Which gorilla group is in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park? Mgahinga National Park is one of the best destinations for visitors to encounter mountain gorillas in the wild. Unlike other gorilla safari parks, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda protects only one gorilla group family.

The Nyakagezi gorilla family in Mgahinga is the only family that has undergone through full habituation process and is what tourists on gorilla tours explore while in this protected area. Nyakagezi is a special gorilla group and exploring it is a lifetime opportunity to unearth more about the endangered mountain gorillas in the wild.

More about the iconic Nyakagezi gorilla family.

The Nyakagezi gorilla group has a composition of 10 individuals, 3 youngsters, 5 silverbacks, 2 female adults, and a juvenile. Nyakagezi resides in the Mgahinga jungles also a park featuring 3 of the Virunga Volcanoes (Sabyinyo, Gahinga, and Muhabura). It is one of the easiest groups to trek in Uganda. The compact size of Mgahinga even makes it possible to track mountain gorillas with ease.

The Nyakagezi gorilla family like other families in other protected areas is led by a dominant silverback gorilla. Mark is the dominant silverback mountain gorilla in Mgahinga and he succeeded Bugingo his father. Additional members in the Nyakagezi group include Mafia, Rukundo, Bugingo, Ndugutse, and Mathew Silverback. Females that reside in this gorilla family include Nshuti and Nyiramwiza, infants consist of Mutagamba and Rukundo while Nkanda is recorded as a juvenile.

Compared to most silverbacks, Bugingo has lived for over 54 years. Interestingly, even after his overthrow, he never became a lone silverback. Bugingo still lived in the family. The group is currently under the leadership of Mark Silverback and is assisted by Mafia.

Nyakagezi group began its habituation process in 1991 when Mgahinga National Park was declared a National Park in Uganda. The group was officially opened to tourists in 1994 under the leadership of Bugingo.

Trekking the Nyakagezi gorilla family of Mgahinga

Trekking the Nyakagezi gorilla family in Mgahinga National Park is a great opportunity to learn more about the behaviors of mountain gorillas and take pictures. Embarking on a trek to see Nyakagezi group members is a lifetime opportunity and a maximum of 8 visitors are allowed to visit this group. Only one gorilla trek is conducted each day in Mgahinga just like other gorilla parks.

Visitors who embark on a trek with the Nyakagezi group are led by an experienced guide from Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The length of the trek with the Nyakagezi gorilla family may vary but can run for 2 to 6 hours. This covers an hour for up close and personal encounters with the Nyakagezi gorilla family.

Treks to explore Nyakagezi gorilla family begin from the Ntebeko area where briefing is conducted and also allocation of park ranger guides. Mgahinga is the perfect destination to visit, especially if you are not interested in crowds. A maximum of 8 gorilla permits are issued to visitors who have plans to explore a gorilla group in Mgahinga National Park.

Permits for trekking Nyakagezi gorilla family in Mgahinga National Park.

A valid gorilla permit is mandatory for gorilla treks to explore the Nyakagezi gorilla family. Like other gorilla expeditions in Bwindi National Park, visitors intending to visit Mgahinga also pay USD 800 to secure a valid gorilla permit and it applies to foreign nonresidents. Foreign residents with plans to visit Nyakagezi can book a permit at USD 700 per visitor, USD 500 per tourist under the Rest of Africa category, and Ugandans/East African citizens pay UGX 300,000.

Booking a gorilla permit for trekking the Nyakagezi gorilla family in Mgahinga National Park can be done through a reliable company that plans your entire trip. Gorilla permit booking is part of the planning process taken by the tour company to ensure that you have a complete gorilla safari holiday.

As experts in gorilla trekking experiences, we recommend all our guests to have their permits and the entire gorilla vacation booked in advance. The gorilla permit and tour booking must be done at least 2-6 months or even a year before the actual date for tracking Nyakagezi gorilla family in Mgahinga National Park.

The best time to travel to explore the Nyakagezi gorilla family in Mgahinga.

The general view is that Mgahinga National Park in Uganda welcomes tourists at any time of the year. But the most preferred period is the dry season with the longest dry months often recorded from June to September and the shortest dry season begins from December to February.

Trekking mountain gorillas in Mgahinga around the dry season comes with lots of advantages but most importantly, the relatively dry floor due to low rains. With relatively no rain and dry ground, visitors can enjoy their treks with fewer worries about getting disrupted by muddy ground or heavy rains.

For visitors who may desire budget gorilla tours, there is also an option for them to be part of the amazing gorilla trekking experience. They are catered for around the off-months or low season which runs from March to May and October to November. The challenge that visitors encounter when tracking gorillas around these months is the heavy rains which render the ground muddy or slippery.

What to take?

Carry essentials only for your gorilla trekking expedition in Mgahinga National Park. These include a valid gorilla permit, long trousers, medical kit, long-sleeved shirt, a sweater, a camera, a rain jacket, bottled water, snacks, a daypack, and more.

Where to stay?

Mgahinga National Park has accommodation options for tourists to retire for a night before or after tracking the Nyakagezi group. Top lodging options in and around Mgahinga include Mutanda Lake Resort, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle Lodge, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Mount Gahinga Rest Camp, and others.

Getting to Mgahinga for gorilla trekking.

By road, visitors can reach Mgahinga National Park within 9-10 hours starting from Kampala or Entebbe. If you are crossing from Rwanda, expect to spend 4-5 hours driving and crossing via the Chanika border. By air, a flight can be booked by your local expert and the set-off point can be Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kisoro Airstrip.