The Ruhija gorilla sector is located in the eastern region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This gorilla has a diverse ecology from the lush tropical vegetation to the fauna species. This gorilla sector of Ruhija is mainly designated for research but trekking is also available. The Ruhija gorilla sector is part of the four sectors that make up Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The park is among the few places in the world to host the incredibly endangered mountain gorillas. These gorillas are only found in the Virunga conservation area and not anywhere else in the world. The Virunga conservation area stretches from Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo through Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks in Uganda to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Among the national parks in this conservation area, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most popular. This is because Bwindi harbors more than half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas. This guarantees any visitor to visit the park to encounter these endangered primates. The mountain gorillas were declared endangered because they are only found in the Virunga conservation area. These highland primates only harbor the mountainous areas especially on mountain slopes hence their name.
The Ruhija gorilla sector is blessed with three gorilla families. Mountain gorillas are naturally social living in groups known as gorilla families. Bwindi alone has over 50 gorilla families with only 24 habituated families ready for trekking. Ruhija is strategically located close to the Buhoma sector making it easy to access for visitors coming from Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Ruhija sector also bears the highest point of Bwindi International Park. Standing at 2,607 meters above sea level, Rwamunyonyi is the highest point in the park located in the Ruhija sector. Rwamunyonyi is a local Rukiga word meaning a place of many birds and this fits the description of this area since there are many birds.
Gorilla families in the Ruhija gorilla sector
The Ruhija gorilla sector has three gorilla families which can be accessed on a trekking experience in the park. These families include the following.
Bitukura gorilla family
The Bitukura gorilla family was first sighted alone on river Bitukura hence naming the family after the river. During this time, the Bitukura family had 24 members who were under the leadership of Karamusizi the alpha male. The habituation of this family was very short taking only a year due to the friendly nature of the members. The habituation process started in 2007 and the following the family was ready for trekking. The family lost some of its members to other families who went to start their own families. However, on a tragic morning, the alpha Silverback Karamusizi age caught up to him and at the age of 40 Karamusizi passed away.
Ndahura, a young and energetic silverback who was second in command took up the family leadership. His leadership has yielded fruitful outcomes with the birth of an infant during Ndahura’s reign. Ndahura is a peaceful leader who often stays out of trouble with other silverbacks. This is evident in the close interaction with the neighboring family Kyaguriro gorilla family. These two families often come close feeding together and resting before peacefully parting ways.
Oruzongo gorilla family
The Oruzongo gorilla family is one of the large families of the Ruhija sector and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park generally. It is the second family to be habituated in the Ruhija gorilla sector. The Oruzongo gorilla family at the time of its discovery and habituation had 22 members. Surprisingly this big family has stayed and grown together unlike most families with large numbers that separate. Tibirikwata is the alpha and dominant silverback of the Ruhija sector. Due to the sheer size of this family, Tibirikwata is helped by other silverbacks Kaganga, Bwoba, and Busungu in this family who are under him. Because of the strategic leadership of Tibirikwata and his deputies, the family has grown with the birth of new infants including twins.
Kyaguriro gorilla family
Following its sighting, the Kyaguriro gorilla family was habituated in 1995 to prepare it for trekking. However, the family was not trekked and later it was set aside for research purposes. The Kyaguriro gorilla family was under the leadership of Rukina the silverback. As his regime was at its peak, the worst unfortunate thing happened to the Kyaguriro family. A dark cloud fell over the family on a strong rainy day during normal working days as the leader was going by with his daily chores high in the trees was stuck by lightning that killed him on the spot. This was in 2015 and the courageous leader Rukina’s reign came to an end.
The family later after the death of their leader enthroned Mukazi a young and inexperienced silverback. This reign did not last as it came crumbling at the hands of a rival silverback from the Bitukura gorilla family. However, Mukazi did not go empty-handed as he fled with a significant number of members to start his own family and continue his reign.
In conclusion, the Ruhija gorilla sector is not only home to the endangered mountain gorillas but is also a natural sanctuary for bird species. The gorilla families in the Ruhija sector are quite close to each other making the trekking of this gorilla easy. However, the Ruhija sector has a steep terrain that requires one to be physically fit to maneuver through the thick vegetation and steep trails. After the tiresome search for the endangered mountain gorillas, visitors a given one special hour with the primates. This makes the tiresome hikes through the thick thorny vegetation all worth every minute.
