Gorilla families in volcanoes national park
Gorilla families in volcanoes national park
Volcanoes National Park is a protected area located in the northwestern part of Rwanda, near the border with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. There are different types of gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park and can be observed by visitors on guided treks.
Volcanoes National Park has a number of other wildlife, including golden monkeys, spotted hyenas, and various bird species. The landscape of the park is dominated by a chain of dormant volcanoes, including Mount Karisimbi, which is the highest volcano in the park and the fifth-highest mountain in Africa.
Visitors to the park can participate in a range of activities, including gorilla trekking, hiking, bird watching, and cultural tours to nearby communities. Gorilla trekking is the most popular activity and visitors are accompanied by trained guides and trackers as they hike through the forest in search of a gorilla families.
The following are the gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park;
- Sabyinyo Gorilla Family – This is one of the most popular groups to trek because it closer to the park areas and has the largest number of members and silverbacks (adult male gorillas) in the park. The group is named after Mount Sabyinyo, one of the volcanoes in the park.
- Amahoro Gorilla Family– This is most calm and peaceful family, making it a great choice for visitors who want a more relaxed experience. The name “Amahoro” means “peaceful” in the local language and it’s under the leadership of the silverback Ubumwe.
- Kwitonda Gorilla Family – This group is named after a dominant silverback who was known for his gentle nature. He passed away in 2012, but his legacy lives on in the group, which is now led by his son Kwitonda.
- Hirwa Gorilla Family – This family was made by merging two different gorilla families that is from Susa and Sabyinyo which makes it unique and rare in the gorilla world. The name “Hirwa” means “lucky” in the local language, and the group has certainly been lucky to thrive despite the unusual circumstances of its information.
- Muhoza Gorilla Family – This family is named after its dominant silverback Muhoza who took over leadership of the group after the previous dominant Bukima silverback passed away in 2017. Also it is known for its playful and curious nature.
- Agashya Gorilla Family -It is one of the habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park. The family was previously known as the Group 13 but was renamed after a dominant silverback named Agashya took over leadership. The family is known for its playful juveniles and the calm character of the silverback.
- Susa Gorilla Family -It is one of the gorilla families that inhabit the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The group is named after the Susa River that runs through their home range. This gorilla family gained international fame after being studied by Dian Fossey, a renowned primatologist, and the subject of the movie “Gorillas in the Mist.
- Umubano Gorilla family – is one of the several habituated gorilla families that live in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The group was formed in 2008 when some members of the Amahoro family broke off to form their own group. Today, the Umubano family is made up of around 13 members, including one dominant silverback named Charles. The group also includes several females and young gorillas.
Igisha gorilla family is one of the several habituated gorilla families that reside in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The group was first introduced to tourists in 2008 and it is named after a dominant silverback called Igisha, who unfortunately died. Igisha gorilla family originated from Susa Gorilla family that split up on November 30th 2014.
Isimbi gorilla family is ruled by muturengere which is a male silverback gorilla. This family is found in the valleys of mountain karisimbi in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The group is currently composed of 16 members, including one silverback, three black backs, four adult females, and six juveniles.
Kwisanga gorilla family is one of the newly gorilla families found in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and was created on 4th may 2021. The leader of this family is silverback kigoma who left the kwitonda gorilla family. The family is led by a dominant silverback named Kwizera, who took over leadership of the group in 2017 after the death of the previous silverback, Urugamba.
Noheli gorilla family is one of the several gorilla families that live in the Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. “Noheli” means “Christmas” in Kinyarwanda, the local language in Rwanda, and the family was named after a baby gorilla that was born on December 25th, 2004. Noheli gorilla family is composed of 7 members.
You can contact Enclose Africa Safaris for Gorilla trekking which is a popular activity in Volcanoes National Park, and visitors can obtain permits to track and observe the gorillas in their natural habitat.
