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Mountain gorilla families in Volcanoes national park; Gorilla groups to see on a visit Rwanda experience

Mountain gorilla families/ groups in Volcanoes national park

There are 16 gorilla families/ groups found in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park. All these groups are well known by name and all their members. Each gorilla family is led by an alpha silverback male that also protects its members from threats and attacks. Names are given on a gorilla naming ceremony called “Kwita Izina” done every year to give names to newly born baby gorillas. These baby gorillas grow up to create and lead their own families.

Volcanoes national park’s gorilla families are;

  1. Muhoza gorilla family which has 17 members and takes its name from its silverback leader Muhoza. This is easiest trekked gorilla family and is located in the middle of Volcanoes national park.
  2. Titus gorilla family named after the legendary mountain gorilla also called “gorilla king” which was born during the time of researcher Dian Fossey.
  3. Susa gorilla family has 38 members and is the largest family and one of the most popular gorilla family.
  4. Umubano gorilla family has 13 members who are led by a silverback gorilla called Charles.
  5. Hirwa gorilla family has 18 members led by a silverback called Munyinya.
  6. Amahoro gorilla family has 19 gorillas led by a silverback called Ubumwe.
  7. Agashya gorilla family has 13 members and is named after its leading silverback called Agashya.
  8. Kwitonda gorilla family has 23 family members with their silverback called Akarevuro.
  9. Sabinyo gorilla family has 17 family members led by their silverback called Guhonda.
  10. Kwisanga gorilla family has 16 members that separated from the Kwitonda group and is led by a silverback called Kigoma.
  11. Noheli gorilla family is a family with 7 members that are all females that separated from Isimbi and Susa groups.
  12. Bwenge gorilla family has 11 members and is named after their silverback leader Bwenge.
  13. Kirisimbi/ Susa B gorilla family is led by their silverback Nyagakangaga.
  14. Igisha gorilla family has 34 members and derived its name from its leader Igisha.
  15. Isimbi gorilla family has 16 members who are led by their silver back Muturengera.
  16. Ugenda gorilla family with 11 members was named Ugenda which means “Mobile” for its being a mobile group.

However, these are not the only mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national park. There are still other groups that are still considered wild but are undergoing habituation by expert rangers and doctors studying their behaviors to make them adopt to get used to people and later on will also be designated for gorilla trekking experiences.

Mountain gorilla families tour packages

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4 day Rwanda gorilla trekking safari

Gorilla trekking, hiking, golden monkey tracking, bird watching, butterflies, photography & sceneries, lodges, city tours

gorilla families

5 days Rwanda gorilla & wildlife safari

Gorilla trekking, bird watching, hiking & nature walks, safari game drives, boat cruises, photography, city tours

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8 day primates & wildlife Rwanda safari

Gorilla trekking, safari game drives, chimpanzee tracking, bird watching, golden monkey tracking, canopy & nature walks

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10 days Rwanda wildlife safari

Gorilla trekking, safari game drives, golden monkey tracking, chimpanzee tracking, bird watching, nature walks, canopy walk

A close-up of an infant mountain gorilla peacefully resting with mother and Silverback Father in the lush greenery of Rwanda's Volcanoes national park. The photo captures the gorilla's expressive eyes and tranquil demeanor, highlighting its connection to the wild environment

1 day Rwanda gorilla trekking safari

Gorilla trekking, Ellen DeGeneres campus of the Dian Fossey fund, bird watching, hiking & nature walks, butterflies, scenes

gorilla families

2 days Rwanda gorilla trekking trip

Gorilla trekking, bird watching, hiking, butterflies, filming & photography, city tours, Ellen DeGeneres campus of Dian Fossey fund

How different gorilla families got to be identified;

Gorilla identification and their families all started through mountain gorilla conservation efforts and study that were championed by an American doctor and primatologist named “DIAN FOSSEY” who dedicated the whole of her life to study the life of mountain gorillas and protect their existence from hunters. You will know about Dian Fossey when you visit the Ellen DeGeneres campus of the Dian Fossey fund. Dian Fossey did research and lived with mountain gorillas in the volcanoes, echoed their extinction that got the rest of the world to come into combined efforts of the gentle giants.

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