Nshongi Gorilla Group
The Nshongi Gorilla Group is one of the habituated gorilla families in Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Rushaga is one of the sectors in Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park. Known for having multiple gorilla groups which includes the Nshongi Group. The location of this Gorilla Group within the Rushaga sector. May vary as gorilla groups move within their home ranges in the forest. And also their specific location on a given day may change.
The group named after River Nshongi which flows within the area where they were first spotted. The word Nshongi was got from the local name of honey “Omushongi Gwoboki”. The river has a honey-like color and therefore named River Nshongi. The Nshongi gorilla group is led by Nshongi, the dominant silverback. Who has seen this group survive up to the present.
Nshongi is one of the most visited gorilla families in the Rushaga sector and the whole of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The gorilla family habituated in 2007 and opened for trekking in 2009.
The Nshongi gorilla group the largest gorilla group to be trekked in Bwindi Forest. And one thing that always stood-out about this gorilla group is that, it was once consisting of over 36 members. But due to the constant wrangles and bickering among its members. Deaths and also members joining other groups, the family was then left with only 26 members.
In addition to being the largest group available for trekking, the Nshongi group are unique in that they have 3 dominant silverbacks who live harmoniously together with their females and young ones. This behavior not seen anywhere else in usually competitive Gorilla group dynamics.
The Nshongi group comprises of silverbacks, adult females, juveniles, blackbucks and infants. Some of the members of the Nshongi group include: Nshongi, Kakono, Ninsima, Tinfayo, Munini, Munywa, Mucunguzi, Busasa, Bwire, Bweza, Mahoro, Rurehuka, Kutu, Mureba, Tindatine, Mukiza, Kazana, Katoono, Nyampundu, Shida, Bukojo and Bwiruka
One of the significant misunderstandings in the Nshongi Gorilla Family is Mishaya’s breakaway in 2010 from the group. And taking some members with him. Just 3 years after Mishaya leaving, Bweza also broke away from the group in 2013, still taking along a number of members to form his own family. This left Nshongi gorilla group with only 18 members but today. There are less than 10 members in this fascinating family.
The numbers in these Gorilla families keep changing time after time because of certain factors and some of them are; death of members, new members joining the group, old members leaving the group and many other factors.
You can as well visit other gorilla families in the Rushaga sector apart from the Nshongi group since they also offer amazing experiences for example; the Kahungye, Busingye, Mishaya and Bweza gorilla groups.