Located in the Virunga Mountains, is a magnificent chain of dormant volcanoes in the North of the country, the park forms part of the extension of the Congo-Nile divide, separating two of Africa´s most important watersheds. They´re also home to the world´s last surviving mountain gorilla populations, currently a mere 1000 individuals.
Every time that passes by, mountain gorilla gets more endangered. There is a lot of global warming and increase in population where with time people will greatly encroach on the habitats for these wild animals leaving them with little space to stay. Currently, the mountain gorillas live in the misty Virunga volcanoes and in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park with their population estimated to be at only 1050 only.
The major predators of the mountain gorillas are humans who in the 1990’s greatly poached these animals thus resulting to a great decline in their population. The mountain gorilla population was even lower than 1050 but it has just increased all thanks to the conservation efforts from the major governments and the wildlife organizations in the three countries (Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo).
The mountain gorillas are now prime tourist attractions in Uganda, Rwanda and the DR Congo and every year the number of tourists heading for gorilla trekking in the misty mountains of Bwindi impenetrable forest and the Virunga volcanoes increases. The tourists going for mountain gorilla trekking first gather at the different national park headquarters where they are briefed and told about the characters of the mountain gorillas. They are also told about the major characters of the mountain gorilla family they will be trekking. After the briefing, they directly head to the forested mountains as they hike looking for the gorillas.
Visiting one of the three countries to view mountain gorillas in the mist can never be a regrettable idea. Currently, there are 12 habituated gorilla families that can be visited by tourists.
The Gorilla Groups
Rwanda is home to a third of the world’s remaining population of the mountain gorillas. They are greatly endangered species and do live in the jungles of the volcanoes National park. This park is located in North Western Rwanda in the Virunga area and have three major of Karisimbi, Mikeno and Bisoke. There is an estimate of 400 mountain Gorillas in the area of which 300 in habit the forested gentle slopes.
Rwanda Gorilla Groups
There are 12 habituated gorilla families for viewing by tourists. Below are the habituated mountain gorilla families in volcanoes national park.
- Agashya Mountain Gorilla Family
Agashya Mountain gorilla family has 13 mountain gorilla members and is also called 13 groups. The members in this group increased and today the family has 25 individual members with a dominant silver back, 12 females, 3 youth and 7 young ones. Agashya which is a dominant silver back is very ambitious and has persistently managed to increase the mountain gorilla numbers in his family from 12 to 25. He is very productive of his gorilla family and once he senses that there is any danger and intrusion, he moves with the whole mountain gorilla family uphill which sometimes makes it quiet hard for the tourists to trek.
- The Amahoro Mountain Gorilla Family
Amahoro Gorilla family has 17 individuals and is quiet a peaceful mountain gorilla family that lives on the gentle slope. It is quiet hectic to get this gorilla group because it involves hiking thus tourists who have visited the group always take about their unique experience and encounters.
- The Bwenge Mountain Gorilla Family
This gorilla group comprises of 11 mountain gorilla individuals and is faced difficult times after the death of 6 young mountain gorillas. They do live along the Karisoke volcanic area and was named Bwenge after the dominant silver back. To get this gorilla family, it is quite e challenging as it involves a hike of about 2 to 3 hours through the trails and steep slopes.
- The Hirwa Mountain Gorilla Family
This group was formed from the Sabyinyo family and has group 13. This group came together to form a joint gorilla family called Hirwa which means the lucky one and has now got 9 mountain members including a dominant silver back,2 juveniles and 3 young ones. The Dominant silver back is very strong and determined to protect all the individual gorilla members in the family.
- The Kwitonda Mountain Gorilla Family
Kwitonda shifted from the democratic republic of Congo and it’s made up of 18 gorilla members including the dominant silver back. It is among the difficult gorilla groups to be trekked because most times, it keeps far in thick forested areas that cannot be easily accessed by tourist/visitors.
- Sabinyo Mountain Gorilla Family
This is made up of 8 mountain gorilla individuals, inhabiting the gentle slopes of the Sabyinyo volcano which is shared between Uganda and Rwanda. This group is easily accessed as compared to the other gorilla group and has the biggest silver back called Guhonda with 3 female mountain gorillas.
- The susa A Mountain Gorilla Family
Susa A group lives at a relatively higher altitude and is also a challenging mountain gorilla to trek. It was made famous by Dian Fossey an American Zoologist who took long studying the mountain gorillas. It is some of the oldest habituated gorillas and very famous for Impano and Byishimo, a twin mountain gorilla. The trekking of the group offers exciting moments especially as tourists watch the twin mountain gorillas.
- Susa B Mountain Gorilla Family
It has got 15 individuals and was previously part of the Susa mountain gorilla family which later broke off forming the Susa B or Karisimbi gorilla family. It resides along the slopes of Mount Karisimbi and also among the difficult mountain gorilla groups to get. It can be trekked by the physically fit tourists since sometimes they move uphill making it hard to get them.
- Uganda Mountain Gorilla Family
This gorilla family inhabits the kirisimbi volcanic area with 2 silverbacks and also quiet difficult to trek since it always move from one area to another explaining the family’s characteristics.
- Umubano Mountain Gorilla Family
It also consists of 11 individual members which are lead by dominant silver back which is black and 3 females and 6 young mountain gorillas. It separated from then Amahoro group after a fight that saw Charles the dominant silverback of Umubano winning Ubumwe, the dominant silver back leaving the Amahoro group with a number of females.
Many people all over the country leave their home lands to the land of a thousand hills for gorilla trekking adventure. Thought the gorilla trekking permit is expensive but the experience is worth the money and no on ever regrets after the trek. It is magical and if you want to have a memorable gorilla safari, Rwanda is the place to visit.
The Gorilla Trek
The hike varies and usually ranges between 1 to 8 hours however once you get to the mountain gorillas, you are given just an hour to spend with these magical animals. The hour may seem short especially to people who travel overseas to see the mountain gorillas in their natural environments but its very rewarding as you the mountain gorillas relax in their families most times even while not bothered about your presence.
When the hour elapses, you are informed by your guide who then directs you back to the national park headquarters for your certificates of participation and there after go for a community tour or to your lodge/hotel. It’s hard to explain with words how amazing and awesome viewing the mountain gorillas in the mist can be. It’s very unforgettable and in fact a wildlife safari activity that should be on the must do lists of the adventurous tourists.
All the three countries (Uganda, Rwanda and DRC) are now politically stable and therefore security must not be a hindrance to any one for to track mountain gorillas. For easy movements through the forests, it’s best to go for the safaris during the dry season when there are limited chances of rainfall. Trekking in the wet season in also very possible and in fact in Uganda the mountain gorilla permits are usually reduced from $800 to $500. Even though it rains, it doesn’t stop people from going to the forests and be part of the incredible mountain gorilla experiences. Mountain gorilla permits are sold at $1500 and $500 in Rwanda and DRC respectively while in Uganda they are sold at $800 during the peak season and $500 during the low tourists season.
Tourists who are interested in a double mountain gorilla trekking can easily do that by trekking in two countries (Uganda and Rwanda or DRC). All the three countries have habituated mountain gorillas. The ones in Uganda can be trekked in Bwindi impenetrable forest that has three sectors and half of the mountain gorilla population or in Mgahinga gorilla national park with one habituated mountain gorilla family. In DRC, trekking can be done in Virunga national park, which has 5 habituated mountain gorilla families while in Rwanda it can be carried out in volcanoes national park, which has 10 habituated gorilla families.
Gorilla Guidelines
To minimize possible transmission of human diseases, visitors are asked to maintain a distance of 7m (about 22 feet) from the gorillas. If you are sick with a cold, flu or other contagious illness, please do not visit the gorillas. The Viewing time is limited to one hour, and only 8 visitors maximum are allowed per group.
Spitting in the park is strictly prohibited and should you need to cough, cover your mouth and turn away from the gorillas.
Keep your voice low, try not to make rapid movements, because that may frighten the gorillas. If a gorilla should charge or vocalize at you, do not be alarmed, stand still, look away from the gorilla and follow your guide’s directions.