That group and I would be visiting the ‘Hirwa’ silverback gorilla family group… I caught a 06:00 motorcycle ride to the park and ended up in a group with seven others because they had room in their car for me. It is the newest group, residing mainly on the foothills of Mount Sabyinyo on the Gahinga side. The Hirwa group is an emerging group of members from the other groups. Agashya group is known to spend most of its time on the forested saddle between Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Gahinga. Agashya’s take- over was unprecedented: he won the group over by first studying the former leader, Nyakarima and then challenging him. The Agashya group was named after it’s commanding Silverback, who‘s name means “the News”. This group came across to Rwanda from Uganda and the DR C to establish itself on the slopes of Mount Muhabura. The Kwitonda group includes three Silverbacks. The group takes its name from the Susa River which has its source in the Virunga mountains. In this group you will also find the oldest known habituated gorilla, Poppy, who was born in 1976. The Susa group is currently the largest group of gorillas in the world and the one originally studied by Dr. The two Silverbacks have met since, but Ubumwe seems to respect Charles and the two groups live peacefully alongside. Umubano Group lead by Charles the Silverback who took part of the Amahoro group to create its own when he matured into the same rank as Ubumwe. There is a steep climb to reach the tranquil Amahoro group, however the climb is well worth it once in contact with thi s tranquil group. The Amahoro, meaning Peaceful, is lead by Ubumwe, who lives up to his name. The group is lead by Guhonda, the largest silverback gorilla measured to date, at 220kg. They can usually be reached within a two-hour walk. The Sabyinyo group frequently inhabits the closest territory to the park’s edge, between Mount Sabyinyo, from which the group takes its name, and Mount Gahinga. Silverback Gorilla Families in the Volcanoes National Park I took this information from a photo at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International:

But what I got for that hour today was pretty freaking amazing! It was a $750 US price tag for such an experience. Today was a special day where I went to spend an hour with a silverback gorilla family in the mountains of Rwanda.

Goriila silverback tires 28x10x14