Kyaguriro Gorilla Group
Kyaguriro mountain gorilla family / group was one of the earliest habituated gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, the family was habituated in 1995 but was not open for tourism but rather for research purposes in order to learn and study more about mountain gorillas.
At the time of habituation, Kyaguriro mountain gorilla family was led by a silverback Zeus who was later banished by Rukina who took over the leadership of the group. Rukina the silverback also got challenged by another silverback called Mukiza who grabbed some members in order to form his own family.
Kyaguriro gorilla family, later on, split into 2 groups of Kyaguriro A and Kyaguriro B when Mukiza the silverback took over Rukina was ambushed by another silverback from the Bitukura mountain gorilla family. These gorilla families are always seen in one area or alongside each other through the park authorities thought they would rejoin but they did not reunite.
On the 7th of April 2015, it’s unfortunate that Rukina the ruling silverback got struck by lightning, and this led to his death. Kyaguriro A mountain gorilla family s now dominated by Rukina and Kyaguriro B is dominated Mukiza.
It should be noted that members in these gorilla families keep on changing due to new births, deaths, fights leading to separation of group members, and the addition of new members. Numbers on gorilla families are not always consistent every time and even the group leader can change at any time.
Gorilla habituation
Gorilla habituation is a once in a lifetime experience that can only be done in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park located in south western Uganda. Mountain gorillas always undergo a habituation process before they can be visited by tourists for trekking.
Gorilla habituation can be described as a process of making mountain gorillas get used to human presence and it’s normally done by a group of researchers and park rangers for a period of 2-3 years until the gorilla family is habituated passes a mocking exercise.
Tourists can join researchers and rangers in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi to habituate mountain gorillas, only a group of 4 people will do gorilla habituation unlike gorilla trekking where 8 people trek a gorilla family, gorilla habituation is also a great advantage because you get to spend a maximum of 4 hours in the presence of mountain gorillas, unlike trekking where you spend only an hour.
Gorilla trekking permits for Kyaguriro Gorilla Group
Gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park cost $700 for foreign nonresidents, $600 foreign residents, and shs250,000 East African residents. Gorilla habituation permits cost $1500 per person per trek and these permits are sold to persons above the age of 15. If you are planning to visit the country in the high season, you are advised to book your permit in advance of 3-6 months before the actual trekking date to avoid inconvenience.
Best time for filming Kyaguriro Gorilla Group
Uganda can be visited at any time of the year but some months are better than the rest. the best time to visit is the dry season which happens to be from June to September and December to February when filming can be easier with thin vegetation, the trails are also not muddy and slippery during this period.
What to carry for gorilla trekking?
Mountain gorillas stay on higher elevations of tropical rain forests of Bwindi and rainfall can be receive rainfall at any time of the day even in months of the dry season, tourists carry garden gloves, a hat, enough drinking water, rain jackets, long-sleeved clothes, good waterproof hiking boots, energy-giving snacks, incest repellents, sunscreen and much more.
