Mubare Gorilla Family is the oldest Gorilla Group in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and is found within the popular Buhoma sector. This Group was first habituated in 1991 then opened for tracking in 1993 and named after the stunning Mubare Hills deep in the jungles of Bwindi, where members of the Group were first seen by trackers. This group was led by Ruhondeza and had over 18 members at the time of habituation but because of migration of members to other groups as well as deaths resulting from fights, their number reduced to only 11 members (as of 2018). These included one silverback (Kanyonyi), 6 females, 1 blackback and 3 infants.
Ruhondeza, the intelligent silverback when this group was being habituated was also jealousy to the point of killing an upcoming blackbacks that even tried to challenge his authority. In 2012, a wild and unhabituated silverback attacked Mubare Group and took away some females, making Ruhondeza frustrated and living in isolation within the nearby community forest. Because of his calm and peaceful nature towards the people, he wasn’t sent away but was constantly monitored by UWA Park rangers.
Given his jealousy nature, he never groomed any successor and as he became older, the group size also reduced to just 5 members. He however died in 2013, within Rubona Village at the age of 50 years and was laid to rest close to Buhoma Park Headquarters and his successor took on the responsibility of expanding the group to the 11 members.
Only 8 permits are availed for this group daily and because it is one of the most popular, the demand for permits is high thus advisable to book at least 6 months in advance. Besides Mubare, Buhoma gorilla trekking sector/region is also haven to other 3 wonderful gorilla groups that include Habinyanja, Rushegura and Katwe. This brings the total of gorilla permits available in this sector to 32 permits per day.
Trekking Mubare Gorilla Family
Mubare is one of the easy-to-trek gorilla groups in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and can be trekked for half an hour to 4 hours. Trekking for this group involves first converging at the Park Headquarters for briefing at the trek begins at 8am. It involves encountering several residents of the Park-elephants, buffaloes, bush duikers and giant forest hogs, primates-chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and olive baboons, bird species including Albertine Rift endemics and butterfly species among others. One hour is the time you will spend in their presence and descend back to the starting point to receive your trekking certificate.
Best time to trek Mubare Group.
Mubare Gorilla Group is open for trekking all year round. The dry season however rewards visitors with maximum experiences because hiking trails are less muddy, forest floor is not wet/slippery and Park roads are also dry.
Where to stay when trekking Mubare Gorilla Family
Visitors planning to trek mountain gorillas from Buhoma sector can also book for accommodation facilities in the same sector. These include Bwindi View Bandas, Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Forest Lodge, Gorilla Friends Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Lake Kitandara Bwindi Camp, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Silverback lodge, Jungle View Lodge, Mahogany Springs Camp, Engagi Lodge, Eco Marvels Gorilla Resort and many others.
