The Mukiza family was once part of the Kyaguriro group. After the death of the dominant silverback Rukina, leadership passed to silverback Mukiza. Later, Rukara, a silverback from the Bitukura family, fought Mukiza. This led to the split of the group, creating two families: the Mukiza family led by Mukiza and the Kyaguriro family led by Rukara.
Trekking the Mukiza Gorilla Group
Only eight healthy people without communicable diseases like flu or cough are allowed to visit the Mukiza family in a day. Trekking starts early in the morning at the park headquarters with a briefing. The time taken to find the gorillas depends on the hikers’ pace and the group’s location. Once found, trekkers are allowed one hour with the family. Sometimes the visit may be shorter if the gorillas feel insecure.
Gorilla trekking requires physical fitness and proper gear. Since the gorillas live in tropical forests where it can rain even during the dry season, visitors should carry waterproof hiking boots, garden gloves, rain jackets, warm clothes, long-sleeved shirts, drinking water, and energy snacks. Porters are available at the start of the trek to help carry luggage at an affordable cost.
Uganda is an all-year safari destination, but the best time for gorilla trekking is during the dry months from June to September and December to February. During this period, the roads are better, the trails are less muddy, and the vegetation is thinner, making it easier to see and photograph the gorillas.
Mountain gorillas are mainly herbivores. They feed on fruits, leaves, wild celery, bamboo shoots, bark, stems, and roots. Sometimes they also eat ants, termites, and insects. They spend most of the day searching for food until midday when they rest. In the afternoon, they continue feeding until evening, then build nests to sleep in.
Gorillas build new nests every day using leaves, branches, and other plants. Baby gorillas share a nest with their mothers until about four years old, after which they start building their own, usually close to their mothers.
The main enemies of mountain gorillas are humans, and rarely leopards. Human threats include poaching and destruction of habitats for settlement. Conservation efforts have helped increase gorilla numbers over the years, but they are still on the IUCN Red List as endangered.
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