The Kyaguriro family is found in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It was habituated in 1999 and was originally set aside for research on mountain gorillas.
At the time of habituation, the group was led by a silverback named Zeus, after the Greek god. Zeus was later challenged and defeated by another silverback, Rukina, who forced him into exile. Zeus died alone in the forest.
Due to high demand for gorilla trekking permits, the Uganda Wildlife Authority later opened the group for visitors. In 2015, the family temporarily split after two silverbacks fought but later came back together. In 2016, another fight broke out, and silverback Mukiza left with 10 members to form his own family. This created two groups: Kyaguriro A and Kyaguriro B. Today, Kyaguriro B remains a research group, while Kyaguriro A is open for trekking.
Trekking the Kyaguriro Gorilla Group
Trekking the Kyaguriro family starts early in the morning in the Ruhija sector. Only 8 healthy visitors without communicable diseases are allowed each day. Once the gorillas are found, visitors spend one hour observing and taking photos. Sometimes visits may end early if the gorillas appear disturbed or aggressive.
Uganda can be visited throughout the year, but the best months for gorilla trekking are December to February and June to August. During these dry seasons, trails are easier to hike.
A gorilla permit in Uganda costs $800 per person. Gorilla habituation permits cost $1,500 per person. Travelers are advised to book permits 3–6 months in advance, especially for the busy seasons.
Mountain gorilla families live in groups led by a dominant silverback. A group usually includes the silverback, several females, blackbacks, juveniles, and infants. The silverback is responsible for all group activities such as foraging, resting, nesting, and breeding.
Gorillas spend most of their day feeding on vegetation. They rest around midday and then continue feeding until about 7 pm, when they build nests to sleep in. Gorillas make new nests every evening using leaves and branches.
Female gorillas reach sexual maturity earlier than males. When males grow, they usually leave their family group to start their own. They do this by taking some members from their group or by attracting females from other families.
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