Rushegura gorilla family is one of the 12 habituated gorilla families found in the Buhoma sector in the southern parts of the Bwindi Impenetrable forests. This group is among st the newly habituated Gorilla groups in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, it was habituated In 2000 and opened for tourists in 2002 (Normally the habituation process takes a period of 2 years) of thoroughly studying a particular Gorilla group.
Uganda has got over 14 Gorilla groups that can be trekked with majority numbers found in the Bwindi Impenetrable jungles and only a one gorilla group is found in Mgahinga National Park (Nyakagezi Gorilla Group). Gorilla habituation process is a period of exposure of wild gorillas making them get used to humans as well as studying their behaviors in their natural environments. The Bwindi Impenetrable is home to over 480 gorillas In Uganda which all are linked to 36 gorilla families in the park.
Rushegura Gorilla Group (Group R)
This group broke away from the Habinyanja group after the death of Silverback Mugurusi. Rushegura is one of the largest gorilla families in the park with 16 members led by Silverback Kabukojo, 4 blackbacks, 4 adult females, 3 juveniles and four infants.
This group roams around the park headquarters and sometimes lessens the tracking hours, the group can be trekked for five hours. The Rushegura group sometimes wanders in the areas of Buhoma Camp, Batwa villages, Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters office waterfall, this is an added advantage of sightseeing to the tourists who intend to track the Rushegura group.
Rushegura was formerly led by Silverback Mwirima who passed away leaving the headship of the family to blackback Kabukojo (the Current group’s silverback), Kyirinvi, Kibande, Buzinza, Nyamunwa, and Karungyi the adult females, Kalembezi sub adult male and Ruterana sub adult female, Nyampazi, Kafuruka, Kibande, karungyi, Kanywanyi, Buzinza, Kyirinvi, Nyamunwa, Kibande and Katabazi are juveniles.
These are the exceptional lodges in the Buhoma sector where you can actually catch your gorilla tracking experience without any worries or regrets, accommodation such as Forest camp, Mahogany springs and Buhoma Lodge provide tourists with hospitality services in the mountains.
There are 13 habituated gorilla families in the Bwindi National Park (with Rushegura inclusive) out of the 36 gorilla families found in the park. Selecting of a desired Gorilla family to track can be done with the help of the guide to help you choose the best family in the Bwindi Forests.
A traveler is advised to book for his/her tracking permit in time that is 3 – 4 months earlier or even 6 months earlier to avoid last minute disappointments. Gorilla tracking permits go for $600USD for foreigners who’re not staying in East Africa, $500USD for foreigners who are either working or living within East Africa and Shs. 250,000/= for the East African Community (EAC) citizens. And in the low season, the tracking goes for $450USD which is a discounted rate. The tickets can be obtained through online on the Uganda Wildlife Authority website with their offices in Kampala (Kamwokya, HQ) or at the park headquarters in the Buhoma area.
