Mubare Gorilla Family

Mubare Gorilla Family

Mubare Gorilla Family, is located in Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park which is located in the south western part of Uganda. Bwindi impenetrable national park inhabits 400 mountain Gorillas.

The park is found in one of the countries that inhabit half of the world’s mountain Gorilla population in the world.

Bwindi Impenetrable national park has 10 habituated mountain Gorillas and one of the family is the Mubare Gorilla Group. The group is one of the oldest Gorilla families in Uganda which was opened for tourism in 1993 after the habituation took place for 2 years (which means the group was trained to be close to humans). The word Mubare is a local word which means ‘Hills’.

The hills are found deep in Bwindi impenetrable national park, the hills are where the Mubare Gorilla Group was first seen by tourists.

The Mubare Gorilla Group is composed of 18 members, and it’s led by Ruhondeza the silverback. For many years the family has lost many members until 2012, when they were left only 5 in the group when the group was attacked and some of the females in the group were taken away.

The loss of the family was due to the death of offspring, death during a fight and migrating of members to other groups.

Unfortunately, the group lost the leader Ruhondeza who died in his sleep in June 2012. He died of old age at the 50 years. When you visit Buhoma sector you have an opportunity to visit his grave.

When the group lost Ruhondeza, Kanyonyi the silverback managed to succeed and he became the leader. He expanded the family and increased by 8 members.

The group can be trekked for 5 hours or more. Hike to visit one of the Gorilla families to be habituated in Bwindi impenetrable national park in Buhoma sector.

There only 8  gorilla permits sold a day to visit this gorilla group you are advised to book in advance to have an experience and spend one hour with the Mubare Gorilla Group as they carry their day to day activities such as displaying their nests, playing ,grooming each and many more.

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