Meet the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family – Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Nyakagezi is a place in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and this is how the Nyakagezi Gorilla family “borrowed” the name. The Nyakagezi gorilla family is the only gorilla family in the Mgahinga National Park that has in the past decade restricted it’s range to the park rather than in the past when it used to cross over to the neighboring country of Rwanda.

Nyakagezi gorilla group currently in 2019 is comprised of 10 members with 5 silverbacks, 2 adult females and 3 youngsters. These gorillas can easily be identified by their names and these are;

5 silverback gorillas – Mark, Mafia, Rukundo, Ndugutse and Bugingo
2 adult females – Nshuti and Nyiramwiza
3 youngsters – Mutagamba, Nshuti baby and Fred

The Nyakagezi group is led by silverback Mark assisted by his brother Mafia. Mark took over power from his father Bugingo. Bugingo not like other silverback gorillas that stay as loners after losing power, he still lives among the family and happily takes on the role of “ “Mzee” which literally refers to an elder. This is something that is rare, and this proves that this group is amazing and unique. Bugingo is the oldest silverback and believed to be more than 54 years of age.

Rukundo and Ndugutse were the only black backs in the group until later when they became silverbacks and this increased the number of silverback gorillas from 3 to 5.

This is the easiest gorilla family to trek of all the gorilla groups trekked on Uganda gorilla safaris. This is because they prefer a small range to forage for food which makes it easier to see them compared to the population in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that is known to trek for longer distances and therefore pose a challenge to those planning to trek.

With the fact the fact that the Nyakagezi family has been in the Mgahinga park for as long time is an assurance that you have a 90% chance of seeing the gorillas. For travelers coming in from Rwanda for a gorilla trek in Uganda, Mgahinga is of a higher advantage since it is close to the border and therefore a shorter distance to reach Kigali.

mountain gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

About Mgahinga Gorilla National Park home to Nyakagezi Gorilla Family

Mgahinga National Park is the smallest of all parks in Uganda covering 33.7 sq. km. It is situated on the border with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park is part of the great Virunga massif that comprises of the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Congo. Mgahinga Park covers the northern slopes of the three northernmost Virunga Volcanoes which are Mt. Muhavura, Mt. Ghinga and Mt. Sabinyo. Mgahinga National Park is home to 1 mountain gorilla family known as the Nyakagezi gorilla family that is fully habituated for trekking.

Activities done in Mgahinga Gorilla National park

Mountain – Volcano Climbing in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

All the three volcanoes in this park can be presented for hiking, taking a full day each. Views you get while at the peaks are well worth the effort – taking in Rwanda, DR Congo, the Virungas, the Rwenzoris, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Lake Edward.

Mountain Sabinyo is at 3,669m high, it takes about eight hours to cover the 14km round trip, following a steep ridge up to the peak.

It takes around six hours to ascend and descend Mountain Gahinga (3,474m), topped by a swamp-filled crater and giant lobelia. Lucky climbers may spot golden monkeys on their way through the bamboo forest.

Mountain Muhavura is the highest peak at 4,127m, and this 12km round trip takes around eight hours. Once at the top, hikers are rewarded on a clear day with views of the Virunga Volcanoes, Lake Edward, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the peaks of the Rwenzoris.

Cultural Encounters in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

For generations, Mgahinga’s dense forests were home to the indigenous Batwa – hunter-gatherers and fierce warriors who depended on the forest for shelter, food, and medicine. Now they lead visitors through the forests and introduce them to their old home – and the techniques they used to survive in it

When the national park was established the Batwa were evicted from the forest and abandoned their low-impact, nomadic lifestyle. The only time they are permitted to re-enter their cherished forest is as tour guides on the Batwa Trail, on which visitors will discover the magic of the Batwa’s ancient home while enjoying nature walks and learning about the cultural heritage.

The Batwa demonstrate hunting techniques, gather honey, point out medicinal plants and demonstrate how to make bamboo cups. Guests are invited to the sacred Garama Cave, once a refuge for the Batwa, where the women of the community perform a sorrowful song which echoes eerily around the depths of the dark cave and leaves guests with a moving sense of the richness of this fading culture.

Part of the tour fee goes directly to the guides and musicians and the rest goes to the Batwa community fund to cover school fees and books, and improve their livelihoods.

Birding in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park – Meet the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family

The best bird-watching site in Mgahinga gorilla national park also takes in some of its most beautiful scenery – in the gorge between Mountains of Gahinga and Sabinyo, through the bamboo forest, and in the montane forest, where the beautiful Rwenzori Turaco may be observed.

The three to four hour Gorge Trail between Gahinga and Sabinyo can provide a spectacular sightings of Dusky turtle Dove, Cape Robin-chat, Kivu-ground Thrush, Olive Thrush, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Bronze Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, Black-headed Waxbill, and Streaky Seedeater.

Other good birding areas are at the bamboo belt at about 2,500m above sea level, and the tall montane forest at 2,660m. The Rwenzori Turaco is mostly sighted at around 2,700m. Along the Uganda-Congo border and on level ground, Chubb’s Cisticola, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Banded Prinia and Doherty’s Bush-shrike are vocal yet inconspicuous inhabitants of the tangled vegetation at the forest’s edge.

Hiking and Nature Walks in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park – Meet the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family

Hiking around the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes gives visitors the chance to spot forest birds, the Rugezi Swamp, wild vegetation, bamboo forests and glorious views of the surrounding lakes and agricultural villages.

A hike through the forest to the deep Sabinyo Gorge – a massive gash in the flank of Mount Sabinyo – provides good birding opportunities and the chance to find the Rwenzori Turaco. This walk takes four hours and passes through the Rugezi Swamp which is fantastic for bird watchers.

The walk to the Congo border transcends different vegetation zones. Hikers can sight the calderas on top of the Gisozi hill, look out for Kisoro and Bunagana towns and be captivated by Lake Mutanda.

The golden monkey track is a gentle steep but an interesting two-hour trek through former farmland to the bamboo forest. On a clear day, you may view the Virunga Volcano range and come across buffalo and duiker.

Take time and trek the Nyakagezi family and experience a more social world of the mountain gorillas like no other. \