Gorilla Families In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga gorilla national park is located in south western Uganda in the areas part of the larger Virunga massif sharing borders with Rwanda and DRC. The protected area covers an area of about 33.9 square kilometers and is known for protecting the endangered mountain gorillas, has a rich biodiversity and volcanic landscapes.

The park is 498.0 kilometers via Mbarara-Masaka Rd and Kabale – Mbarara Rd which is about 9 to 10 hours of drive by road. Mgahinga is second to Bwindi impenetrable national park in protecting the endangered mountain gorillas within their natural habitat.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park not only has the majestic mountain gorillas but also other primate species. This is the only place where you get to trek and see golden monkeys within their natural habitat in Uganda. Other attractions found within this place are the various birds, and volcanic mountains of Gahinga, Muhabura and Sabyinyo.

While in this place, you can do different activities like mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, bird and butterfly watching, cultural experiences, Batwa cultural experiences, community and nature walks.

The park provides a unique and immersive experience for travelers interested in mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and volcanoes in a remote and pristine environment.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has one habituated gorilla family and it is open for trekking known as the Nyakagezi gorilla family. This gorilla family is relatively small, with about 9 to 12 members having adult males and females, infants and juveniles.

It is composed of Mark as the lead silverback, Bugingo as the oldest silverback and former leader, Mathew and Mafia as other silverbacks, Nyiramwiza and Nshuti as adult females, Nkanda a juvenile and Mutagamba and Rukundo as infants. This makes trekking easier since these gorillas are easily identified by their names.

Nyakagezi was formed with a male gorilla individual called Nyakagezi who became the silverback and the family started growing with a few members. Over the years, Rukundo took over from Nyakagezi for a good time despite all the hardships.

The Nyakagezi gorilla family is known for its stability in terms of leadership and composition. It was named after the Nyakagezi volcanic mountain in Mgahinga National Park. It is headed by a dominant silverback called Mark who is responsible for protecting and safeguarding its members.

The gorilla family has been habituated over the years meaning these gorillas have been trained to get used to humans and are open for trekking by tourists. Trekking Nyakagezi is so much fun and enjoyable because you get a chance to witness their behaviors like breastfeeding, playing as well as how they socialize with each other.

Tourists interested in enjoying gorilla trekking in a less crowded environment can get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park since it only has one habituated gorilla family.

Trekking the Nyakagezi gorilla family in Mgahinga gorilla national park. 

Previously, these gorilla members had a tendency to cross over to DRC and that is why they were known as the mobile mountain gorillas group of Uganda, but currently, they have been observed to have settled down permanently in Uganda within the volcano ranges of Mgahinga national park.

Trekking the Nyakagezi family is a memorable and unique experience, especially for tourists whose interest is based on conservation and eco-tourism. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with the majestic apes and contribute to their conservation.

Before trekking, you need to have obtained a gorilla permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. This is a document that allows you to trek gorillas within their natural habitat. You are advised to have booked in advance like a week or a month before in order to avoid disappointments.

You are required to arrive at the park headquarters early in the morning since the activity is best done in the morning hours. When you arrive at the park headquarters, you will be required to attend the pre-briefing session where you are told how to behave during the trek and in the presence of the gorillas.

After trekking, you are accompanied by an experienced tour guide through the thickets of Mgahinga National Park looking for gorillas. This activity can take about 2 to 3 hours depending on where these primates will be found.

During the trek, you get to encounter different primate species like monkeys and olive baboons, stunning Virunga volcanoes, and forests alongside different bird and butterfly species. 

Once you get to encounter the Nyakagezi gorilla family, you are given one hour to be in their presence as you observe different behaviors like feeding, playing, breastfeeding and how they socialize with one another.

You are allowed to take snapshots of the great moments for greater memories and show your family back home. After the trek, you are supposed to go back to the starting point which is the park headquarters and collect your certificate of participation to commemorate your gorilla trekking experience.