With over 24 members, including 3 male gorillas and 3 silverbacks, the Susa Gorilla Group is the largest and one of the most interesting groups to track in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. This group previously had 42 members but experienced a split that reduced its number to 24 members, which remains the case today.
The split occurred in 2009, leading to the creation of the Karisimbi Gorilla Family, now referred to as Susa B. Nyagakangaga, a silverback that currently leads the Karisimbi family, broke away with 13 members and took his group to the upper slopes of Mount Karisimbi, one of the Virunga Volcanoes. Nyagakangaga is known for being protective, aggressive, ambitious, and deeply caring for his family. If you’re a protective person in real life, I suggest getting permits to trek this group, as you may find a lot in common with him.
The Susa Gorilla Family was made famous by Dian Fossey, the renowned gorilla conservationist who spent decades researching mountain gorillas. It was one of her favorite groups, and she often conducted her research on them. To this day, the Susa family has some of the oldest habituated mountain gorillas.
The group gets its name from River Susa, a river that flows around the area where it resides. This group is also notable for being one of the few in Volcanoes National Park with twins. The twins are named Byishimo and Impano.
Since the Susa family lives at a higher altitude, it is one of the more challenging groups to track. Your fitness should be in good condition, as you’re in for a physically demanding adventure. Locating the group can also be difficult, but rangers typically move ahead to find the family before your trek, ensuring you don’t waste too much time searching through the jungles of Volcanoes National Park.
Bonding with this family is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! You are granted a full hour of interaction with the Susa Gorilla Group, which gives you the perfect opportunity to watch the twins as they wander, eat, and play.
This group should always be your top choice when reserving your gorilla trekking permits, so make sure to request it when booking.
