Deep into the Jungle, at the kashasha river valley below the Nteko edge is Nkuringo sector, south of Bwindi impenetrable national park, located in the southwestern part of Uganda, at the slopes of the giant Virunga massif which covers three countries; Uganda, the Republic of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In this sector, the Nkuringo Gorilla Family thrives and is ready for trekking by tourists.
In deep silence, the eyes capture human-like gentle creatures posing, playing, or feeding in the present lush foliage, unbothered by what is happening around them; the rare yet sought-after mountain Gorillas they are. It is time to uncover some facts about the Nkuringo Gorilla Family; one of the largest Gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable national park, whose story started in about 1996 when it was first sighted, and the first visit happening in April 2004.
Gorillas are social creatures and leave families with a clear structure of authority and responsibility. The family head is a dominant silverback, whose role is to settle disputes, find new territories, and defend the entire group in the family. The mothers have a duty of feeding the young ones a duty of feeding ones and reproduction, whereas the young stars spend most of their time feeding and playing. You see the gentle silverback and fall in love with these apes in the Nkuringo family; a group that became prominent because of their photographic nature and group liveliness.
This group was formed after a gentle silverback called Nkuringo split, with three silverbacks; Rafiki, Christmas, and safari. After leading the group up to the age of 45, it passed on, leaving the group under the leadership of safari, which led the group until it disappeared mysteriously after they collided with another Gorilla group; the Bushaho Gorilla family. Its whereabouts remain unknown to date. The Group was thereafter taken-up by another dominant silverback known as; Rafiki- a Kiswahili word meaning friend, and indeed it is so friendly.
The friendship was manifested with the unity in the group, and also the welcome granted to Christmas; a dominant silverback that left the group, but always comes back once in a while, to check on the brother. On first June 2020, Rafiki was killed, leaving the group with no leader since he was the eldest of them all. However it is important to note that now the group has a new leader; called Rwamutwe; a dominant black back and Tabu; a black back assisting in the second position. Regular visits indicate that Nkuringo group is now stable, with about 12 members and 3 infants.
The members of the Nkuringo family are; Rwamutwe (the current family leader); a name meaning one with a big ego, Tabu; a problem causer and the second in command, Kuhirwa; a female adult with one baby and the name meaning lucky, Kiiza; an adult female whose name means one who follows twins, Furaha; adult female with her name meaning a happy one, Nderema; an adult female, Kamara a black back whose name means dispute settler, 2 unnamed infants, Guma a juvenile with the name meaning be strong, Muhoozi a black back with the name meaning a tax collector, and Owamani; a juvenile with the name meaning one with strength. Note that mama Christmas left the group to join his son Christmas who formed a new group.
A group of up to 8 people aged 15 years and above can track this group. But most preferably the young people with energy and physically fit because the landscape is high, thus making the hiking experience tiresome. It can take about 1-8 hours to locate these creatures because at times they move to the neighboring community outside the park. Upon locating them, you are added one extra hour for photography and studying them, as they feed or relax.
Nkuringo family at the Nkuringo sector is one of the most exciting gorilla groups to track though strenuous because of its hilly plains. You can now Book for your permit today and track the most exciting gorilla group in Nkuringo sector, south of Bwindi impenetrable national park.
