Mountain gorilla groups/ families in volcanoes national park

Susa group (Susa A)

Susa group in Volcanoes national park is a large group of 33 members with 2 silverbacks, Susa group is one of the popular groups in Volcanoes national park well known for being studied by Dian Fossey during her research from 1967 to 1985. Susa group previously comprised of 42 members until it split into 2 groups that are Susa A and Susa B (Karisimbi group). Susa group derives its name from Susa River and it inhabits on the forested slopes of mount Karisimbi, this group is famous for its playful set twins Byishimo and Impano.

Sabyinyo group

Sabyinyo group in Volcanoes national park is a group of 13 members with 2 silverbacks. Sabyinyo group is well known for its giant silverback Guhonda the largest silverback weighing about 220 kilograms. Sabyinyo group derives its name from a Kinyarwanda slag meaning “old man’s teeth”, the is group inhabits on the gentle slopes of between Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Gahinga and it is one of the easiest mountain gorilla groups to trek in Volcanoes national park.

Amahoro group

Amahoro group in Volcanoes national park is a family of 18 members with 2 silverbacks, this family inhabits and trekked on the slopes of Mount Bisoke. Amahoro group derives its name from a local Kinyarwanda slag meaning peace which is exhibited by the peacefulness of the group, this group’s peacefulness has caused its leader Silverback Umbwe to lose most of his group members to Umubano group. Amahoro group inhabits on the slopes of mount Visoke and trekking this group is intermediate in difficulty.

Agashya/ group 13

Agashya/group 13 in Volcanoes national park is a group of 27 members with 1 silverback the dominant Agashya the leader of the group, Agashya group was the first habituated in Volcanoes national park and the time of its habituation it consisted of 13 members which explains the name 13. Agashya group/ group 13 was initially under the leadership of Nyakarima who was later over thrown by silverback Agashya whose name means good news, Agashya group inhabits and is trekked on the slopes of mount Sabyinyo which is the same territory as Sabyinyo group.

Umbano group

Umbano group in Volcanoes national park is a family of 13 members with 2 silverbacks, this group is named from a local Kinyarwanda slag meaning “live together”. Umbano group is a broke away family from Amahoro family of Ubumwe as a result of constant conflicts between silverback Ubumwe and silverback Charles. After the breakaway silverback Charles successfully formed his group and he is the leader of this group.

Kwitonda group

Kwitonda group in Volcanoes national park is a group of 23 members with 4 silverbacks and 1 dominant silverback by names of Kwitonda, this group derives its name from its leader silverback Kwitonda and name is a local Kinyarwanda slag meaning humble which is exhibited in the character of silverback Kwitonda. Kwitonda group inhabits and is trekked on the lower slopes of Mount Muhabura, this family is considered one of the most difficult groups to trek in Volcanoes national park.

Hirwa group

Hirwa group is a relatively newly formed group in Volcanoes national park inhabiting in the forested foothills of mount Sabyinyo on the side of Gahinga, this group comprises of 16 members with 1 silverback the leader of the group . Hirwa group is made up of ran-way members from two groups (Sabyinyo and Group 13), this group is one of the lucky in Volcanoes national park to received a set of twins born at the beginning of 2011.

Karisimbi group (Susa B)

Karisimbi group is one of the large mountain gorilla groups in Volcanoes national park comprising of 16 members with 2 silverbacks, karisimbi group is a split group formed when Susa group split into 2 groups. This group is inhabits and it is trekked on the lower slopes of Mount Karisimbi, Karisimbi group is considered one of the difficult groups to trek in Volcanoes national park and Rwanda.

Bwenge group

Bwenge group in Volcanoes national park inhabits and is trekked on the mount Bisoke, this group comprises of 11 members with 1 silverback who is the dominant leader of the group. Bwenge group is named after a local Kinyarwanda slag Bwenge meaning wisdom, trekking Bwenge group is a generally not too difficult because of the fairly steep slopes of mount Sabyinyo on which the groups habits.

Ugenda group

Ugenda group in Volcanoes national park habits in the forests on the slopes of mount Bisoke, this family is a group of 11 members with 2 silverbacks. Ugenda group derives its name from a local Kinyarwanda slag meaning mobile, this name also explains the character of this group as it keeps moving from one spot to another. Trekking Ugenda group is not too difficult because of the fair steep terrain on mount Sabyinyo.

Titus family

Titus family in Volcanoes national park is one of the oldest habituated families named after its founder silverback Titus, silverback Titus was born during the time when Dian Fossey was carrying out her research on gorillas in the park in 1991. Titus died in 2007 because of natural death, he was found in his nest dead and he was succeeded by Beetsme the current leader of the group.