The Nyakagezi Gorilla family is the only outstanding mountain gorilla family in Mgahinga National Park that has been habituated for trekkers to view. The Nyakagezi gorilla family is the only fully habituated mountain gorilla family, offering visitors a great chance to trek with the endangered mountain gorillas in the wild in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Since each mountain gorilla family has its own members, the Nyakagezi has nine individuals headed by the silverback, although there are four other silverbacks: two infants, two adult females, and one juvenile. Click here to see mountain gorilla trekking safaris.

Nyakagezi's dominant silverback is called Mark. Mark took over the family’s leadership from his famous father, Bugingo. Other family members include Matthew and Mafia, known as silverbacks; Nshuti and Nyiramwiza, who are adult females; Nkanda, a "juvenile"; Rukundo; and Mutagamba, an "infant. Click here to view our recommended mountain gorilla trekking tour.

 Nyakagezi’s oldest silverback, now 54 years old, is called Bugingo, and it is amazing because Bugingo is still living within the family. Yet some dormant silverbacks die immediately when overthrown, when they isolate themselves, or when they look for refuge with other mountain gorilla families, but Bugingo has stayed with the Nyakagezi gorilla family up until now. For example, in the Mubare gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, after Kanyonyi silverback overthrew the leadership of Ruhondeza, Ruhondeza later left the gorilla family and lived a solitary life up until his death.

The Nyakagezi gorilla family is situated in southwestern Uganda and is the only famous mountain gorilla group that can be trekked in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The Nyakagezi gorilla family sits on the renowned slopes of the three chained Virunga volcanoes, such as Mount Muhabura, Mount Mgahinga, and Mount Sabyinyo.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, there is a famous place called Nyakagezi with a wide range of fruits that attract mountain gorillas, and this is where the name Nyakagezi" mountain gorilla family got its name from. However, the Nyakagezi mountain gorilla family is an amazing mountain gorilla family and the easiest mountain gorilla family to trek because the group prefers a narrow home range for relaxing, nesting, feeding, and recreation.

The Nyakagezi gorilla family is composed of 9 individuals who can be easily identified by their names: Baby Rukundo, the Nyakagezi gorilla family, Nshuti, Bugingo, Mutagamba, Mafia, Mark, and Mathew. The Nyakagezi gorilla group was led by Silverback, called Bugingo," for some time, but fortunately, Mark overthrew him and succeeded with his leadership. 

The Nyakagezi gorilla family is known for their migratory habit. The Nyakagezi gorilla family is said to cross to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) or Rwanda. The Nyakagezi gorilla family has today settled in the Mgahinga National Park, where travelers who visit the park are assured of a gorilla trekking experience. 

Although the Nyakagezi gorilla family keeps on migrating, crossing many borders over and over again, like in Rwanda and in the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is still considered to belong to the gorilla family of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and is the most accessible mountain gorilla family to trek in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park because the Nyakagezi gorilla family inhabits the lower slopes of the Virunga Chained Volcanoes for relaxing, feeding, and nesting.

The Nyakagezi gorilla family is among the most amazing and stunning mountain gorilla families worth trekking in Uganda because it’s the only mountain gorilla family in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the mobility behavior is unique, and the fact is that the oldest silverback is called Bugingo. The silverback still lives together happily in the Nyakagezi gorilla family after being thrown from leadership.

Ever since 2012, the Nyakagezi gorilla family has settled in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and the possibility of spotting these gorillas in their natural environment of Mgahinga is 95%. Now it is among the easiest mountain gorilla families to trek because they have settled permanently in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, unlike the way they used to move from place to place. Many travelers have visited the Nyakagezi gorilla family.

Travelers are advised to book their gorilla permits for the Nyakagezi gorilla family early enough. The gorilla permits for the Nyakagezi gorilla family can be booked through a trusted tour operator like Devine African Safaris; the Uganda Wildlife Authority only sells eight mountain gorilla trekking permits per day.

Visiting the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park doesn’t mean that travelers only experience mountain gorillas, but Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers other incredible three-chained Virunga volcanic peaks, admirable flora, and gorges. Travelers always appreciate their encountering gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda, which is something that is so rewarding.

Besides trekking the Nyakagezi mountain gorilla family, travelers can also participate in the golden monkey trekking experience because Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the only national park in Uganda where golden monkey trekking takes place, visit the Batwa head trails, the Ugandan pygmies who used to survive in the forest with the gorillas’’, participate in bird watching, and go mountain hiking to Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Muhavura, and Mount Gahinga.

Reaching Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Travelers who are interested in trekking the Nyakagezi gorilla group of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be approached both by roads and by air. Beginning your journey from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala city to reach Mgahinga Gorilla National Park estimates from 8 to 9 hours. Then travelers interested in air transportation can take their scheduled flights from either Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip and land in Kisoro Airstrip, where your driver guide can pick you up and take you to your respective booked lodge.

Where to stay on your mountain gorilla trekking trip to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda.

Some of the Mgahinga Gorilla National accommodation facilities are truly awesome encounters, including the Gahinga Lodge and Mutanda Lake Resort.