Gorilla groups in Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is one of the national parks in Rwanda the heart of Africa. The park is popular for hosting mountain gorillas that are not in the other national parks. Travelers flock to the park every year to encounter these primates in their natural habitat.

Volcanoes National Park is located in the northwestern province of Rwanda and covers an area of approximately 160 square kilometers. The park is home to 5 of the 8 Virunga mountain ranges that are inhabited by the gentle giants. The mountain ranges are Bisoke, Karisimbi, Gahinga, Muhabura, and the magnificent Sabyinyo. Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park mainly inhabit the lower slopes of the ranges covered by bamboo vegetation. It is in the bamboo trees that gorillas stay and that’s exactly where they are trucked down in Rwanda.

Volcanoes National Park has about 13 gorilla groups and these include the following.

Susa gorilla family

This is the biggest family of all the gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park and it is made up of 41 members.  Of the 41 members, three are silver bucks and they inhabit the slopes of Mount Karisimbi which are covered with bamboo trees. Tracking of these mountain gorillas also takes place in the bamboo forests on the lower slopes of Mount Karisimbi.

Sabyinyo gorilla family

This family is renowned for its calm and gentle demeanor as compared to other families in Volcanoes National Park. The gorilla family is made up of 8 members with two strong and terrifying silver bugs. This gentle group is often observed near the national park’s edge.

Karisimbi gorilla family  

This is yet another exhilarating family that is found in the magnificent Volcanoes National Park. This family is led by a dominant silver buck called Karisimbi and it inhabits the lower slopes of Mount Karisimbi. This family was first sighted at Mount Karisimbi which explains why it was named so. It is relatively smaller in size and it originated from the original Susa family.

Agashya gorilla family

This gorilla family was named after its dominant silverback leader that was called Agashya. Agashya passed on and left the family in the hands of his son who is currently the leader.  This gorilla family is relatively large in number and is made up of brave 27 members.

Amahoro gorilla family  

Amahoro is yet another exciting group of gorillas in the magnificent Volcanoes National Park. Amahoro means peace in the traditional Kinyarwanda and it stands for the peaceful demeanor of this gorilla family. The Amahoro family is led by a dominant silverback called Ubumwe.

Umubano gorilla family

Umubano family is relatively smaller as compared to other families and is made up of 11 muscle-bound gorillas.  Umbano family split from the Amahoro family. Umubano means living together in harmony in Kinyarwanda and this stands for the peaceful coexistence of the mountain gorillas in this jungle.

Kwitonda gorilla family

Kwitonda is led by a dominant silverback called Kwitonda from where it gets its name. The family is made up of 18 members and they migrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo. This family has seen a lot of problems in the Great Lakes region and they are known for their resilience, endurance, and strength in hard times. This is because of the obstacles they faced in the migration from DRC.

Hirwa gorilla family

The Hirwa gorilla family was formed as a result of the amalgamation of different guerrilla families in Volcanoes National Park.  Silverbacks who were tired of being under the influence of other silverbacks left their families to form the present-day Hirwa. Hirwa means lucky one in Kinyarwanda. The family is comprised of 18 members.

Ugyenda gorilla family

Ugyenda means on the move in Kinyarwanda and this stands for the characteristics of this family that is always meandering around the forests of Volcanoes National Park in the Virunga ranges. This is a relatively small family with only 11 members but is renowned for the spectacular experiences it gives to visitors who encounter it.

Bwenge gorilla family

This amazing family was named after their dominant silverback called Bwenge. The family is known for its size and abnormal strength as compared to the others in the same jungle.

Noheli gorilla family

This is one of the smallest and newest gorilla families in the Volcanoes National Park jungle and was habituated on 7^th November 2021.  This gorilla family was formed by members who left the Susa and Isimbi groups. The group is characterized by a calm demeanor and it’s known for its extraordinary entertainment to visitors.

Kwisanga gorilla family

Kwisanga on the other hand is a relatively larger group as compared to the rest and is made up of 17 members. The family is led by a dominant silverback called Kigoma who is responsible for the protection and leadership of the family.

Baraka gorilla family

The word baraka stands for blessings in Kinyarwanda.  The family is one of the newest introductions in the park and is made up of 19 members. It is renowned for its several migrations to the parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Virunga National Park.