- Position: Below the silverback.
- Role: The adult females are the primary caregivers for the young. They stay close to the silverback for protection and support. In most cases, a silverback has multiple females in his group.
3. Offspring
- Position: Below their respective mothers.
- Role: The offspring, including infants, juveniles, and sub-adults, are the children of the females. They stay with their mothers until they reach maturity. Males eventually leave the group to start their own families or join bachelor groups, while females may stay or join another group.
4. Subordinate Males
- Position: Lower in the hierarchy.
- Role: These are often younger males who have not yet established their own families. They may eventually challenge the silverback or leave the group to form their own troop.
5. Other Members
- Possible Roles: Some groups might also include subordinate females, elderly members, or unrelated gorillas that have joined the group. Their position in the family tree would depend on their relationship to the silverback and the other members.
Understanding the Relationships:
- Maternal Bonds: The strongest bond in a gorilla family is usually between a mother and her offspring. The offspring stay close to their mothers for several years.
- Paternal Influence: The silverback plays a protective role but does not directly care for the young. His influence is more about providing safety and stability for the group.
- Group Dynamics: The hierarchy within the group is clear, with the silverback at the top. If the silverback dies or is challenged, the family tree can change dramatically as new leaders emerge or the group splits.
A gorilla family tree provides insight into the social structure and relationships within a gorilla group. It emphasizes the roles of the silverback, the importance of maternal bonds, and the dynamics that shape the lives of these remarkable primates.