Rushaga region is found in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The park known in the history of Tourism for protecting the endangered species of animals the ‘mountain Gorillas’.
Rushaga Uganda has the highest number of mountain gorillas in the world. It has 9 habituated gorilla families which include; Busingye gorilla group, Nshongi gorilla group, Bweza gorilla group, Mishaya gorilla family, Kahungye gorilla group, Mucunguzi gorilla group, Rwigi gorilla family, Kutu gorilla group and Bikingi gorilla group. All these are well habituated and ready for tracking for those interested in the primate watching experience in Uganda. According to the latest findings, Rushaga Uganda sector is home to over 200 mountain gorillas. A visitor to this place is 100% guaranteed to see these gentle primates in their natural habitats.
Rushaga sector is the only place in Uganda where gorilla habituation experience is carried out. Gorilla tracking in Rushaga sector Uganda has for the past 10 years increased the number of visitors who come specifically to look at the rare primates in the thick rain forests of Bwindi.
Below are the gorilla families in Rushaga sector;
Nshongi – 10 Individuals with 1 silverback. It was once the largest group in Bwindi with 36 individuals which officially introduced in September 2009. 1 silverback, 3 adult females, 1 sub-adult, 2 juvenile and 3 infants. It was named after the river Nshongi, where the gorilla family was first seen. Another remarkable fact is that the group is led by Nshongi and not the oldest silverback in that family. The three silverbacks and seven blackbacks lived in harmony with each other and did not make an attempt for leadership.
However in July 2009, the group split, forming the present Mishaya Gorilla Group. In 2013 the family further split and reduced to 18, with the new split forming the present Bweza Gorilla Group with 10 members. Mishaya Silverback died of an obstruction of the intestinal gut on 3rd February, 2014. Which resulted into the dispersal of the remnant family members as they had no other adult male to take lead. Some of the members ended up joining Bweza family while others joined Bikingi family. The Nsongi Gorilla family stays in a large forested area, where you can also see other primates, birds and butterflies. It welcomed a new member in May 2020.
Mishaya- 10 individuals with 1 silverback
In July 2010, Silverback Mishaya left the Nshongi Gorilla Group with some females and started his own family. He was a typical fighter and gathered more females from other non-habituated groups in the area. Mishaya died in 2014 and was the only adult male in the group. He was known for being a fighter and often starts interactions with other gorilla families. By the end of 2015, the group was 7 gorilla but like we noticed earlier, gorilla families some time are joined by friends or even acquire more member in successful battles.
Bweza- 12 individuals with 2 silverbacks
Bweza Gorilla Family was one of Nshongi Gorilla family, which was once the largest ever habituated in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In July 2010 Silverback Mishaya decision to leave the group and start his own family, he left with reasonable number of them including the Silverback Bweza. By the end of 2012, Bweza chose to be independent and walked away with about 6 other members from the Mishaya Gorilla Group. Early in 2013, there were speculations by the UWA park management that the Bweza split would return and re-bond with Mishaya. This did not came to pass and later introduced for tracking. From 2014, this Family is tracked in Rushaga area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Kahungye – 17 individuals with 3 silverbacks, headed by Rumanzi
The “Kahungye” name comes from a hill in the Rushaga area, where the gorillas were discovered. The group was opened for visitors and gorilla tracking in 2011. It consists of 29 individuals including 3 silverbacks. About a year later, the group split due to intra-male rivalry, fission – creating the Busingye Gorilla Family.
Bikingi– 15 individuals with 1 silver back. Unfortunately leadership has not be confirmed yet because it’s still undergoing in Habituation process. Habituation of Bikingi gorilla group commenced in early 2012 as a follow-up exercise of the dispersing members of the disintegrated Mishaya family. Several members of the former Mishaya family were located in the group alongside other non-habituated members. Later-on declared for habituation to keep close monitoring of the formerly habituated members.
Busingye– 9 individuals with 1 silverback, headed by Busingye
Busingye Gorilla Group is another splinter gorilla family having broken away from Kahungye Family back in June 2012. It was Silverback Busingye who decided to split and create his own family. Busingye is a local language word for ‘peace’. Which is quite surprising since this ambitious Silverback is known for his legendary fights with other gorilla groups. He likes showing his power and whenever encountering a wild family he mercilessly grabs a female to add to his own family. Busingye family is fondly known for foraging within the inner forest and very rarely comes toward the park edge.
Kutu– 8 individuals with 1 silverback, still undergoing habituation. (New group in Rushga sector)
Kutu is a new gorilla family in Rushaga area of Bwindi Park. This group is under habituation and perfect for visitors who wish to embark on gorilla habituation experience. Kutu gorilla group has 8 members and 1 silverback.
Mucungunzi- 8 individuals with 1 silverback, headed by Mucunguzi. (New group in Rushaga sector)
Mucunguzi gorilla group is a newly habituated gorilla family in Rushaga area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The word Mucunguzi means ‘savior’ a name. This was given to a third and youngest silverback at the time within Bweza gorilla group. Mucunguzi group split off from Bweza family. Mucunguzi gorilla group is composed of 8 mountain gorillas.
Rwigi-8 individuals with 1 silverback, headed by Rwigi and was officially opened by UWA for trekking. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park of recent officially announced and opened a new Gorilla family for trekking. Rwigi is a newly habituated Gorilla family in Rushaga sector of Bwindi Park. Rwigi Gorilla family is a break away from Kahungye Gorilla family, also found in Rushaga area of Bwindi Forest Park. Travelers who visit Bwindi forest can now track the new Gorilla family for fresh and memorable Mountain Gorilla tracking experience. Rwigi was formerly one of the three dominant silverbacks in Kahungye Gorilla family and is now the leader. He is now dominant silverback who after misunderstandings with other silverbacks in Kahungye family decided to make his own family. Rwigi silverback fought hard and took a way some adult females and juveniles.
