Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Uganda is home to half the world's Mountain Gorilla population. Seeing these animals up close in their natural habitat is one of the most impressive wildlife encounters in Africa. …
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to 19 habituated gorilla families, and over half of the world's wild gorilla population.
If you’ve purchased a permit, you can visit gorilla families in four regions of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Nkuringo.
Please note, despite group sizes being estimated, the numbers change regularly due to new members joining, leaving, newborn arrival, and death.
Visiting the Gorillas directly supports population growth.
The Rushegura family was named after the location in which the two silverback brothers parted ways. The alpha of the group is called Mwirima, and he’s in his 20s.
They separated from Habinyanja in 2002, and in 2010 the family reached 19 members. They regularly cross over to Congo, but always come back.
They aren’t shy and are happy for people to visit and watch them get on with their daily activities. They are known for being the calmest family in Bwindi and sometimes wander into local villages.
Gorilla trekking is hard work, but the rewards are immense.
Habinyanja was one of the first families to inhabit the Buhoma sector back in 1997. They were first visited by tourists in 1999.
The name comes from the local word ‘Nyanja’ which means “a place with water”, as they were first spotted near a swamp. They were originally led by the silverback Mugurisi, but he passed away from old age.
Mwirima and Rwansigazi shared power briefly but had many differences. Mwirima loved to stay close to home, while Rwansigazi wanted to travel. This led to the family splitting up in 2002, and power was given to Makara, who is now the dominant silverback.
In 2011, Mizano, a friendly blackback was found dead. It’s suspected he was killed by poachers whilst protecting his family.
This family has 18 gorillas.
The Gorillas roam in small familial groups.
Mubare is the oldest habituated gorilla family in Uganda. It started with 18 members, but currently only has 5.
They were habituated in 1991, and 2 years later, they received visits from tourists. They are named after the Mubare hills.
Katwe is the newest family in Buhoma. It consists of 1 silverback, 2 blackbacks, 4 adult females, and 2 infants.
Originally the Mishaya family was a part of the Nshongi. However, the leader Mishaya broke away, and 6 members decided to join him.
The leader is known for being a bit of a fighter, as he wants to gather females from other groups. They have been trained to be close to humans, so there’s no need to be fearful of an attack.
Bikyingi came together after members from Mishaya joined with wild gorillas. The group is named after the silverback, and he’s known for being very friendly.
The group consists of 21 gorillas.
The habituated Gorillas are shy and docile, despite their strength.
Kahugye derives from a hill, which was where the group of 13 gorillas were first spotted. They were opened for trekking in 2011, and are led by a silverback called Gwigi.
Busingye split from Kahugye in 2012, the group is named after the silverback. It consists of 3 infants, 5 blackbacks and 1 silverback.
Rangers thought they may reunite with Kahugye, but there have been no signs as yet.
Rwigi was formed after breaking away from Kahugye after the silverback, Rwigi didn’t get along with other silverbacks in the family, so he decided to make his own family, which consists of 6 gorillas.
Mother keeping watchful eye on her young.
The Nshongi group was named after the River Nshongi, the name was then given to the leader of the group. It’s the largest gorilla group that has been habituated.
Originally, there were 36 members, this has since been reduced to 26 after a family disagreement.
The other group became the Mishaya. They were opened to trekking in 2009.
Bweza was formed after the silverback, Bweza, broke away with 10 members from Nshongi, after many fights. They opened to trekking in 2012.
Mucunguzi was formed after splitting from Bweza, due to a bad fight. It’s a dominantly female family and is named after the silverback. It consists of 8 gorillas.
This group was taken over by the youngest silverback, Ndahura, after the leader died at age 40. It was named after the river where the family was first sighted.
Habituation started in 2007 and opened to tourists in 2008. This was among the shortest habituation periods, taking only 15 months, instead of the normal 2 years.
The group consists of 14 gorillas and shares a close bond with Kyaguriro. They are known for being playful and peaceful.
Oruzogo is a large group, consisting of 22 gorillas, and Tibirikwata is the silverback in charge. In 2012, a female, Kakobe, gave birth to twins.
They are the second habituated family in Ruhija and are known for being playful and energetic.
Experienced trekking guides lead you to the Gorillas.
Kyaguriro were first habituated in 1995. It consists of 15 gorillas. They faced a hard time when their leader, Rukina, was struck by lightning.
A silverback named Mukiza took over until he was approached by a silverback in Bitukura. They are not visited by tourists, as they are studied for research.
Mukiza was formed after a silverback called Kyaguriro broke off to make his own family, 9 gorillas followed.
The Nkuringo family was named after the ‘rolling hills’ where they were first spotted. The alpha silverback was also named Nkuringo. They were first habituated because they kept wandering into people’s farms and destroying their food.
In 2008, Nkuringo passed away. Leadership was shared for a short period between two silverbacks, Rafiki and Safari. However, Safari eventually became the alpha.
They are one of the very few families gifted with twins, Muhoozi and Katungi. Sadly, Katungi died before turning 2 due to illness.
On June 1st 2020, silverback Rafiki was murdered. The family now consists of 18 gorillas.
Bwindi Mountain Gorilla Families
Bushaho was formed after a silverback called Bahati broke away from the Nkuringo group in 2012. It consists of 9 gorillas.
Christmas is the newest group in the Nkuringo sector.
It’s named after the dominant silverback, who was born on Christmas day.
Bwindi Mountain Gorilla Families
The tours below showcase just some of what is possible. Use these itineraries as starting points, or to draw inspiration. Then get in touch, and let our expert team help craft the perfect itinerary for you.
Combine chimp trekking in Kibale Forest with mountain gorilla treks in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. A well-paced highlights tour unlocking some of Uganda's most impressive experiences. Consider breaking up the journey from Kibale to Bwindi with a classic safari at…
If you had the chance to trek through lush forests; to stand metres away from a family of Mountain Gorillas - deep in the heart of Central Africa - would you take it? This 4-day adventure works great as a…
Combine gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with beautiful lakeside retreats at Lake Mutanda. Tough treks and primate encounters paired with idyllic, calming lakes and oases make for an unforgettable experience in this remote pocket of Uganda.…
Board a Cessna light aircraft and head into the southwestern pocket of Uganda. Trek through the forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in search of the mountain gorillas. Retreat to luxury lodges for sundowners and delicious food. Hard days, soft…
Spend 4 hours in the company of a gorilla family by joining the habituation trek. Combined with a luxury safari at Queen Elizabeth National Park, this trip offers truly once-in-a-lifetime wildlife…
Combine safaris in Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park with a 4 day gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Top and tail with overnights in the bustling capital of Kampala.…
Trek the Rwenzori Mountains where forests morph into ice-clad mountain peaks, cut through jungle thickets to hang out with mountain gorillas, and finish your trip relaxing lakeside amongst the staggering beauty of Lake Mutanda. This is Uganda.…
Two visits to the gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, moving through the forest along the most awesome trekking routes, and staying the night at the best lodges and exclusive camps in the park. This is Uganda gorilla trekking at…
Travel to the farthest corners of Uganda where towering volcanoes mark the border between the thick jungles of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the untamed vastness of central Africa. After trekking the gorillas in Mgahinga, head inland for a couple…
Open top road trips looping through Uganda's epic southwestern pocket; this is the safari adventure of your imagination. Track chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, go in search of gorillas in Bwindi, cruise the savannah plains of Queens, and look out for…
The full western circuit complete with luxury lodges, gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, and the best safaris Uganda has to offer. Close out your adventure with kayaking and canoeing on the rapids of the river Nile.…
The quintessence of Ugandan exploration. Start your adventure in the wild Kidepo Valley in the northern tip of Uganda before weaving down to meet the gorillas in southwestern jungles. Epic landscapes, incredible safaris, and luxury lodges; this is a proper…
Uganda is home to half the world's Mountain Gorilla population. Seeing these animals up close in their natural habitat is one of the most impressive wildlife encounters in Africa. …
The best time to visit the gorillas in Uganda is from June to August, and again from December to February. These are the driest months in Uganda which makes trekking much easier, …
Most gorilla trekkers include the experience as part of a wider itinerary in Uganda, but it is possible to do standalone gorilla fly-in expeditions if you're short on time.
The Gorilla Habituation Experience gives you the chance to spend 4 hours in the company of the Mountain Gorillas in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You'll trek into the…
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park have excellent gorilla populations, and gorilla permits here are much cheaper than in neighbouring …
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to an estimated 400 gorillas. To visit them, you’ll need to secure a permit, issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
Get in touch and we can help you understand your options, design an itinerary that's right for you, and then get you set up and ready to go.
+1 315 636-4279This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Privacy policy