Gorilla Families in Volcanoes National Park, the number has now reached 12 Families and all are available to visitors to trek. They can be categorized in to easy trek, medium trek and hard trek . See below details of the Gorilla Families in Volcanoes and allocation is done by park wardens while guests are at the Park headquarters on the trekking day.
A baby gorilla and its mother, part of some of the gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park.
Some of the gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park
Kurira Gorilla Family – Susa A
Also referred to as Susa A, the group is found in Volcanoes national park headed by Kurira alpha male silver back gorilla. This group is the oldest since the time of Din Fossey created in 1974 with originally 7 mountain gorillas. The family with time expanded to over 42 mountain gorillas which forced the group to split into two to make the Igisha family (Susa B). In 2004, the group suffered a horrible poaching attack in May 2002 where it lost 2 adult gorillas who were protecting their 2 babies from poachers in Volcanoes national park. One of the most interesting aspects of mountain gorillas is the way they protect their young ones just like human beings even to death.
The Igisha Group – Susa B
Originating from Susa B Group after separating in 2014, Igisha group is currently led by Igisha silver back mountain gorilla. The group is formerly known as Susa B family which was later named after the head silver back Igisha. Today the group comprises of 26 members and is one of the largest groups in Volcanoes national park. This group is graded as a tough trek to see the gorillas in Volcanoes national park. The name Susa comes from a nearby river running through the area where the gorilla group resides.
Amahoro gorilla group
Amahoro denotes “peaceful” gorilla family. It comes with 17 individuals, 1 silver back mountain gorilla, 2 black back, 5 adult females, two sub adult males, 2 juveniles and five babies. However, the peace in this gorilla family also comes at a cost. Ubumwe silver back gorilla in this group is most gentle silver back but unfortunately he lost his family members to Charles in the Umubano gorilla group. Hiking through this group is a bit strenuous but the hike comes with encounters of these impressive wild creatures in their natural habitat.
Umubano gorilla group
Umubano means neighborliness. It comprises of 11 individuals; one silverback, 1 sub adult male gorilla, 3 adult females and 6 baby gorillas. Umubano was once within the Amahoro family but broke off after Ubumwe silverback was challenged by Umubano. By the time Charles became a silverback gorilla like Ubumwe, he would not contain the orders and at the end, prompted to fight and challenge Ubumwe. They fought for weeks and months till Charles took some of Ubumwe’s female gorillas and established his group and hence Umubano gorilla group. From then, Charles has been controlling the family and normal interactions between him and Ubumwe has not showed any fights.
Karisimbi group
The Karisimbi gorilla family broke off from the original Susa “A” because of continuous fights. It comprises of 15 members and it is found on the Karisimbi volcano slopes that stands at 4507 meters and features as the highest mountain peak of Rwanda. The Susa “B” is ideal for trekkers who are physically well. They are believed to have found their home on top of the Karisimbi caldera slopes and this means that you can spend an entire day tracking for these unique creatures. They in most cases roam on top making the trek a bit challenging but it is one of the rewarding groups in Volcanoes National Park
Other families include the following
Sabyinyo gorilla group
The Sabyinyo family is one of the most accessible Gorilla groups found at the lower slopes of mount Sabyinyo. It is led by “Guhonda,” the famous largest and most powerful silverback gorilla in all the gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park. He has kept his challenger Ryango away from his group as a lonely silverback. Fewer mountain gorillas exist in this gorilla group compared to the rest of the families but it is equally attractive. It was named after Sabyinyo Mountain which means “old man’s teeth.” This gorilla group is closely located around the Volcanoes national park and it comprises of 8 (eight) individuals, 1 silverback, 3 adult females, 1 non adult female, 2 juveniles and one baby. Tourists can track this group around Mount Sabyinyo and Gahinga.
Kwitonda gorilla group
This consists of 18 members and led by Kwitonda silverback gorilla. This gorilla group also moved from Virunga National Park DR Congo and tracking them takes time because it is one of exhilarating groups in the Volcanoes National Park just like the Susa “B” group.
Hirwa gorilla group
This group means the lucky family. It was introduced on 17th June 2006 at a time when trackers saw its creation from other rising gorillas from 2 various gorilla families; group 13 and Sabyinyo making it the smallest group in Volcanoes National Park. More members joined the group and today it is comprised of 9 individuals, 1 silver back, three adult female gorillas, 2 sub adult females and 3 babies.
Agasha Family – 13 group
This is also popular as aka Agasha family. At the time of habituation, the group had only 13 members and hence its name. Currently, it comprises of over 25 members with one silverback gorilla, twelve adult females, two sub adult female, three juveniles and seven baby gorillas. Before, it was headed by Nyakarima whom Agasha which denotes news, challenged. Agashya really made news by simply viewing and imagining the size and energy of Nyakarima but later being defeated by Agashya. This was amazing news to Nyakarima. Agashya migrated to the volcano to seek protection of his family and ensure that Nyakarima never gets them again. Historically, this silver back is known for his forceful grabbing of members from the rest of gorilla families and succeeding the lonely ones into his making it one of the largest groups with 25 members. This silver back is also famous for its behavior of migrating to higher altitude with his members. What is fascinating is that whenever tourists visit this group, Agashya becomes suspicious of other silverbacks and the only thing he does is to continue moving on top of the volcano. For those who wish to track this group, you must be physically fit to hike on top to view Agashya and his group mates. It is a breathtaking adventure to reach this group but it offers unforgettable encounters.
Isimbi Gorilla Group
Led by Muturengere the alpha male silver back gorilla, Isimbi Group is located in Volcanoes national park inhabiting the slopes of mount Karisimbi. Formerly headed by Getty who passed on because of pneumonia. The group was created after it split from the Karisimbi gorilla family in April 2013 which was too large. This group is graded as a medium trek and is quite rewarding watching the group. Today the group offers 13 members
Muhoza Family
The Muhoza gorilla family is named after the 460 pound alpha male silverback comprising of over 12 mountain gorillas of varying ages. This is the newest gorilla group in volcanoes national park, let by the youngest leading silver backs Muhoza. Generally the Muhoza group is ranked as an easy family to trek to in Volcanoes national park as located lower the mountain slopes.
Titus Gorilla Family
Titus Gorilla Family is derived from the head of group silver back gorilla. This group is one of the oldest springing from the time of Dian Fossey when she was still carrying out her study on mountain gorillas at the Karisoke Research Center. At the time, Dian was fighting massive poaching targeting mountain gorillas. Titus was the only survivor from his group creating the Titus family and is the oldest gorilla family in Volcanoes national park. The silver back Titus died on 14th September 2009 at 35 years which is considered quite old for a male gorilla, leaving behind a humble According to tourists who have had a chance to trek the Titus group, this group is very e and rewarding comprising of about 7 mountain gorillas. Titus group ranges as a medium hike located between the slopes of mount Karisimbi and Bisoke Volcano.
The Gorilla Families in Volcanoes continue to grow thanks to a collective effort of conservation and sustainability by the community near the parks and the contribution through gorilla trekking. All Gorilla Families in Volcanoes national park are amazing to visit. Apart from Visiting the gorilla families in Rwanda, visitors can as well visit Chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forests such a combination is for primate lovers that enjoy seeing primates in the natural habitats