The Bwenge gorilla family is among the 12 fully habituated mountain gorilla groups in Rwand worth visiting on your Rwanda gorilla tour. This group is led by Bwenge silverback gorilla and began with only two female mountain gorillas. The number kept growing following the birth of two adult females but amidst successful stories, there is a sorrowful part about the Bwenge gorilla group. This includes the death of about 6 infants.

Bwenge is among the very few silverback gorillas who fought with several silverbacks, especially those who wanted to take his group members. In the end, he was left wounded multiple times. Unfortunately, he died and his body was found by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund trackers. In the 1998 film about gorillas in the mist, Bwenge is one of the silverbacks that had featured.

 

After the unfortunate death of the Bwenge silverback gorilla, the group’s leadership was taken over by Maggie female gorilla then Turatsinze silverback followed. Turatsinze was from the Pablo gorilla group. About 11 members make up the Bwenge gorilla group but this composition can change anytime in case there are new births, death, and migration in or out of the gorilla family.

 

Trekking Bwenge Gorilla Group

To explore more about the Bwenge gorilla family in the wild, visitors should plan a gorilla tour to Rwanda. This also involves booking a valid gorilla permit and then paying a visit to Volcanoes National Park where you will be briefed on the guidelines about gorilla trekking rules. The park official will allocate the Bwenge family to a group of 8 guests to explore it with the lead of an experienced park ranger guide.

 

On a trek to see the Bwenge gorilla family group, expect to see other animals, birds, and floral species. The trek with the Bwenge group can run for 2-6 hours and this is inclusive of an hour for up close and personal encounters with gorillas in the wild. You should also expect to take as many pictures as possible during the one-hour magical encounter.

 

Gorilla trekking permits for the Bwenge group

A maximum of 8 (eight) gorilla permits are always available for booking for visitors with plans to explore the Bwenge gorilla group. One visitor can book one permit or all the permits and trek Bwenge group alone (exclusive gorilla trekking experience) and each permit costs USD 1500 per person. The gorilla permits and gorilla safaris should be booked early about 2-6 months before you travel for an actual gorilla trekking adventure in Volcanoes National Park.

 

Best time to trek Bwenge gorilla group

The peak dry season is the most ideal time to explore the Bwenge gorilla family. This can be during the long dry months marked by June, July, and August to September, then the short dry period which runs from December, January to February. These dry months are characterized by no or little rainfall and the ground is usually drier with vegetation short making gorilla trekking more enjoyable than the rainy season.

 

There is also an option of traveling to trek Bwenge group during the peak wet or rainy season. That is from March, April, and May then October to November. But these months are characterized by heavy rainfall and the ground can be slippery or muddy making it a little challenging to trek through the jungles in search of gorillas.

 

Essentials to include on your packing list for Bwenge gorilla family trekking

Pack well for your trek with the Bwenge gorilla family and start with items such as waterproof hiking boots, a pair of gaiters, sunglasses, insect repellents, a sweater, waterproof daypack, bottled drinking water, a first aid kit, a rain jacket, long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, passports, visas and valid gorilla permit(s).

 

Other essentials include a good camera free of flashlight, high energy giving snacks, safari hat, sunscreen, extra batteries for your camera, chargers for your gadgets, a pair of binoculars, a pair of gardening gloves, and more. Note, when choosing what to wear for Bwenge gorilla group trekking, always consider environmentally friendly attire. These can blend with nature and reduce issues of gorillas getting scared.

 

Where to stay in or around Volcanoes National Park

Some of the places to consider for overnight stay in and around Volcanoes National Park include Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Best View Hotel, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Bisate Lodge, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest. Other lodges include the Virunga Lodge, Kinigi Guesthouse, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Muhabura Hotel, Amakoro Songa Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, and more.

 

Additional gorilla groups to visit in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

The additional gorilla families to explore in Volcanoes National Park besides Bwenge include Susa A, Susa B, Kwitonda, Hirwa group, Ugenda, Umubano, Amahoro, Group 13 (Agashya), Pablo, and Titus gorilla groups. Like Bwenge, these groups are also trekked by a maximum of 8 (eight) visitors per day.

 

Who can trek the Bwenge gorilla family?

Only visitors who are within the age bracket or acceptable age limit can trek the Bwenge gorilla family. According to the standards for gorilla trekking, only those trekkers of 15 years and above are considered eligible to trek gorillas. If you fall within this age bracket, then you stand a chance to explore the Bwenge gorilla group.

On the actual gorilla trek with the Bwenge group, it is also important to take note of your general health. Visitors should be free of flu, cough, or any other respiratory-transmitted diseases.

 

How to reach Volcanoes National Park to trek Bwenge gorilla family

To trek the Bwenge gorilla family, trekkers must travel up to Volcanoes National Park in Northwestern Rwanda. Getting to this park can be done by road or air. By road, expect to spend only 2-3 hours driving from the heart of Kigali capital city. A 4×4 safari vehicle is most recommended for all road trips to and from Volcanoes National Park Rwanda.

 

By air, you take helicopter flight tours from Kigali up to Ruhengeri Airport in the Northern Province of Rwanda. From Ruhengeri Airport, you can easily be transferred to the lodge in or around Volcanoes National Park where you can stay waiting to engage in the actual gorilla trekking.