NYAKAGEZI GORILLA FAMILY.

The Nyakagezi gorilla family is the only habituated gorilla family that lives in Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park. Mgahinga protects half of the world’s mountain gorilla population, which lives in its native African habitat.

Mgahinga National Park provides an abundance of food for gorillas, which is what draws these animals to this area of tropical rain forests with thick bamboo trees.

The Nyakagezi Gorilla Family consists of ten members, including Mark, the current silverback; Bugingo, the former leader; Mathew and Mafia [silverbacks]; Ndungutse and Rukundo [blackbacks]; Nkanda and Furaha juveniles, and Mutagamba [infant], named after the late Mutagamba, former minister of tourism.
Mgahinga is part of the Virunga massif, which encompasses three parks:

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda; Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda; and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In contrast to other national parks, Mgahinga protects 80 mountain gorillas.

BACKGROUND OF THE FAMILY

The Nyakagezi gorilla family is a small group of about ten individuals. They are known for their migratory behavior. They often move between Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda.

In 2012, the group returned and settled in Mgahinga National Park. At that time, it had about ten members and three silverbacks. In May 2013, a new baby was born, increasing the group to eleven individuals.

Bugingo is the aging silverback. He is around 54 years old. He currently coexists peacefully with Mark, the reigning silverback. There are no confrontations between them.

Mark is believed to have succeeded his father, Bugingo. They continue to live together in the same group. In many gorilla families, aging silverbacks are pushed out. They are often isolated or forced to leave when they become weak. A clear example is the Mubare family. Kanyonyi took over from Ruhondeza. Ruhondeza later lived alone until his death.

The Nyakagezi family’s range extends to the borders of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They sometimes cross into Virunga and Volcanoes National Parks.

The Nyakagezi gorilla family in Mgahinga National Park is unique. It is the only habituated group in the park. It also offers a quiet trekking experience with few visitors. The group is also known for its mobility. Another rare feature is the peaceful coexistence of two silverbacks. This makes the experience especially interesting.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) issues a limited number of permits for this group each day. Usually, only about eight licenses are available.

COMBINING GORILLA TREKKING WITH VOLCANIC HIKING AT MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK.

The triplet extinct volcanoes are located in the same area as the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family in the Mgahinga National Area, giving you the opportunity to have a double experience.

Because gorilla trekking just takes an hour, you might combine two activities on a single-day tour.

Alternatively, you could spend the night in one of the neighboring accommodations and complete the activities in two days, which would be more cost-effective.

TOURING NYAKAGEZI FROM RWANDA.

So, if you choose to fly to Kigali rather than Entebbe, you will save 5 to 6 hours on the road since going to Entebbe will take 8 to 9 hours.

Mgahinga National Park is a three-hour trip from Kigali, Rwanda.

How to Access the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family.

Travelers interested in hiking the Nyakagezi gorilla family in Mgahinga National Park can do so by road or by plane.

Starting from Kampala, the travel to Mgahinga Park is estimated to take about 8 to 9 hours on the road as you get to appreciate the best scenery on the roadside.

Those interested in air travel can board scheduled flights from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kisoro Airstrip, where they will be met by a park driver or guide and driven to their designated resort.

BOOK AND PLAN YOUR SAFARI TO NYAKAGEZI HGORILLA FAMILY.

To the gorilla haven with experienced guides and help you experience the best in the jungle, Gecko Safaris Africa is ready to help you prepare your safari to the Nyakagezi gorilla family in the Pearl of Africa. Feel free to Contact Us for all you need to know about this tour, and we shall do our best to ensure your safari satisfaction.