Gorilla Families of Buhoma Sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of Africa’s most remarkable protected areas and among the best places in the world to see endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, available for viewing in four sectors.
Located in southwestern Uganda along the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley, this montane rainforest is known for its thick vegetation, mist-covered hills, and extraordinary biodiversity. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and protects approximately 459 to 560+ mountain gorillas, half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.
Today, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has 15 habituated gorilla families, and they are spread across four main trekking sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. Each sector offers a unique trekking experience and the opportunity to encounter different gorilla groups.
Gorilla Families in the Buhoma Sector
The Buhoma sector is located in the northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and is the oldest and most developed area for gorilla trekking in the park. It is historically important because this is where Uganda’s gorilla tourism officially began, and today the sector hosts several habituated gorilla groups.
Mubare Gorilla Family
Gorilla trekking in Buhoma started on 13th October 1993, when the Mubare Gorilla Family became the first habituated group to be opened for tourism. The family was named after Mubare Hill, where the gorillas were first sighted and studied during the habituation process.
At that time, the group was led by the famous silverback Ruhondeza, a strong and respected leader who guided the family for many years. Under his leadership, the group had about 12 members and became one of the most well-known gorilla families in the park. Ruhondeza lived to about 50 years, which is considered very old for a wild mountain gorilla. He died on 27th June 2012 due to natural old age.
After his death, leadership passed to his eldest son Kanyonyi. However, Kanyonyi later fell from a tree and suffered serious injuries. A solitary silverback named Maraya took advantage of the situation and attacked Kanyonyi, killing him and taking over the group. During the takeover, several members left the family, and some infants were lost as part of the struggle for dominance.
Today, the Mubare gorilla family has about seven members, but it remains one of the most historically important groups in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The legacy of Ruhondeza continues to be remembered as a key part of gorilla conservation and tourism in the park.
Because of its long history, established tourism infrastructure, and relatively accessible trekking trails, Buhoma remains one of the most popular sectors for gorilla trekking in the park, attracting visitors from around the world who wish to experience the remarkable encounter with the endangered mountain gorilla.
Habinyanja Gorilla Family
This is another well-known gorilla group in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The family was first discovered in 1997, and after a few years of habituation, it was opened for trekking in 1999.
At the time, it was one of the largest gorilla families ever recorded, with more than 30 members under the leadership of the dominant silverback Mugurusi.
After Mugurusi’s death, leadership was shared by his sons Rwansigazi and Mwirima. However, due to the large size of the group, disagreements eventually led to a peaceful split. Mwirima left with several members to form his own family, while Rwansigazi remained in charge of the Habinyanja group.
As Rwansigazi grew older and weaker, leadership later passed to his son Makara, who currently leads the family. The group now has about 13 members. The name Habinyanja comes from “Nyanja,” meaning “swamp,” the place where the gorillas were first sighted. Over the years, the family has become known for its interesting leadership changes and complex history before eventually stabilizing.
Rushegura Gorilla Family
This family split from the Habinyanja group and has developed a reputation for its calm and relaxed nature because the group often stays near the park headquarters; trekking them can sometimes be less physically demanding.
The family was formed on 13th February 2002 when the silverback Mwirima, who belonged to the Habinyanja group, peacefully separated from his older brother Rwansigazi, the leader of that family. Mwirima left with about 12 gorillas and started his own group.
Mwirima, known for his very dark face, successfully protected and guided the family, and the group later grew to more than 16 members. After his death in 2014 due to old age, leadership passed to his son Kabukojo and now has the largest group of 19 members.
The group was named Rushegura after the Ebishegura trees found in the area where the family originally separated from the Habinyanja group.
Katwe Gorilla Family
This family is one of the newer groups in the Buhoma sector. It was formed after Kanyonyi, the Mubare silverback, died on 8th December 2017 following injuries from a fight with a solitary silverback, Maraya.
Kanyonyi had been weak since falling from a tree on 2nd September 2017, leaving Mubare without a leader. Some adult females joined other gorillas on a hill, forming the Katwe family, which is led by Muhaane and has about 8 members. They are playful and active, making them fun to watch during trekking.
Muyambi Gorilla Family
The Muyambi gorilla family is a newer group in the Buhoma sector, formed in 2019 when the silverback Muyambi left the Mubare family. It has 7 to 13 members and is very interesting to trek, especially because the young gorillas are playful and the group shows close family interactions.
Binyindo Gorilla Family
This is one of the 7 gorilla families in the Buhoma sector. Formed in 2015, it took 3 years to habituate before trekking started in 2018. Led by the silverback Binyindo, known for his wide nose, the family has 1 silverback, 5 adult females, 2 juveniles, and 1 infant, totaling 9 members.
Kanywani Gorilla Family
The Kanywani gorilla family is a newly habituated group in the Buhoma sector. It has 5 members and is not yet in the official gorilla booking system, so visitors need to arrange trekking through reputable tour operators. The family is known for being peaceful and stable, making it easy to observe.