Ugende Gorilla Family is one of the most fascinating and unique groups in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. The name Ugende, meaning “being on the move” in Kinyarwanda, perfectly encapsulates the nature of this group. Unlike many other gorilla families that tend to settle in one area, the Ugende family is known for its constant movement, making it a challenging but rewarding group to track.
Composition of Ugende Gorilla Family
The Ugende Gorilla Family is primarily located in the Karisimbi area of the park, one of the highest and most rugged parts of the Virunga Mountains. This terrain is steep and dense, which, combined with the family’s migratory nature, adds to the excitement and difficulty of tracking this group.
- The Silverbacks: The Ugende group has several silverbacks, each playing a role in the family dynamic. While there may be competition between the silverbacks for leadership or mating rights, they are generally able to coexist due to the group’s constant movement. The silverbacks, with their imposing size and leadership skills, are crucial to the protection and stability of the family.
- Adult Females: Like in most gorilla groups, the adult females are responsible for nurturing and raising the young gorillas. The females within the Ugende group are known for their strong maternal instincts and their ability to care for the infants while moving from place to place.
- Sub-Adults and Juveniles: The younger gorillas in the Ugende family, including sub-adults and juveniles, play an active role in the social structure. They follow the group’s movements and interact with each other, often seen playing and learning from the adults.
- Infants: The infants are an essential part of the Ugende family. Their playful antics provide a source of joy for both the family and the trekkers who encounter them. The infants are constantly moving along with the group, adapting to the changes in their environment as they grow.
Behavior and Movement
The defining characteristic of the Ugende Gorilla Family is its constant movement. The family does not stay in one location for long, making it one of the more difficult groups to track in Volcanoes National Park. This movement is believed to be due to the family’s desire to find fresh food sources and to avoid the risks associated with staying too long in one area, such as potential conflicts with neighboring gorilla groups or predators.
Unlike more stationary groups, the Ugende family’s migratory nature means they are often found in different parts of the park, particularly in the Karisimbi area. This can make it difficult for trekkers to predict exactly where they will be on any given day, adding an element of adventure and unpredictability to the tracking experience. Guides must be skilled at interpreting the gorillas’ movements and behavior to lead visitors to the family.
Trekking Challenges of Ugende Gorilla Family
Tracking the Ugende Gorilla Family is not for the faint of heart. Due to their constant movement and the challenging terrain of the Karisimbi area, it can be a more physically demanding trek compared to visiting more stationary groups. The hike to find the Ugende group often takes trekkers through steep, rocky, and dense forested areas, requiring both stamina and perseverance.
However, this challenge also makes the trek more rewarding. The effort to track a constantly moving group adds a sense of achievement when trekkers finally encounter the family. The group’s elusive nature also means that those who are able to track them successfully have the opportunity to experience a more intimate and less crowded encounter with the gorillas.
Why Trek the Ugende Gorilla Group?
Choosing to trek with the Ugende Gorilla Family offers several distinct advantages and experiences:
- Unpredictability and Adventure: The group’s constant movement makes it a unique and adventurous trekking experience. The unpredictability adds excitement to the process, as trekkers are never sure exactly where the group will be.
- Exclusive and Less Crowded: Due to the difficulty in tracking this family, fewer visitors manage to find the Ugende group, making it a more exclusive and less crowded experience.
- Unique Gorilla Behavior: Observing a group of gorillas that is constantly moving provides an opportunity to see different behaviors and interactions that may not be observed in more stationary groups.
- Rewarding and Challenging: For those looking for a more physically demanding trek, the challenge of finding the Ugende group adds to the satisfaction of the experience.
Trekking Experience of Ugende Gorilla Family
Trekking to see the Ugende Gorilla Family offers a truly adventurous and dynamic experience. As the group is often on the move, the trek to find them can vary greatly in difficulty, depending on where they were last seen. The journey can take anywhere from 1 to 4 hours depending on the group’s location and the time spent navigating through the forest. Visitors should be prepared for a physically demanding trek, which may include steep inclines, dense foliage, and potentially rainy weather.
Once the Ugende group is located, the reward is immense. Encountering a family of gorillas in the wild, especially one that is constantly on the move, creates a rare and exciting experience. Visitors can observe the gorillas as they go about their daily activities, such as feeding, grooming, and playing, all while adapting to the dynamic environment they inhabit.
Despite the challenges that come with tracking the Ugende family, the group plays an important role in the conservation efforts of mountain gorillas in Rwanda. As part of the Virunga Mountain gorilla population, the Ugende group contributes to the ongoing recovery of the species. The funds generated from gorilla trekking permits help support anti-poaching initiatives, habitat conservation, and community development programs, ensuring the long-term survival of mountain gorillas in the wild.
The Ugende group’s unique behavior of constant movement also highlights the adaptability of mountain gorillas in navigating their environment. It shows their ability to survive and thrive in challenging conditions, such as the rugged and high-altitude areas of Karisimbi.
The Ugende Gorilla Family is one of the most unique and exciting groups to visit in Volcanoes National Park. Its constant movement through the rugged Karisimbi area, combined with the group’s strong and adaptable nature, makes tracking this family a challenging yet rewarding experience. Visitors to the Ugende group will be able to witness the resilience of mountain gorillas in their natural habitat while also being part of an unforgettable adventure. The experience of trekking to find them is one that few others will ever have, making it a truly special part of any gorilla trekking journey in Rwanda.