GORILLA FAMILIES IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, RWANDA WILDLIFE, AND GORILLA SAFARI TOURS
Attractions to tour in Volcanoes National Park: Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park has 12 gorilla families. a gorilla tour with one of these 12 Gorilla families is such a fascinating safari experience that every traveler on a Rwanda wildlife trip wishes to do it at least once in a lifetime. In this article about gorilla tour families, we bring you all the 12 gorilla families that you can tour in the forest of Volcanoes National Park Rwanda and they include;
1). Susa (A) gorilla family InRwanda's Volcanoes National Park
Susa (A) gorilla family is one of the largest to tour in Volcanoes National Park with over 50 family members and is yet the family that Dian Fossey used to make her research as an American primatologist who dedicated her life to protecting mountain gorillas that were at a point of total extinction in the wild. The size of the Susa (A) gorilla family makes it very interesting to trek plus the fact that the family has a pair of rare twins makes it yet more enjoyable. However, this family enjoys staying up in the mountain making it difficult to trek but an encounter with it is worth it.
2). Susa (B) Gorilla family In Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park
Susa (B) Gorilla family also known as Karisimbi was part of Susa A gorilla family but later on broke up leading to its formation and naming it Susa B with 16 family members. This special gorilla family is also not easy to trek on a gorilla tour in Rwanda as it resides uphill on the slopes of Mount Karisimbi thus to get there requires a real hike which is a physically challenging experience.
3). Amahoro gorilla family In Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park
As stated, the Amahoro gorilla family is the most peaceful in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda under the leadership of the silverback Ubumwe. However much this is the most peaceful family that every tourist coming for a gorilla tour in Rwanda would wish to trek but the challenge is that this family thrills uphill which is a bit tiresome to ascend to this beautifully family but for adventurous travelers, this is not a big deal as they can easily ascend following the trails in the jungle till they get to Amahoro gorilla family.
4). Hirwa Gorilla family in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park
The Hirwa Gorilla family was formed from 3 other different families including Susa, Group 13, and Sabyinyo gorilla families. Munyinga silverback who was once part of the Susa gorilla family leads the Hirwa Gorilla family but due to internal fights in the group, He decided to leave the family with 2 females and kept grabbing other members from different families including Group 13 and Sabyinyo.
Hirwa Gorilla family as the name states “Hirwa” means the lucky one implying that the family is filled with luck and a set of twins.
Hirwa Gorilla family thrills in Mount Sabyinyo where it usually crossover from Volcanoes National Park Rwanda to Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and as well to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda which all thrill within Virunga massif.
5). Agashya Gorilla family(Group 13 Gorilla family) In Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park
Group 13-gorilla family presently known as the Agashya gorilla family originally had only 13 family members at the time of habituation thus its name Group 13 when it was by then under the leadership of silverback Nyakarima and was overthrown by the silverback Agashya was still leading the family. As of now, the family has grown to over 27 members led by Agashya and most people call it Agashya now which means the new one. This gorilla family can be habituated along the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo.
6). Sabyinyo Gorilla family in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park
The Sabyinyo Gorilla family is as well another stunning gorilla family to tour on your gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park as the largest silverback in the entire Volcanoes National Park leads it.
The Sabyinyo Gorilla family is also one of the easiest gorilla families to trek as it is situated closer to the park headquarters. The family has 13 family members with 2 silverbacks and it’s the best choice for trekkers for fear-long walks since it is always roaming along the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo.
7). Bwenge gorilla family Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park
Bwenge gorilla family is led by silverback Bwenge of which the word Bwenge itself refers to wisdom implying that the silverback Bwenge is the wise one. The family thrills with 11 members with only one silverback Bwenge. This is as well one of the easiest gorilla families to trek as it usually roams along the slopes of Mount Bisoke.
8). Ugenda Gorilla family in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park
Ugenda Gorilla family as the name suggests is found wandering from here to there and can never settle in one place. Sometimes this Ugenda Gorilla family trekked along Mount Karisimbi areas thus trekkers who wish to encounter with Ugenda Gorilla family should be ready for the tremendous hike.
Though in most cases it’s seen along Mount Bisoke which is not very difficult to hike wherever the family is, trekkers should be ready for the hike as it keeps meandering from A to Z. Uganda Gorilla family is a group of 11 family members with 2 silverbacks.
9). Titus Gorilla family in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park
Titus Gorilla's family has a heart-touching story as he faces hardships. Titus was born during the time of Dian Fossey and unfortunately, all his entire family was murdered during thus emerged as the only survivor who then toiled until he managed to make a new family named after him. Titus gorilla family occupies the areas along Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke.
10). Umubano Gorilla Family In Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park
As the word states, Umubano means togetherness implying that the family lives together as one. The silverback Charles leads the Umubano Gorilla Family. This was the well part of the Amahoro gorilla family but due to internal fights between the silverback Ubumwe and Charles thus Charles had to make his group Umubano and still trills in the same territory as the Amahoro gorilla family.
11). Kwitonda Gorilla Family In Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park
The Kwitonda Gorilla Family once lived in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo but later on migrated into Volcanoes National Park Rwanda where it has finally settled and can be trekked daily along the slopes of Mount Muhabura under the leadership of Kwitonda silverback that is known as the humble one.
12). Muhoza gorilla family In Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park
The Muhoza gorilla family comprises 12 family members under the leadership of Silverback Muhoza. This is one of the easiest gorilla families to trek as it thrills along the lower slopes of the mountain in Volcanoes National Park. Muhoza is amongst the newest gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda.
The above gorilla families make Rwanda one of the best destinations to visit for gorilla trekking safaris. Other gorilla trekking destinations include Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, then Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, and Virunga National Park in Congo.
