Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park has got over 10 gorilla families that can be trekked by the tourists and each gorilla family visited by 8 people per day. However, one needs to have a gorilla permit to trek mountain gorillas in Volcano National Park in Rwanda. A gorilla permit in Rwanda cost $ 1500.00 per person per trek and its advisable to book your gorilla permit in Advance at least 5 months.  Below are the gorilla families;

Susa Family

Susa Family is the biggest family in Volcanoes national park with 33 members and 2 silverbacks but had 42 members before it split. It’s the first group that Dian Fossey first studied during her years in Rwanda.  It’s the hardest to track but runs out to be the most preferred by most tourists.

Sabinyo Family

Sabinyo Family has 13 members with 2 silverbacks. Sabinyo gorilla family came into existence after the death of the dominant silverback that led group thirteen. The group usually roams on the slopes of mountain Sabinyo and this makes it relatively easy to track.

Amahoro family

The Amahoro family is the most peaceful group in the park with 18 members with 2 silverbacks. It’s quite hard to track as the terrain to the slopes of this mountain is exhausting.

Agashya family

Agashya family is formerly known as group 13 but recently changed its name. it has 13 individuals that started the group. The family was at first led by a silverback called Nyakarima that started the group.

Umubano Family

Umubano Family has 13 members including 2 silverbacks and was formed by members of the Amahoro family after one of its silverbacks called Charles who broke off from his own group. The group lives in the same territory as the Amahoro group.

Kwitonda family

Kwitonda family has 23 members including 4 silverbacks. It lives on the slopes of Mountain Muhabura and it got its name from the late dominant silverback called Kwitonda. This group originally lived in DRC but migrated to Volcanoes National Park.

Hirwa Family

Hirwa Family has got 16 members with one silverback and was formed by members from the sabyinyo family and group 13 later on more members joined to increase the tally to 16. It moves between the mountains of Mount Gahinga and Sabyinyo. It has twins that were born in 2011.

Karisimbi gorilla family

Karisimbi gorilla family is the group lives on the slopes of Mountain Karisimbi and has got 16 members with one silverback. It’s a breakaway faction of the Susa family and this is why it’s called Susa B. it’s also hard to trek because it lives on the upper slopes of Mount Karisimbi that sits on an altitude of 4507m. In case you need a real physical challenge or rather some serious hiking then you ought to reserve the permits for this group.

Ugenda family

Ugenda family has 11 members including 2 silverbacks. Ugenda means mobile which relates to this group’s mobility. It’s always on the move and hardly settles in one place. The group lives on mount Bisoke and the hike is relatively not very hard.

Bwenge family

Bwenge family has got 11 members with one silverback and usually moves on the slopes of Mount Visoke and the hike is easy. For those that are lazy, this hike is appropriate for you.

Titus family

Titus family was named after the silverback. It was born during the time of Dian Fossey as she stayed at the Karisoke Research center. The family was killed by the poachers and left him as the sole survivor. Titus is one of the most successful silverbacks to ever live in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The group recently lives in the slopes of Karosimbi and Visoke.