Nkuringo Sector Best Known For Gorilla Walking Safaris

1. Nkuringo Gorilla Family — 12 Members (July 2021):
Following a four-year habituated procedure, UWA made the Nkuringo gorilla family, the first of its kind in the Bwindi southern region, available for tourism in April 2004. Twenty people made up the family, with three silverbacks and the headstrong Silverback Nkuringo (whose name means “round Hill” in the local language) at the helm.

The government and conservation organizations relocated human settlers from the frontline villages along the Nkuringo sector park boundary to create a buffer zone and reduce the human-wildlife interface after the group gained notoriety for foraging outside the park for the majority of their time there. Among the many factors that led UWA to habituate the gorilla group was their familiarity with the locals.

Nkuringo Gorilla Family’s Current Status

Kamara, Muhoozi, Tabu, and Rwamutwe, the Blackback brothers, were left eyeing the throne after Rafiki. On the other hand, Blackback Rwamutwe established his dominance and seized the lead right away. The indigenous word for “bullheaded” or “stiff-necked” (like a mule’s neck) is where the term Rwamutwe originates.

A teenage male gorilla without silver hair on its back is called a Blackback. As they get older, gorillas, like people, start to develop silver hair.

Because they did not trust Blackback Rwanmutwe to lead them, several gorillas broke away and joined other groups in the area. Remarkably, the group has maintained its famed tradition of welcoming additional males to remain and strengthen the family’s chances of surviving in a hostile environment. The Nkuringo gorilla group is currently comprised of 12 individuals, with Rwamutwe at the helm, and there are infants who may be Rafiki’s, such as:

• 4 Male Blackbacks—Rwamutwe (leader), Tabu (second in command), Kamara, and Muhoozi
• 4 Adult Females—Kwitonda, Kuhiirwa, Furaha, and Nderema
• 4 Infants.

Getting reach the Nkuringo group from the UWA headquarters at Nkuringo Sector requires a 20-minute drive to the Nteko ridge trailhead and an hour of walking down the valley to the Kashasha river. Experienced safari visitors, such as the 94-year-old woman who tracked the Nkuringo gorilla family in 2013, prefer to hike with this group because it is one of the most difficult gorilla groups to monitor.

2. Bushaho Gorilla Family — 12 members (July 2021)
In the NKuringo Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, UWA trekked with members of the Bushaho gorilla family, the second to be utilized for this purpose. At the head of the pack is the dominant Silverback Bahati.

After Silverback Nkuringo passed away, members of the Nkuringo family scattered for no apparent reason. In early 2012, investigators set out to find them. They found out that Bahati, a silverback from the previous Nkuringo group who had vanished earlier, was leading a separate group. Along with some non-habituated members, this group also included some former Nkuringo members.

The social conduct of the parallel group was closely observed after what began as a follow-up exercise. After getting used to their new environment, the gorilla family took their name from the name of the area where they foraged: Bushaho, which means “there’s nothing” in the local language. The Nkuringo Sector, located in the southern part of Bwindi, is home to three different gorilla families; one of these being the Bushaho. Trekking with these primates is an incredible experience.

Bushaho gorilla family is currently (July 2021) composed of 12 individuals, including;

• 1 Silverback—Bahati
• 1 Blackback—Kaheru
• 5 Adult Females—Nyankumu, Buzuru, Kaitesi
• 1 Sud-adult Female
• 2 Juveniles
• 2 Infants.

Among the several gorilla families found in Bwindi, the Bushaho are among the most fascinating. As an alpha male, Bahati enjoys displaying his strength and might in dramatic displays. When he’s in front of an audience, he might stand up straight, hurl objects, charge aggressively, and pound his huge chest all the while making a terrifying roar or strong hoot. Bahati remains composed and non-aggressive unless she feels physically threatened, despite these displays and the giant’s obvious physical might.

3. Christmas Gorilla Family — 6 members (July 2021)
In Bwindi’s Nkuringo Sector, gorilla trekking is possible with the Christmas gorilla troop, the third of its kind. Since the dominant silverback, Christmas, was born on Christmas Day in the Nkuringo Group, the group is appropriately named after him.

Because every member of the Christmas gorilla family came from a fully habiituated family, the offspring of the Nkuringo group were spared the habituation procedure.

Christmas gorilla family currently (July 2021) has 8 members, including:

• 1 Silverback — Christmas
• 2 Adult Females — Kiza
• 1 Sub-adult Female – Guma
• 2 Juveniles — Owamani & ?*
• 2 infants

Out of the wild, one adult female joined the Christmas group not long ago. She teamed up with her young son, who is often skulking behind mom or under bushes. Even when visitors come to visit, the mother and son remain comfortably apart from the rest of the family since they are not yet acclimated to humans.

After Rafiki passed away, Kiza joined the group and on May 16, 2022, she gave birth to a new baby.

4. Posho Gorilla Family — 14 Members (July 2021)
The habituation procedure for the posho gorilla family is ongoing in Bwindi’s Nkuringo Sector. There are fourteen members of the dominant Silverback Magara.

There has been tremendous anticipation for the Posho group to be accessible for the Habituation Experience in the Nkuringo Sector, as the experience is currently exclusively held in the Rushaga sector, according to UWA internal sources.