Bitukura Gorilla Group

The Bitukura gorilla family lives in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in southwestern Uganda.

This group turns out to be one of the mountain gorilla groups in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that had the most members. It originally had 24 members but later reduced to 14 members, including 4 silverbacks.

During the last few years, the second youngest silverback in the group, named Ndahura, has been the leader after taking over from a former leader called Karamusizi.

Sadly, Karamusizi’s years of dominance and pride came to an end when the silverback breathed his last because of old age at 40 years.

The Bitukura Gorilla Group was named after a river in the forest called Bitukura, where the family was first sighted. The habituation of this family started in the year 2007 but was later on opened for tourism in 2008. The habituation / training of this group was among the shortest ever, taking only 15 months compared to the minimal recommended 2 years.

The Bitukura gorilla group shares a close bond with the Kyaguriro gorilla group, with whom they often get together, partly the reason why their habituation never took so long. Despite the loss of some members, this family is peaceful, happy and very close to one another.

The new members who later on joined this group in 2013 and the recent birth from Ruhara have increased the tally of this family. The birth of a baby gorilla was a bundle of joy to the Bitukura gorilla group, a creation Ndahura—the leader of the family—is willing to guard with his own life.

You need to purchase Rushaga gorilla trekking permits in order to trek the Bitukura group, considering the fact that you have to make it to the park’s headquarters in time for the pre-briefing meeting.

Bitukura Gorilla Group is open every day to a maximum of 8 people.