Explore Rwanda, travel across the landscape that has given the country its name “the country of a thousand hills”, meet its warm welcoming people and view the rare and endemic species of birds of Rwanda including the elusive shoebill stork in the Nyungwe wetland forest. Visit the highland gorilla families, 7 of which are accessible to tourists. Experience the tenderness of a silverback leader with its children, look into the eyes of these amazing primates and feel them touch your heart.
Visit highland gorilla family “Group 13” closest from the park entrance and an easy 1 hour trek. Experience the tenderness of Kurire, silverback leader of group 13 as he frolics with his children.
Those who would be willing and able to do a longer trek, will be amazed by the largest gorilla family accessible to visitors. The “Susa Group” has 37 individuals including three silverbacks, infant twins and Poppy, 38 year old female, last living member of Digit’s family, one of Dian Fossey’s research groups.
13 Group
Named simply for its original size of 13 individuals when it was discovered, it has since maintained the name, with 21 individuals: 1 Silverback; 10 Adult females; 1 Sub adult female; 1 Juvenile and 8 Babies.
Formerly this group was commanded by Nyakarima who was challenged by Agashya meaning "the news". Agashya indeed made news by first watching and estimating Nyakarima's strengths and eventually challenging him to a fierce fight by taking off with his whole group. This was a shock to Nyakarima and an unprecedented event in observed gorilla history. Agashya then moved up the volcano to secure his group and make sure Nyakarima did not track them. Agashya has since increased his group's numbers by snatching from other groups and assimilating other lone gorillas, rapidly increasing the group from 12 to 21 individuals.
Agashya is known, at the first sign of trouble, to take his whole group up to the top of the volcano. Once, while we were taking a group of tourists to see Group 13 this exact scenario unfolded. Agashya felt that there was another silverback who was about to challenge him. In response, he took the group up the volcano. Every time we thought we were close to see them, Agashya would move the group further uphill. We did not reach them until the very top, where we finally got a chance to see them. By the time we got back to the car we have walked for 12 hours. While it was an exhausting day, it was magical to see gorillas at the top the world.
Susa Group
This group derives its name from the Susa River in their home range with. The group has 38 individuals: 4 Silverbacks; 4 Blackbacks; 10 Adult females; 3 Sub adult females; 1 Sub adult male; 1 Non adult female; 2 Juveniles and 13 Babies.
This is the largest gorilla group one can visit. When you reach this group the first thing you note is that there are gorillas everywhere. With 2 juveniles and 13 babies there is always some sort of a ruckus going on.
The Susa group also has the only known surviving gorilla twins. Typically, a mother abandons one of the twins, as it is almost impossible for her to care for both. As we watched the mother, Nyabitondore, care for the twins, Impano and Byishimo, at times we thought she would go insane from the task. But today you can enjoy the two bouncing around and playing as if nothing ever happened.
This group also contains one of the oldest known habituated gorillas, Poppy. Born in 1976 Poppy is believed to be from one of Dian Fossey's original gorilla groups.
Amahoro Group
Meaning "peaceful group", Amahoro, is the most peaceful of all the gorilla groups. The group has 17 individuals: 1 Silverback; 2 Blackbacks; 5 Adult females; 2 Sub adult males; 2 Juveniles and 5 Babies.
However, peace comes at a price. Ubumwe, the group's silverback is so peaceful and calm, he has lost group members to Charles in the Umubano group.
Umubano Group
Meaning "neighborliness", Umubano has 9 individuals: 1 Silverback; 1 Sub adult male; 3 Adult females and 4 Babies.
Led by Charles, the dominant silverback, Umubano was formerly a part of the Amahoro group. As Charles matured into a silverback of the same rank as Ubumwe, he could not stand being given orders and decided to stage a fight and challenge Ubumwe. The fight went on for weeks and then months. Finally, Charles managed to snatch from Ubumwe a few females and formed his own group. Since then, he has commanded respect and recognition from Ubumwe. We have observed, on various occasions, interactions between the two silverbacks, but no fighting has been seen since the great battle ended.
Hirwa Group
Meaning "lucky one", Hirwa has 9 individuals: 1 Silverback; 3 Adult females; 2 Sub adult females and 3 Babies.
Hirwa came into the lime light on the 17th of June 2006 when trackers witnessed its formation. Two gorilla transfers from group 13 and Sabyinyo joined the then very small Hirwa group. As luck would have it other gorillas joined them as well and created the group. Despite being the newest group on the block, Hirwa exhibits strength and holds its own amongst all the other established groups.
Safaris Options:
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3 days Gorilas in the Mist
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Day 1: Arrival in Kigali Rwanda – Transfer to Gorillas Nest in Ruhengeri for early arrivals or Serena Hotel for late arrivals.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Parc National des Volcans.
Day 3: Transfer to Kigali, and go on a Kigali city tour.
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4 days Gorila Kingdom
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Day 1: Arrival in Kigali Rwanda – Transfer to Gorillas Nest in Ruhengeri for early arrivals or Serena Hotel for late arrivals.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Parc National des Volcans.
Day 3: Explore the Mountain Gorilla habitat
Day 4: Transfer to Kigali, and go on a Kigali city tour
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7 days Great Apes Expedition
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Day 1: Arrival in Kigali Rwanda – Transfer to Gorillas Nest in Ruhengeri for early arrivals or Serena Hotel for late arrivals.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Parc National des Volcans.
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park en-route along Gisenyi, Lake Kivu, and Kibuye.
Day 4: Trekking chimpanzees.
Day 5: Trek colobus monkeys.
Day 6: Transfer to Kigali and various cultural sites.
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali, and go on a Kigali city tour
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