Gorilla Families In Democratic Republic Of Congo
Gorilla trekking safaris in Congo take place in the Virunga national park. The national park was established in 1925 by then the king of Belgium known as King Albert 1 and its first name was Albert national park. The national park was gazetted to protect the endangered mountain gorillas. After Congo’s independence, the park national park declined until early 70s when president got interest in conservation that the park was revived and got another name that is Virunga national park.
With an area cover of 7800 square kilometres and extends up to Virunga mountains in the south to the Rwenzori in the north. Mountain gorillas are the major attraction in the park thus making gorilla trekking the major activity within the park. in 1979, Virunga national park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site because of the environmental importance. Virunga national park has 8 gorilla families that are fully habituated for trekking while on an african vacation safari.
Tourists on their african safari can embark on a gorilla trekking activity within the Virunga national park. the gorilla families include
- Munyaga gorilla family
Munyaga gorilla family is found in Bukima area within the Virunga national park. the group was led by a silverback Mawazo who was a lone wild silverback before 1998. When munyaga met the buhanga group which was headed by the female gorilla known as Nsekuye in February 1998, he took advantage of the group since there was no dominant silverback and made himself the leader. After some period of time, the group associated several times with Kabirizi group not until munyaga lost all the females to Kabirizi group and thus disappeared.
Following his disappearance, Mawazo took over the group until today. The group has 12 members where it has 3 silverbacks, 3 adult females, 1 sub adult, 2 juveniles and 3 infants. While on an african safari, tourists can trek the fully habituated gorilla family.
- Lulengo family
The group was initially known as the Masekura gorilla family but this was changed in the memory of the technical director who was killed by a land mine thus naming it Lulengo. Lulengo was born in the Rugabo gorilla family and the name of his father was Rugabo and his was the original leader. In 1994, Rugabo was murdered along with 2 females by poachers during an attack where a young gorilla known as Mvuyekura was kidnapped. The poachers motive was to sell the juvenile in Uganda but they were eventually arrested and jailed.
Later Lulengo assumed leadership of the 12 individuals that remained in the troop. Lulengo had multiple confrontations from mapuwa in 1998 and this led to a number of gorillas to migrate to Mapuwa’s family. another clash in 2014 with Rugendo which resulted in the emigration of the female Bagambe to Lulengo’s troop.
The Lulengo family started with 12 individuals in 2022 but now has 15 individuals and these can be spotted while on the african vacation safari. Having an encounter with the Lulengo family on an african safari is an emotional and thrilling experience.
- Kabirizi family
Kabirizi family was habituated in 1994 in Bukima and many of its members came from Zunguruka troop. Due to old age, Zunguruka died and his son Ndungutse became leader but was murdered in 1997 by poachers. Ndungutse’s killers were arrested and jailed and his son Buhanga led the group.
Buhanga was later killed in 1998 during a clash with Kabirizi. The group was shortly led by matriarch Nsekuye who died on 1st April 2010. In 1998 February, munyaga a solitary male led the group shortly and after many confrontations, Kabirizi took all the females. However, between 1998 and 2012, Kabirizi’s family grew to 36 individuals but his son Bageni challenged him and left with 20 individuals.
While on an african safari, trekking the Kabirizi family with its 25 members is humbling and inspiring. Watching Kabirizi’s protective leadership and playful tactics of the young gorillas describes the highlight of an african vacation safari
- Humba family
The Humba family was established in 1998 after a disagreement between Humba and his father rugendo where he had to split the troop into two. Humba left the troop with his brother Nyakamwe who later become a silverback. The group grew to 17 individuals through births and emigrations from 1998 and 2009 with only one recorded death.
However, tension rose in April 2014 between the two brothers thus leading to a split where Humba remained with 5 individuals and Nyakamwe with 10 individuals. In 2015 February, a female adult Kalule joined the Humba family after a confrontation with munyaga. Humba family has 18 members and in order to maintain harmony and stability within the group, two silverbacks that is Mahindure and Humba split females between themselves. While on an african vacation safari, Humba is likely to be seen around Bukima where it spends most of its time.
- Mapuwa family
Silverback Mapuwa belonged to Rugendo’s family until august 1995 when he left his brother Ruzirabwoba to live as the dominate male. It took Mapuwa 3 years and several attacks with Lulengo before securing two adult females to form his family. mapuwa was too aggressive and in 1999, he clashed with the kwitonda and Rugabo families thus obtaining 4 more individuals. The group grew to 15 members through births and migrations and in March 2020, it reached around 22.
However, due to old age, mapuwa lost leadership to silverback Mvuyekure and he was exiled temporarily. On coming back, he returned as a subordinate. Of now the troop has 28 members led by silverback Mvuyekura and Wathaut.
- Rugendo family
Rugendo was among the first habituated group in jomba in 1984 and this group can be spotted in Mikeno sector between Bukima and Bikenge areas while on an african vacation safari. As its name, the group was led by the silverback Rugendo who was later murdered by rebels in 2001 in Bukima. Rugendo is a father to many silverbacks within the Virunga national park such as Mapuwa, Humba, Ruzirabwoba, Mukunda, Nyakamwe, Mburanumwe, Baseka, kongomani, Lubutu and Bahati. After his death, the son senkwekwe took over the group until 2007 until when he was murdered with other 4 gorillas in the group.
For over 3 months, the group remained without leadership until 2008 when a solitary silverback Bukima assumed leadership. Bukima was originally a member of buhanga group but spent most of the time with munyaga group before becoming a silverback in 2005. Rugendo gorilla family is composed of 13 individuals including 4 adult females, 2 sub adults, 3 silverbacks, 1 juvenile and 3 infants. A visit to the rugendo gorilla family on an african vacation safari is an opportunity to appreciate the conservation of Virunga national park where these endangered mountain gorillas are protected.
- Nyakamwe gorilla family
Nyakamwe is one of the gorilla families that can be trekked in the Virunga national park while on an african vacation safari. Nyakamwe family originates from rugendo gorilla family which was spearheaded by rugendo. However, due to a misunderstanding with their father, Humba and Nyakamwe broke away to make their own group with 9 members in 1998. These two formed a group known as Humba with an agreement to transfer power to Nyakamwe after a period of some time. The number of the individuals increased to 16 members but later Nyakamwe got tired of being under his elder and brother and as agreed power was never handled to him. A fight erupted between them and Nyakamwe won thus forming his own family called Nyakamwe gorilla family.
Nyakamwe gorilla family was formed in 2014 with 10 individuals and Humba remained with only 5 members. The gorilla family is known for being humble and peaceful and it lives in the Bukima sector where it can be observed while on an african vacation safari within the Virunga national park.
- Bageni gorilla family
Bageni turned into a silverback in 2010 and stayed with his father Kabirizi up to 2013. With many attacks Bageni left with 20 individuals on 27th January 2013 to make his family. among those were 8 females including his mother Mpedo and mature Kamoso and silverback Kanamahalagi and subadult male Ntamuvulira.
Bageni got another female from Kabirizi leaving him with only three females in January 2015. Later Bageni fought with willungunla leader and he emerged with two more adult females. With 56 members, Bageni is the largest troop within the Virunga and this can be witnessed while on an African safari. However, reports indicate that there is conflict among the three silverbacks since each silverback moves with different members.
Gorilla families in Congo are not only riches of wildlife, they are the base for an african vacation safari in purpose, resilience and awe. Therefore, trekking them is not just a vacation but a testament of hope and a moment of reasoning after returning home.