Kabirizi is one of the 8 impressive gorilla families within the famous Virunga National Park. The amazing family is one of the pioneer gorilla families in this Congo-based gorilla trekking destination with its history dating back to the 1990s, and was named after its dominant silverback – Kabirizi. It is one of the oldest Gorilla families, habituated for three years, opened for trekking in 1989 and has one of the most touching histories.
During the time of habituation, this Gorilla Family was known as “Zunguruka”, led by a wonderful silverback known as “Zunguruka” who died of old age. After his death, his son-Ndungutse became the leader of this family until 1997 when he was murdered in a cross-fire between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwandan militia close to Bukima Patrol Post. His son (Buhanga) then took over leadership when the family had 13 members. However, endless rebellion from another silverback in the family (Buhanga’s brother known as Karateka) brought tension, leading to break-off.
Karateka grabbed 3 family members to form his own group/family, close to Kabirizi family. However just months after his exit, the two silverbacks clashed and Buhanga was able to take back the 3 members, leaving Karateka a lonely silverback. Buhanga, being the troublesome silverback continued colliding with other silverbacks and in 1998, he got involved in a life-threatening fight with a lone silverback-Kabirizi, leaving him with serious injuries. However, he was able to keep his family intact that the injuries from the fight later took his life. After his demise, the family was left to wander without a leader until one of the adult females (Nsekuye) took over leadership of the family.
Nsekuye being a female meant her leadership couldn’t last long thus was overthrown by Munyanga, a lone silverback. His leadership was also now long-lived as he met another wild unhabituated silverback-Kabirizi who grabbed all the members to form a bigger family known as Kabirizi with over 36 members.
Kabirizi was named after the ICCN director that perished from a car accident in the 1990s. Kabirizi’s son (Bageni) also challenged him, breaking-away on 27th January 2013 and took with him 20 members for form Bageni family, leaving Kabirizi with only 16 members.
Kabirizi grew the family to 19 members including 3 silverbacks, 5 adult females, 3 black backs, 3 sub-adult females, 1 juvenile and 4 infants. Other habituated gorilla families trekked in Virunga National Park are Humba, Rugendo, Bageni, Munyanga, Mapuwa, Nyakamwe and Lulengo.
Trekking Kabirizi Gorilla Family.
Trekking Kabirizi Family begins from Bukima Patrol Post within Virunga National Park. Be briefed and at 8am begin the trek through the forest and walk for 1-4 hours. Their nests of the previous night will be found and this shows they are not far from their ranging area. Spend one hour observing and taking photos of them grabbing bamboo shoots, moving, playing and resting under Bamboo trees or within the thicket.
Best time to visit Kabirizi Gorilla Family.
Kabirizi Gorilla Family can be trekked all year round, as long as gorilla permits are available. However, the dry season-months of January, February, June, July, August, September and December are preferred by most trekkers because during these months, the forest floor is drier and hiking trails are drier, not muddy/or slippery.
