Family size: 5 members including 1 silverback
Location: Buhoma
Mubare is the oldest habituated gorilla group in Uganda. It was found in the Mubare hills, deep in Bwindi forest, and was fully habituated in 1993. The group started with 12 family members, led by the dominant silverback Ruhondeza.
The first family to be habituated in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park thrives within Buhoma area and it roams around Mubare Hill. This troop was habituated in 1993 and it was the first to be visited by the first travelers.
Currently, the group is proud of 12 individuals and it was once led by Ruhondeza who later passed on in 2013 when it became very old and wasn’t in position to protect itself and the rest of the group members something which later weakened the group. At the time of Ruhondeza passed on, this troop comprised of four individuals and later when the new leader took over, more new members were captured into the group increasing it to 9 individuals.
In a few years the group grew to 18 individuals. Unfortunately, due to fights with wild gorilla groups and loss of members, Mubare lessened to a family of 5 individuals.
Visit This Family
The Mubare gorilla family is loved since it features as the oldest habituated gorilla family in Uganda. The pioneers of gorilla habituation discovered the group in the Mubare hills, deep in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
It was fully habituated in 1998. At that time, it composed of 9 individuals plus one silverback. It began with 12 members, led by a dominant silverback gorilla; Ruhondeza. In a few years the family increases up to 18 members.
But unfortunately, as a result of fights with other groups in wild, most its members were taken including the one Ruhondeza who used to take care of everyone else in the party. About 5 individuals remained for many years till March 2013 that four other individuals including the new dominant silverback joined the group to increase its number to 9 individuals. The group is now settled and has increased to 12 individuals as of 2020. Today it still remains of one of the fascinating groups to visit while on a gorilla safari in Bwindi.