Which countries in Africa have mountain gorillas and why
Only three African countries—Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R. Congo—are home to mountain gorillas, one of the continent’s rarest primates.
You must obtain a gorilla trekking or habituation permit from the relevant authorities in order to observe the mountain gorillas.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority is tasked for overseeing mountain gorilla operations in Uganda. The Rwanda Development Board, on the other hand, oversees all mountain gorilla operations in Rwanda.
According to the census conducted by the team led by American primatologist Diane Fossey, the mountain gorillas were in danger of going extinct by the 1980s. There were roughly 300 mountain gorillas at the time, according to the census statistics. Conservation became the top priority once they were included to the list of critically endangered primates.
A new census estimates that there are currently around 1000 mountain gorillas in the globe. This is ascribed to the attention to detail of both domestic and foreign mountain gorilla conservation teams.
Where to Look for the Mountain Africa’s Gorillas: Uganda
Impenetrable National Park in Bwindi
This park is located in Uganda’s southwest. It was designated a World Heritage Site in 1994 after being gazetted as a National Park in 1992. About 327 square kilometers of the park are covered in tangled vegetation that has grown over time. Because of local volcanic activity, the landscape of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is jagged.
This forest’s tangled vegetation covers steep, draughty hills, slick lowlands, and profoundly fractured terrain. The Bwindi Forest’s vegetation is thought to have existed for more than 30,000 years. It is thought that this wild woodland contains about 300 species of trees.
The abundant wildlife of this natural forest includes more than ten species of primates, such as mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, blue monkeys, grey checked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, L’Hoests, and others.
51 reptiles, 88 months, and over 310 butterfly species are among the various forest inhabitants. With over 350 bird species identified, Bwindi is a top birding location in Uganda, and the list is constantly growing. Approximately 23 of the 24 species known to exist in Uganda can be found in this park due to endemics of the Albertine Rift.
Locations for Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi
There are four gorilla trekking locations in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhija, and Nkuringo. Due to its size, this national park was separated into sections for ease of management.
Gorilla families have been made available for reservations in each of these locations. The Uganda Wildlife Authority currently has 18 gorilla families on its roster of fully habituated gorillas.
Booking Accommodations for Gorilla Trekking in the Impenetrable National Park in Bwindi
To avoid having to get up early to attend the briefing, you should reserve gorilla trekking lodgings near the locations where your permit is reserved.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers a number of lodging options, including
Silverback Lodge, Mahogany Spring, Trekker’s Tarven, Buhoma Lodge, Engage Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi View Bandas, and Cameleon Hill Lodge, among others.
Park in Mgahinga National
At roughly 33.7 square kilometers, this is Uganda’s smallest national park. Although there are many primates in this park, the mountain gorillas are the most remarkable. The Nyakagezi family is the only habituated gorilla family in this park as of now. Despite its reputation for wandering into Rwanda, this family of gorillas has been residing in Uganda for a long time.
In addition to the mountain gorillas, this park is home to a variety of other primates, including black and white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, golden, blue, and red-tailed monkeys.
Three unique volcanoes—Mountain Muhavura, Mountain Gahinga, and Mountain Sabyinyo—backdrop its breathtaking views. You can experience a variety of vegetation zones, including Montane woodland, a bamboo zone, a Montane forest, and an Ericaceous zone, by hiking these mountains for a day.
You can obtain a 360-degree view of Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC border even if you trek to the summit of Sabyinyo Mountain.
There are over 115 bird species in Mgahinga National Park, some of which are peculiar to the Albertine Rift, making it a fantastic place to go bird watching in Uganda. The Malachite Sunbird, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Alpine Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, Rwenzori Turaco, and other species are among those you might see.
The number of families who trek with gorillas in Mgahinga National Park
There is currently only one habituated gorilla family in Mgahinga National Park, but they used to be more migratory. This family of gorillas is known as the Nyakagezi. At first, the sale of gorilla licenses for this park was based on the mountain gorillas’ availability.
Due of the mountain gorillas’ consistent presence in Mgahinga National Park, gorilla permits can now be reserved at any time.
Because it receives fewer visitors, this park is considered to be one of Uganda’s virgins. However, there are many stunning landscapes that
You can observe when hiking atop one of the park’s mountains.
Which lodgings to reserve for a gorilla trek Although there aren’t many places to stay in Uganda’s Mahinga National Park, you may alternatively spend the night in Kisoro town, which is around 14 kilometers away and takes about 30 minutes to travel there.
One of the lodges that you can reserve is Gahinga Lodge.
Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda
Rwanda’s only mountain gorilla habitat is Volcanoes National Park. Five volcanoes—Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo, Mountain Karisimbi, Mountain Muhabura, and Mountain Bisoke—backdrop the park, which is located in Northwestern Rwanda. Regretfully, this park only has 15 gorilla families available for tourists to see.
This park is also home to a variety of other primates, such as blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, golden monkeys, and others.
The remains of the fallen mountain gorilla hero can also be found by hiking the Dian Fossey trail. She contributes to the continued existence of mountain gorillas. To inform the world about their existence and conservation methods, she battled for them until the end of her life. Her findings form the basis of modern mountain gorilla study.
Volcanoes National Park is the best place to go birdwatching in Rwanda. Approximately 300 bird species, including endemics of the Albertine Rift, can be found in the Park. Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Kivu Ground Thrush, Malachite Sunbird, Dusky Turtle Dove, Rwenzori Turaco, and other birds are among those you might be able to recognize.
Booking Lodging for Volcanoes National Park Gorilla Trekking
Volcanoes National Park offers a variety of lodging options, including luxury, mid-range, and budget options.
Accommodations for the Rwandan gorilla trekking safari include:
Among these are Hotel La Palme, Kinigi Guest House, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, and Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. Another option is to spend the night in Kigali, which is roughly two and a half hours away from Volcanoes National Park. To drive to the briefing location, you must get up quite early.
D.R., Virunga National Park, Congo
The only place in D.R. Congo where mountain gorillas can be found is here. The total size of the park is 7800 square kilometers. This park is home to the Munyaga, Humba, Mpuwa, Lulengo, and other six gorilla families.
Why Do Mountain Gorillas Exist in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
One of the refugia forested areas that survived the ice age that struck Africa between 1300 and 1800 years ago is the Virunga region. A variety of plants and animals found refuge in this area, including the mountain gorillas, which are thought to be among the survivors.
Due to their natural vegetarianism, mountain gorillas may consume more than 70 pounds of leaves each day in order to sustain their massive bodies both during the day and at night. Bamboo, soft stems, leaves, fruits, tubers, and much more are mountain gorilla delicacies. Once they take over a territory, they eat there together as a family until the food source is interrupted. The dominant silverback is then required to find and protect a new feeding area for the family.
If you are assigned to this family, you must follow the mountain gorillas because they have a tendency to climb up the slopes in search of food.
Only the Virunga region, which includes Volcanoes National Park, Mgahinga National Park, Bwindi National Park, and Virunga National Park, is thought to be home to mountain gorillas.
When Is the Best Time to Reserve an African Gorilla Trekking Safari?
Because mountain gorillas live in families and rarely relocate without cause, you can always find them in the jungle when you travel to Africa. However, because the gorillas are more active during the dry season, some tourists prefer to schedule their gorilla trekking excursions during that time.
Other forest inhabitants, such as birds, butterflies, and monkeys, are also more active.
Because of the frequent rains, the forest’s trails are typically muddy and slick, yet the ground receives very little sunlight. The forest receives less rainfall during the drier months, which lowers the trees’ humidity. Within their course, even the rivers flow.
You are less concerned about water pouring into your camera when you are taking pictures during the dry season.
There are less customers during the wet season, which is also the off-peak months of March through May, therefore there is a greater potential of being unprepared for an exclusive gorilla trekking experience.
The low season is the most comfortable if you have a tight budget because there is a greater chance of finding service providers offering reduced rates.
The low season is the best time to go gorilla trekking if you want to have as little disruption as possible because fewer people will be going with you. Seeing the mountain gorillas without anyone to block your view is a fascinating experience.
Which among Rwanda, D.R. Congo, and Uganda is the best place in Africa to go gorilla trekking?
Meeting the mountain gorillas is an experience that cannot be compared to anything else. The mountain gorillas’ immense size makes you feel powerful. The chills run through your body. Some claim that when they were in front of the enormous mountain gorillas, they forgot about anything they might have gone through.
The emotions individuals have after seeing mountain gorillas and learning about the differences between the three habitat countries are also influenced by other variables.
The variation in gorilla trekking permit prices
Gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda presently cost $1500 per person each trek, while those in Uganda cost $800 per person per trek and those in DRC cost $450.
There are 19 gorilla trekking families in Uganda that are accessible to tourists, 15 in Rwanda, and six in DRC as of right now.
It takes around three hours to drive from Kigali Airport to Volcanoes National Park, and eight to nine hours to drive from Entebbe Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Therefore, depending on your origin, it can take you two days to get to Virunga National Park and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
There are plenty of opportunities in Uganda to combine gorilla trekking with other activities, such as wildlife drives, nature walks, chimpanzee trekking, and exploring the Nile River’s source. However, Rwanda offers few gorilla trekking choices, such as game drives, chimpanzee trekking, and visits to Kigali city.
For mountain gorilla hiking, Rwanda boasts a well-equipped briefing site, whereas Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have mediocre setups.
Rwanda can complete gorilla trekking in two days, but Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo require at least three days.
What Are Uganda’s Gorilla Trekking Regulations?
Offer to stay behind if you contract an infectious disease such as cholera, the flu, or cough.
It is not permitted to spit on the ground.
Once you’ve found them, stay around 8 meters away from the mountain gorillas.
Gorilla trekking is restricted to kids who are at least 15 years old.
It is mandatory to wear a mask before to encountering the mountain gorillas.
If you must smoke or feed the mountain gorillas, keep a minimum of 300 meters away from them.
You are only permitted to spend an hour with the mountain gorillas.
