Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda in the Kanungu district with a number of Mountain gorillas. The park is located along the borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo next to Virunga National Park at the edge of Albertine rift valley. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a habitat of 120 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, 220 butterfly species, chameleons, 27 species of frogs, geckos, and other endangered species.

Mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Mountain gorillas are the top most attractions in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Bwindi National Park is home to many mountain gorilla individuals estimated to be 400 individuals who live in different sectors of the park. These sectors are located in different regions of the park where mountain gorillas live and you find various exciting gorilla families in these sectors which include;

Buhoma sector in Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park:

Buhoma sector is found in the northern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park, it’s the most exciting sector in Bwindi national park, Buhoma sector is the most visited and exciting sector in Bwindi impenetrable national park. Mountain gorilla tracking in the Buhoma sector is done in 4 habituated gorillas groups namely

Mubare gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: This is the first gorilla family to be habituated in Bwindi impenetrable national park in 1991. The group was named after Mubare hills, the gorilla family started with 12 members including one dominant silverback Ruhondeza which died later after a fight with a black back in 2013. But the family is now comprised of 9 members.

Habinyanja gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: This family derives its name from a Rukiga word Nyanja which means a place with water was habituated in 1997 and trekking was done first in 1999. Habinyanja family was first sighted near swamp ponds of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The family consists of 13 prominent family members namely Rwansigazi, Makara, Kisho, Elsa, Nyamuhango, Rugyendi, Maraya, Binyoko, Nabukye, Hamusini, Hakata, Bangenyi, and Gacyaro. Habinyanja is under the leadership of Makara a dominant silverback.

Rushegura gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: This family was habituated in 2000 and opening for trekking in the same year, Rushengura gorilla family separated from the Habinyanja gorilla family. Rushengura family consists of 19 gorilla individuals and when you do trekking in this family you will get to see silverback, black back, 5 adult females that are Buzina, Kibande, Kyirinvi, Nyamunwa, and Karungyi. 2 sub-adult females, 5 juveniles, and 5 infant gorillas.

Nkuringo sector in Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park:

This sector is located in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Kanungu district. It’s home to three gorilla families which include

Nkuringo gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: It was the first group of gorillas habituated in the south region of Bwindi Impenetrable National park in 1997. The family is comprised of 12 gorilla individuals and since it was the first family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, it makes it the first family.

Bushasho gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: It’s a group of 8 individuals with one black back, 3 adult females, 1 sub-adult, and 1 juvenile and 1 infant. The family was formed by many members who split from the Nkuringo gorilla family and are under the leadership of silverback.

Rushaga sector and its gorilla families:

This is one of the most visited sectors in Bwindi impenetrable national park. The region is most visited by tourists coming from Kigali using the Cyanika border and is located in Kisoro district. The sector has a great number of mountain gorilla families which include

Nshongi gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: This is an exciting gorilla family in the park consisting of 7 family members lead by Bweza a powerful silverback. The family consists of 1 juvenile, 1 silverback, 1 infant, 1 sub-adult, and 3 adults

Kahungye gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: This family consists of 17 members and derives its name from Kahungye hill where these gorillas were first seen in the region. The family is led by a dominant silverback Rumaz, 3 adult females, 2 infants, 3 silverback, 3 sub-adults,

Bushinye gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: This family consists of 9 members which broke off from the Kahungye gorilla family and they are led by a silverback Busingye and the name is derived from a local word meaning peace

Mishaya gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: This is a family of 12 members lead by a dominant silverback Mishaya, the group was formed in 2010 by Mishaya who broke away from the Nshongi group

Bweza gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: Bweza gorilla family consists of 23 mountain gorillas and these are under the leadership of a silverback called Kakono, this family consists of 4 black backs, 1 sub-adult, 2 silverbacks, and 2 infants.

Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and its gorilla families:

This is found in the east of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It consists of 3 gorilla families and these include

Bitukira gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: Bitukira gorilla family is made up of 14 family members with 4 silverbacks, 2 juveniles, 1 baby, and 3 infants. The family was habituated in 2007 and it started with 24 family members and it faced constant conflicts which caused many members to leave the group recently.

Oruzogo gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: It’s a family which consists of 17 individuals with 1 silverback and this family was opened in 2007 for tourism members in this group include Bakwate, Kaganga, Kasumali, 6 adult females and 3 adult males then 3 infants.

Kyaguliro family in Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park: This is one of the biggest families with 20 family members and it was reserved for research and that’s why it’s not occasionally visited.