The Mucunguzi family is one of the newly habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The name “Mucunguzi” means “savior” and comes from the silverback who formed the group.
Mucunguzi was once part of the Bweza family, where he was the third youngest silverback. After fighting with the dominant silverback of Bweza, he was chased away and became a lone male. Later, he attacked the Bikingi family and took some members, especially females, to form his own family. Today the Mucunguzi group has about 8 members, though numbers change with births, deaths, or new arrivals.
Bweza is the family that Mucunguzi left. It was originally part of the Nshongi family, which split to form Mishaya, and later another split created Bweza.
Trekking the Mucunguzi Gorilla Group
Trekking the Mucunguzi family is done in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi. Treks begin with a morning briefing at the park headquarters. The walk can take from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the movement of the gorillas and the speed of the hikers.
Gorilla habituation is also offered in the Rushaga sector. It involves joining rangers and researchers as they prepare wild gorillas to get used to people. Only 4 tourists are allowed each day, and the experience lasts 4 hours with the gorillas. In normal trekking, visitors spend only 1 hour.
A gorilla trekking permit costs $800 per person, while a habituation permit costs $1,500 per person. Permits should be booked at least 3 months in advance to avoid missing out, especially in peak season.
Travelers must be physically fit and carry the right gear. Essential items include waterproof hiking boots, warm and long-sleeved clothes, insect repellent, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, plenty of drinking water, and energy snacks. Binoculars are also useful for spotting other wildlife. Porters are available to help carry luggage at an affordable price.
Mountain gorillas live in social groups of 5 to 30 individuals. These groups are led by an alpha male called a silverback, who is responsible for protecting and guiding the family. Gorillas are generally shy and gentle, but they can become aggressive when disturbed.
Mountain gorillas use about 25 types of vocal sounds to communicate with each other. They are also very intelligent. They have been seen using sticks to pick termites from holes, measure the depth of streams, and even using logs to cross rivers.
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