Gorilla Families in Ruhija .Initially the Ruhija sector had two habituated gorilla families that were available for tracking which included Oruzogo and Bitukura, and Kyaguriro is still under research for habituation. Ruhija is one the four sectors where Gorilla trekking activity takes place and lies east of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with Buhoma in the north, Rushaga in the south and Nkuringo in the east.
To enjoy an amazing experience of trekking the giant apes, it requires spending an overnight in any of the accommodation facilities in order to catch up with an early morning activity at around 8:00am. Ruhija is the coldest sector in the park and this requires a trekker to heavy weather gadgets if they’re to carry out an activity in of gorilla tracking in the Ruhija sector.
A traveler who’s to do Gorilla tracking in Ruhija is advised to book for accommodation within the area, accommodation such as Ruhija Gorilla Camp, Trekkers Tavern to avoid embarrassments of waking up early at around 6:00am to 6:30am if spending a night(s) in the other sectors of the park. Below are habituated Gorilla groups in full details;
Bitukura Gorilla Family
The family derives its name from the river where it was first sighted, during that time it only had 24 members. This group can be found along Ruhija trekking trails in the Bwindi Impenetrable national park. Bitukura was first habituated in 2007 and later opened for trekking in 2008, this seemed shorter than average habituation process which takes a two years habituating program. This group is led by Ndahura the second youngest of the four silverbacks, 4 adult females, 2 juveniles and 3 infants and currently the group has got 13 members with four Silverbacks. This is the only group with the biggest number of Silverbacks living together.
Oruzogo Gorilla Family
This group is also found in the Ruhija sector in the park. This group is famous for its playful family members most especially the juveniles and babies who entertain the guests. This group was opened up for visitors in 2011; the group is headed by Silverback Bakwate and another one silverback, 2 blackbacks, 5 adult females, 2 sub-adults, and 5 infants. The group comprises of 17 members and extremely entertaining as it is loved by many tourists.
Kyaguriro Gorilla Family (Group A&B)
This is the oldest group to be habituated in the Ruhija sector. It was first habituated in 1995, but it was least visited by tourists and rather no permits were issued for this gorilla family. It was aside for research by the “German Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology.” Kyaguriro was led by Silverback Rukina who was struck by Lightening In 2015, later a young immature Silverback (Mukiza) took on the group’s leadership. In 2016, the group was split into two groups (Kyaguriro A led by Rukara and Kyaguriro B led by Mukiza) after a fight that emerged from Mukiza being challenged by an immigrant Silverback called Rukara from the Bitukura family.
This group is made of 20 members with two Silverbacks each leading a different group of 10 members. Rukara (Kyaguriro A) group is made of 1 Silverback, 2 blackbacks, 3 adult females, 2 juveniles and 2 infants. Mukiza (Kyaguriro B) group is composed of 10 members with 1 Silverback, 4 adult females, 1 sub-adult and 4 infant.
Note: These figures in the gorilla groups keep on changing as new members are welcomed in the family, deaths, moving into another group or migrating, death of Silverbacks and many more other factors. Silverbacks mostly fight for their Families and not territories as it is perceived by many.
