Volcanoes National Park Rwanda: best Gorilla trekking experience

Before her untimely death in 1985, Dian Fossey examined this specific gorilla family at the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.

Due to its typical high altitude distribution, this is the hardest group in Volcanoes National Park to trek. Sometimes it reaches such high altitudes that tourists are prohibited from hiking it. It is best to save your gorilla tracking permits for this group if you are in need of a little physical challenge.
The rangers make the procedure easier by taking the initiative to find the gorillas and connecting with the other rangers to provide them with precise directions so that the journey can be shortened, even if finding this family may not be easy.

The Susa gorilla group was the largest in Volcanoes National Park, with up to 42 members. However, due to conflicts within the group and gorilla family dynamics, Susa presently contains 28 members, including three Silverbacks and the twins Impano and Byishimo.

Being able to have twins makes them one of the fortunate families. Therefore, travelers who are daring, enjoy strenuous, long hikes, and, most importantly, would love to see the twin gorillas, should consider joining the Susa Group.

Karisimbi group ( Susa B)

The group that split out from the original Susa in 2008 is sometimes referred to as Susa B. Its sixteen members include two silver backs. The group is the hardest to find since it inhabits the upper slopes of Mt. Karisimbi, which is located at an elevation of 4507 meters. Since the group has established itself high in the upper slopes, it is ideal for trackers who are interested in strenuous hiking. Tracking this group can be difficult at times as they move higher up into the mountains, even if RDB rangers will initially locate them a day earlier.

Amahoro group.

The Kinyarwanda word meaning tranquillity is where the family’s name, Amahoro, originates. Due to the family’s well-known serenity and kindness, several of its members have left the silverback Ubumwe group and joined Umubano. As implied by the name Amahoro, which means “peace,” the group is thought to be the most peaceful. To find it, you have to hike up the slopes of Mount Bisoke, where the group established their residence. There are two silverbacks among the group’s eighteen members.

Umubano group.

This family broke away from Ubumwe because of the continuous disputes between the two chief silverbacks, Charles and Ubumwe. Charles was never satisfied with Ubumwe’s power. In the end, Charles was successful in forming the Umubano group by separating from the other members. The name of the group, which translates to “living together,” refers to the 13 members, including 2 silverbacks.

Sabyinyo group.

Nestled on the mild inclines between Mountains Sabyinyo and Gahinga is the nearest and easiest family of gorillas to find. The group is well-known for its massive silverback, Guhonda, which has managed to keep Ryango, its main opponent, outside the family and remain a lone silverback. The gang consists of thirteen members, one of whom is a banished silverback. Guhonda, the leader of the herd, is the biggest silverback in the park, weighing about 220 kg. The Sabinyo volcano inspired the band’s name, which means “old man’s teeth.”

Agashya group.

The original family member, who was 13 at the time of habituation, inspired the name of this group. The family was named after Agashya, which means the “News,” who eventually overthrew the group’s original leader, Silverback Nyakarima, and took over as leader. There are now 27 family members in total, including one silverback (Agashya). The group shares the same territory as the Sabyinyo group, but occasionally, when it senses danger, Agashya leads the family further into the mountain.

Kwitonda group.

This immigrant tribe from the Democratic Republic of the Congo got its name from its dominant silver back, Kwitonda, which means “the Humble One.” Like the Karisimbi group, this group is hard to follow since it periodically climbs to the upper slopes of Mount Muhabura, a result of its migration history. The gang consists of 23 members, including 4 silverbacks.

Hirwa group.

This family was formed in 2006 by a few members of the 1groupsup and some members of the Sabyinyo group. Agashya. After more gorillas joined, the group today consisted of 16 gorillas, including one silverback. The group’s name is derived from the regrettable circumstances surrounding its formation. Alliterate “the lucky one,” Hirwa became a mother to twins in 2011 by accident. The Hirwa community resides on the foothills of Mount Sabyinyo on the side of Mount Gahinga.

Ugenda group.

The word “Ugenda,” which means “on the go,” in Kinyarwanda was given to the group because of their peculiar propensity for roaming around. It wanders the Karisimbi region with 11 members, including 2 silverbacks, and is hard to trace because it doesn’t have a designated habitat.

Bwenge group.

This group was started in 2007 by Bwenge, the group’s dominant silverback, who recruited female members from other groups after departing from his Natal group. It bears his name. Six of the tribe’s infants died, putting them through hard times. Between the Karisimbi and Bisoke mountains, on the slopes of the Karisoke volcano, are their dwellings. But the group has bounced back, and now there are eleven in all, one of which is a silverback. This tribe is referred to by the Kinyarwanda word Bwenge, which means “Wisdom,” therefore it is not strange that they were featured in the movie “Gorillas in the Mist”.