Habinyanja Gorilla Family
The Habinyanja Gorilla Family was initially sighted near two ponds in a swampy area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, thus their name comes from the root Nyanja, meaning ‘body of water’ in Rukiga. Habituation of the 30 individuals of the group started in 1997, with tourists first visiting the family in 1999.
After the death of the dominant silverback Mukurusi , his two sons (Rwansigazi and Mwirima) led the group for several years. But the two brothers clearly had differences concerning the home range of the family. Rwansigazi seemed to enjoy maintaining a large home range, while Mwirima seemed to prefer to stay in a smaller zone. Finally, on February 14, 2002 the group split, when Mwirima left taking with him seven members of the family and giving birth to the Rushegura Group.
Later Rwansigazi, was forced to give up his leadership to Makara, the current Alpha Silverback of the group. Currently the Habinyanja family is made of 19 individuals. The six infants and three juveniles in the group make for a spectacular experience.
Habinyanja Group Home Range
The Habinyanja Group has one of the largest home ranges of the habituated gorillas in Bwindi National Park. The range extends from Kahororo, Nyamishamba and through the forest via Rushegura to the Rubona side of the park. The group at times goes out of the park near the area of Kahororo, but this has been less common over the past few years.
Tracking of the Habinyanja Family starts from the Buhoma Ranger Station, where participants are given a briefing. When the Gorilla group is very far from the station, it may be advantageous to drive to a better starting point. Thus, it is advisable that those tracking the Habinyanaja Gorilla Group have a vehicle on standby.
Recommended Accommodations
Due to the home range of the Habinyanja Group, you should plan to stay in the Buhoma Sector of the park the night before your trek. This sector has the widest selection of accommodations, catering to all budgets. It is always recommended to procure permits prior to making any reservations at hotels or lodges.
Luxury Accommodations
Mid-Range Accommodations
Budget Accommodations
Recent News About the Habinyanja Family
Habinyanja Family Members
