Where to see mountain gorillas
Where to see mountain gorillas
Where to see mountain gorillas : Mountain gorillas are endangered animals and one of the most sought for animals as wildlife adventures are concerned, in the whole wide world mountain gorillas are found in 3 countries and in 4 destinations that is in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park, Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park and Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo.
There are two gorilla populations in the world, one is found in Bwindi impenetrable national park which is the biggest gorilla population and the second population is found in Virunga Conservation Area (VCA) comprising of Volcanoes national park, Mgahinga Gorilla national park and Virunga national park.
According to the December 2019 census, it was announced that the world’s population of mountain gorillas numbered 1,063 individuals which is the highest in three decades. Records show that there are more mountain gorillas than both Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Best places to see Mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo
Where to see mountain gorillas in Uganda
Uganda is a home to over half of the mountain gorilla population and can best be seen in two national parks that is Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park located in the South Western Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi impenetrable national park also known as Bwindi impenetrable Forest is one of Africa’s richest rainforest, the park covers an area of 331 square kilometers supporting almost half the world’s population of mountain gorillas.
Bwindi impenetrable national park is a declared UNESCO World Heritage Site, the rain forests of Bwindi are more than 25,000 years old and ranges in altitude from 1,160 meters to 2,607 meters above sea level. The forest’s age and altitude give Bwindi abundant biodiversity with more than 320 tree species recorded here, the forest also inhabits 310 butterflies, 88 moth, 51 reptile and 120 mammal species.
Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in south western region of Uganda within the districts of Kanungu and the nearest town is Kanungu or Kihihi.
Bwindi impenetrable national park is divided in 4 gorilla trekking sectors that is Buhoma area, Ruhija area, Nkuringo area and Rushanga area. Each of these sector hosts different habituated gorilla families which are visited on gorilla trekking experience.
Habituated gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable national park include
- Mubare Gorilla family
- Habinyanja Gorilla family
- Rushegura Gorilla family
- Bitukura Gorilla Family
- Oruzogo Gorilla Family
- Nkuringo Gorilla Family
- Nshongi Gorilla Family
- Mishaya Gorilla Family
- Kahungye Gorilla Family
- Bweza Gorilla Family
- Busingye Gorilla Family
- Rwigi Gorilla Family
- Kutu Gorilla Family
- Katwe Gorilla Family
- Muyambi Gorilla Family
- Kyaguriro Gorilla Family
- Mukiza Gorilla Family
- Bushaho Gorilla Family
- Mucunguzi Gorilla Family
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla national park is another place to see mountain gorillas in Uganda, the park is located in the South – Western Corner of Uganda with Kisoro as the nearest town. Mgahinga Gorilla national park is part of the wider Virunga Conservation region that includes Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in DR. Congo.
The park is of the smallest national park in Uganda covering an area of 33.9 square kilometers and lies on the high altitude of between 2,000 to 4,000 meters. The park lies on 3 inactive volcanoes including Mount Gahinga, Mount Sabinyo and Mount Muhabura.
Mgahinga Gorilla national park hosts one habituated gorilla family by the names of Nyakagezi.
In addition to Mountain gorillas, the park is also a home to the endangered golden monkeys, Vervet monkeys, Spotted hyenas, Serval cats, Red tailed monkeys, Patas monkeys, Mangabeys, Leopards, Golden cats, Forest hogs, Elephants, Bushbucks, Bushbabies, Buffaloes, Blue monkeys,, Baboons, African porcupines, Black and white Colobus monkeys.
Where to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda
In Rwanda mountain gorillas can be seen only in one park that is volcanoes national park.
Volcanoes national park
Volcanoes national park is the most famous wildlife destination in Rwanda primarily because of mountain gorillas, the park is part of the great Virunga Conservation Area spanning across 5 Virunga volcanoes namely Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo.
Volcanoes national park covering an area of 160 square kilometers is a home of the second largest population of the endangered mountain gorillas and a rich mosaic of montane ecosystems which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath. The park is located in northwestern part of Rwanda in Musanze, Ruhengeri district approximately 2 hours from Kigali City.
Volcanoes national park hosts 10 habituated gorilla groups which are visited during gorilla trekking activity, these include
- Agasha group
- Sabyinyo group
- Titus group
- Amahoro group
- Susa A Group
- Umubano group
- Susa B also known as Karisimbi Group
- Hirwa Group
- Bwege group
- Ugenda group
Where to see Mountain Gorillas in DR.Congo
Mountain gorillas in Democratic Republic of Congo are only found in Virunga national park.
VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK
Virunga national park is one of the World Heritage Sites in Congo and the oldest wildlife protected area in Africa, the park is located in Northeastern Democratic republic of Congo with Kinshasa as the nearest.
Virunga national park hosts abundance of rich diverse ecosystems including Block Mountain, volcanic mountains, the Albertine rift, craters and crater lakes, rainforests, woodlands, open grasslands, swamp and wetland vegetation extending to Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park of Uganda.
Volcanoes national park is a home to 8 habituated gorilla families including
- Kabirizi Gorilla group
- Humba Gorilla Group
- Rugendo Gorilla Group
- Mapuwa Gorilla Group
- Lulengo Gorilla Group
- Munyaga Gorilla Group
- Nyakamwe Gorilla Group
- Bageni Gorilla Group
In conclusion, mountain gorillas and mountain gorilla trekking experience can only be done in the 4 destinations in the world that is Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park found in Uganda, Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo and Volcanoes national parks in Rwanda.
