Volcanoes National Park is situated in the northern part of Rwanda it is the most sought-after conservation area when it comes to mountain gorillas of the 1000 species present in the few ecosystems of the world 30% of them exist within the forest remaining distributed in the Virunga National Park of the democratic republic of Congo, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park of Uganda. The protected conservation area occupies about 160 square kilometers and is Africa’s oldest park, it was made famous by the great findings of the American primatologist Dian Fossey who dedicated her life to research about Mountain Gorillas and also features in the movie Gorillas in the Mists got it exposure to the world.
Mountain gorillas are characterized by their large fur bodies, long forearms, and brown eyes, and are herbivores feeding in the forest plants, trees, leaves, dead tree backs, Mushrooms, and occasionally insects, they roam freely in the forest region without being captivated along the slopes of the 5 mountains of the Virunga massif, (mountain Karisimbi, mountain Gahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo, Mountain Bisoke and Mountain Muhabura). Gorillas live in families of up to 20 members led by a male silverback, they nest on the ground and baby gorillas are under the care of their parents until the age of 2 years. Gorillas are proven to be scientifically similar to mankind, they are a critically endangered species as per the IUCN Red List.
There are 10 gorilla-habituated gorilla families in the Volcanoes National Park, some of these have been set aside for research purposes while the others for client visits, these include the Susa A and B gorilla groups, which were made famous as they were the particular group of species that the great American primatologist Dian Fossey carried out her research about, it is the oldest gorilla group in the conservation area living along the foothills of mountain Karismibi. Initially, the gorilla group was one family which ended up splitting into 2 due to the growing numbers. The groups were named Susa A as the Kukira Gorilla Family and Susa B as the Igihsa Gorilla Family.
Karismbi group lives along the slopes of Mountain Karisimbi in the bamboo forest, this is a split from the Susa A group, the group is one of 11 members, and it is one of the hardest teams to trek while in the national park, hence if allocated the gorilla group you ought to be physically fit and mentally ready for the hike.
Sabinyo Family is comprised of 12 members who live along the slopes of mountain Sabyinyo from which they get their name it lies along the borders of Uganda and Rwanda.
Amahoro Family, they are a peaceful group whose name given to them reflects the same in the local language of Kinyarwanda, the lead silverback of the team is the gentlest of all the gorilla groups in the national park. The hike to reach the Amahoro Family is the toughest in the national park hence if you are up for a challenge then most likely this should be the request.
Umbano group lives together with eleven members, they share boundaries with the Amahoro group and still live together. Other gorilla groups include the Kwitonda family Hirwa family formed by members who emerged from the Sabinyo family, the Agasha family, the Bwenge gorilla family living close to the mountain Muhabura and the Ugyenda gorilla group.
Gorilla families are habituated for a client visit and some have been put aside for research purposes, they live in the forest freely without being captivated and enjoy living within the bamboo forest of the national park.