Great Gorillas

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  • How Do Gorillas Behave in the Wild?

    Some Gorillas live in the very lowlands while others are in the extreme elevations of the mountains. Many gorillas live in Africa along the forests and swamps. Others live in the mountain region like in Virunga Mountains.

    Gorillas move every single day for food and water and to look for a place to sleep that night- anew next is built every evening. They don’t remain in one place which is very interesting.

    Gorillas mostly move to areas with plenty of food. In fact, they can walk up in the morning and consume food – they spend most of their day time eating.

    After a morning of playing and eating, the gorillas get ready for an afternoon nap. If the place has plenty of food, they can stay there for some few days but all in all, they have to build a new nest for every night. They make it out of leaves and twigs and they never sleep in the same one twice! However, the reason for this is still a hypothesis.

    Young Gorillas sleeps in a nest with their mother until they are about 3 years of age. At that point they will start to make their own nests but often sleep very close to her.

    In gorilla groups, the dominant male (silverback) is generally the first to pick a place to put a nest and then the others will settle around him.

    The fact that Gorillas move every day for food and water, they are not restricted. They move freely and they tend to pass each other often out there in the wild. Most of the time these interactions are friendly or they happen without any real interaction at all.

    In Case a gorilla from another group invades another troop to capture dominance- there breaks up a serious fight.

    In Case of any attack from Gorilla predator, the silverbacks have a task to defend the entire troop. The silverbacks go to the front line and alert others to be a ware that danger has come.

    They tend to enjoy the terrain that is flat as they are able to move around on it much easier. However, they also have the ability to climb over rocky areas and to get into places that most humans would be exhausted moving around in.

    For the most parts they spend time on the ground though. Climbing is generally reserved for getting to the various sources of food that they need.

    Gorillas don’t spend too much time close to the water because they do not consume much of it due to moisture that is in their food stuffs like leaves, stems, fruits. More so, Gorillas are not good at swimming and they fear to sink.

    You can easily identify where gorillas stayed in the past few days- Gorillas tend to feed along the way that shows they have been through there recently. Another sign is that, you can easily find nests where gorillas slept in the past.

    If they have been in an area recently, it may smell like sweat from humans. They will also leave behind quite a bit of waste from their bodies so the smell you come upon may not be one you want to have lingering! You can get to see the gorillas in their natural wild by taking a gorilla safari in Uganda, Rwanda or Congo.

  • How to Plan a Luxury Gorilla Safari

    Have you ever thought about taking luxury gorilla trekking tours? If you are an affluent traveler and you feel like getting out of the usual gorilla trekking safaris, then a luxury safari is the only exceptional way for you realize your dreams in Africa. This denotes encountering all that that the real world has in offer in African wilderness but with a complement of comfort.

    It comes in lush amenities like classic accommodation and lodging units, luxurious tour vehicles especially the extended land cruiser and highly customized and personalized service. You can also decide to fly up to your destination of choice and the travel pace is more flexible. It is all about reducing environmental effects and making getting around part of the exceptional adventure. By spending more, visitors are equally treated to more included meals, more leader led activities as well as experience the local encounters and at the end, benefits the local communities and offering the most thrilling experience to the visitors.

    Luxury gorilla trips come with astonishing Uganda safari destinations including the mountain gorilla trekking sites of Bwindi Impenetrable Park and Mgahinga National Park in the Southwestern part of the country as well as wildlife safari destinations such as the untapped Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo National Park and not to leave out sport fishing safari destinations like Lake Victoria and the mighty River Nile, cultural heritage safaris to the ancient sites of Uganda.

    In Rwanda, gorilla trekking is done in the Rwandan Volcanoes within the northern sector. Your luxury gorilla safari also offers you opportunity to explore Nyungwe Forest National Park in the South where 13 primate species are inhabited, 300 bird species including the rare Rwenzori Turaco. As you head towards the East, Akagera National Park is another birders paradise and best spot for big game safaris in Rwanda. In the west, there is Lake Kivu the deep blue water and white sand beaches that offer amazing relaxing and chilling moments in life.

    Visitors who partake this kind safari have higher chance of a relaxed pace that permits them to experience fully the purpose of their long waited holiday. There is no need to worry about long distant drives; there are scheduled flights that have simplified movement of travelers from Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip which takes you up to Kisoro where you will easily connect to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park. But if you want to catch a glimpse of Uganda’s naturalness then you can drive up to the park where gorilla trekking is conducted.

    Whereas most travelers book gorilla trekking safaris to Uganda, a few of them book for luxury gorilla trekking tours in Uganda, given the fact that the budget looks relatively higher for them to certain extent and basing on the fact that  gorilla permits are obtainable at $450 per visitor for foreign non residents, $400 for foreign residents and shs.150000 for East African residents in the wet/low season especially in the months of April, May and November while during the peak season the permits are sold at $600 per tourists for foreign non residents, $500 for foreign residents and shs.250000 for East African residents. In Rwanda, gorilla trekking permits cost $1500 per tourist. This however makes the cost of the trip to be a little high as compared t0 other types of safaris such as wildlife safaris in Uganda or Rwanda If you have ever been in Uganda for a budget gorilla trekking trip, we encourage you to also check out with our most rewarding luxury gorilla trekking tours for an entire new unique encounters right from exceptional lodging facilities, meals, safari cars and several services that will repay you with a life time experiences.

    Luxury gorilla trekking safaris are more exceptional than the usual packages in that for a luxury setting, travelers have higher chances of participating in two gorilla treks or even as more as three gorilla treks within Uganda, Rwanda or Uganda and Rwanda combined. This is advantageous in that if the first trek of your luxury gorilla trekking is not that well especially when it comes to viewing rare species and given the fact that you only sight them in Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park when you are in Uganda, the rest of the days of your luxury safaris won’t hurt you as you will have a high opportunity to sight several gorillas.

    Climate can also another hindering factor and remember it is challenging trekking these apes during the wet season since most of them hind in the forest. This kind of obstacles can make you sight a few individuals but with luxury gorilla trekking safaris which has two gorilla treks, there is no need to be scared about this because the following trek will compensate the previous days. If you need to enjoy Uganda gorilla trekking in a luxury set up, then book any of our luxury gorilla trekking tours now.

    In conclusion, luxury gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo offer visitors opportunity to explore more on the critically endangered mountain gorillas in a more comfortable manner. This is best done in the dry/high season that falls in the months of June, July, August, September and December to February.

  • Responsible Tourism Saves Mountain Gorillas

    Responsible Tourism Saves Mountain Gorillas

    Gorilla tourism has helped mountain gorillas make a successful comeback from the very brink of extinction. By the mid to late 1970s, their population plummeted to less than 400 individuals across their last surviving habitats in Rwanda, Uganda and what was then Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). Increased interest in their conservation, coupled with the advent of gorilla tourism in the 1980s and 90s, populations increased steadily. Last year, the results of recent census studies confirmed the total population for mountain gorillas was now at 1065 individuals, split across the two distinct locations of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the Virunga Volcanoes, the latter comprising three different conservation areas across Rwanda, DRC and Uganda.

    Gorilla trekking has not only become a vital conservation fund-raising tool in Uganda and Rwanda. Within Uganda, gorilla tours contributes approximately 80% of the national wildlife authority’s overall budget, thereby financing the bulk of wildlife and habitat conservation across the country as a whole but it has also turned the gorillas into a valuable commodity prized by local communities and government alike. These gentle giants provide much-needed funding for local infrastructure and a source of employment on both a local and national level, as well as playing a catalytic role in these countries’ nascent tourism industries. While a typical gorilla tourist’s main objective is to encounter the gorilla, they end up visiting other Uganda national parks and prime destinations in the region as well.

    Tourism has become a major player according to the Rwanda Development Board revenues have almost doubled in the last five years and tourism now accounts for 7.8% of Rwanda’s GDP and growing.

    The World Wildlife Fund has recently estimated that each gorilla brings in USD $1 million in revenue each year for Uganda. On the very simple premise that nobody likes to kill a cash cow, this alone appears to bode well for their survival.

    “Tourism can as well play an optimistic role in assisting to protect the future of several World Heritage sites in today’s world with changing climate. Responsible mountain gorilla tourism is very important for financing conservation programs as well as assisting the neighboring local communities. With Sustainable national park management plus maintainable tourism programs, these can make sure that mountain gorillas remain the number one tourist attraction in the whole of East Africa even for the future generations. This has greatly increased the survival of mountain gorillas in east Africa and Congo.

  • When is the Best Time to Visit Mountain Gorillas

    In the whole world, you can only see the mountain gorillas only in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.

    Gorilla tracking can be done at any time of the year. However some tourists who would like to combine gorilla tracking with big game safaris prefer the months of March to May and October to November are usually considered rainy months. However it is important to be in the know that in both Rwanda and Uganda, it rain any time.

    Although mountain gorilla tracking can be conducted all year round in these two countries due to the somewhat damp seasons experienced by the national parks in which these gorillas stay, the majority of tourists prefer visiting from June to September as well as from December up to February. This similarly applies in Uganda although there the rains begin in March up to May. Certainly the rains although not very heavy make it challenging to trek the sheer landscape. During that time the rain falls for just one to two hours in about 3 days of the week and for the rest of the days the sun is out. However even in the dry months of Uganda, there are some little showers experienced in Bwindi.

    The seasonality of the trackers can as well be accredited to the overall weather back in the home countries. During summers for instance in Europe, the number of gorilla trekkers is high and then in winter it greatly lowers. Also there are some trekkers who take advantage of the seasonal discounts offered on the gorilla tracking permits. For example not long ago the Uganda wildlife Authority lowered the cost of permits by thirty percent for all non-Ugandans for the months of April and May whereby they will go for $350. The other months the gorilla tour permit will go for $600.

    Is it possible to travel during the rainy season?

    Travel during the rainy season has it’s rewards. The birdlife is superior and the air is cleaner with wonderful vistas. A number of accommodation facilities in the areas where the gorillas are found as well will offer discounts in these months.

    When to Visit Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda

    In Rwanda, these primates can be seen in the Volcanoes National Park. There are twelve (12) habituated gorilla groups in Rwanda thus making it 96 gorilla permits for visitors to Rwanda available every single day since only 8 people are allowed to visit a given group to trek these endangered apes.

    With a gorilla permit costing US $1500 per person per trek, part of your contribution goes to conserving these mountain gorillas. In Uganda, there are 10 gorilla groups that are habituated where only 9 are trekked every day and the remaining one is gazetted for research.

    Within Rwanda, the initial rains are experienced at the end of February, March, April as well as May, and for that reason most of the tourists don’t visit during that time since it is muddy and pretty wet while tracking the mountain gorillas.

    However, during these very months, since it is raining, there is a lot of food for the gorillas on the lower slopes and also the temperatures are lower on the lower slopes. Because of that, the gorillas stay on the lower slopes since food is easily accessible and it is warmer. Therefore if you choose to track in these months, you won’t have a very long trek and actually most trackers find the gorillas just after two hours of trekking meaning by 2:00pm they are back at their lodge.

    No matter what your explanation is, experience reveals that gorilla trekking can be enjoyed all year round and you will surely enjoy a great experience.

  • How Do Gorillas Communicate?

    How do gorillas pass on information to one another? Many people wonder how gorillas communicate? For those who take gorilla safaris in Africa, they have witnessed how gorillas pass on information from one to another. Gorillas Communicates both verbally and none verbally. They often mix sounds with actions and that makes it more clear to researchers what is being said.

    Adult males won’t back down when they are being challenged by younger and immature gorillas. They will make very loud screaming sounds and at the same time they will beat their chest with their hands rapidly. This is a warning signal to the younger gorillas to back off or they will be engaged in a battle. In most times, the younger ones will retreat.

    Gorillas make screams, grunts, roars, growls, and even hooting like an owl at times. They certainly can be funny too, laughing in a way that seems like they are making fun of others around them and even the famous sticking their tongue out.

    Gorillas use their communication to find food, to offer support or discipline, to express their own distress, for mating, and for developing social relationships within their troop.

    In some troops, Gorillas develop forms of slang just like human beings do in their/ our social groups. This is fascinating as it means that their communications are often learned behaviors and not just instinct driven.

    In captivity, Gorillas are taught how to communicate on various levels by humans. One very successful story is that of KoKo, a female gorilla. Scientists taught to her how to use sign language which was considered to be quite a breakthrough with these animals. The incident signifies high level of intelligence among Gorillas.

    Gorillas can call out each other and they have good hearing. The young Gorillas can definitely learn the voice of their mothers at a very young age. They can pick up low noises that humans can’t hear easily and that is often how they are alerted to dangers. They also rely upon their sense of smell to warn them if humans or other threats are in the area.

    Young gorillas have communications that they use which are similar to those of human babies. They include whining and making sharp noises. Their mothers are quick to try to find out what they need to get those forms of communication replaced with those that are more along the lines of contentment.

    There are 9 complete steps to what has become termed as the gorilla communication ritual. First they will offer hooting sounds that get faster, feed in a methodical way, jump up and down, throw food, beat their chest with both hands, kick with their legs, run sideways, tear at vegetation out there, and end with their palms hitting the ground and more hooting sounds.

    Many researchers continue to try to decode the language that is believed to be there for gorillas. This isn’t an easy task though with so many sounds being produced by them. It is like trying to take a completely foreign language and learning it all on your own. Since many of the different sounds seem to have multiple meanings then that makes the task even more difficult.

  • Budget Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

    Budget gorilla trekking in Uganda are usually understood by most travelers in another way associating them to poor or inadequate facilities. However, the latter is not true as all this may depend on the safari agency or travel company you choose to deal with to arrange your gorilla safari in Uganda or even in Rwanda. For exceptional budget gorilla treks, embarking on a gorilla safari with us is the best way for you to get value of your money.

    We arrange budget gorilla tours for our clients that reward them equally like it is a case with mid-range travelers. Booking with us is great reward as you will be among a few beneficiaries from our lengthy years of experience, special offers, rates and world class of service

    Whether a budget gorilla safaris that you plan for, our exceptional, classic and comfortable 4wheel drive safari cars and professional driver guides are readily available to make your dream come true. Not only do we take you through thrilling gorilla trek but also offer you a chance to interact with locals in their local communities where you will get thrilled by their traditional dances, music performances, traditions among others.

    Budget tours in Uganda are perfect option for budget travelers or backpackers and can be perfectly conducted during the low or wet season the fact that most hotel or safari lodges tend to cut down the rates for accommodation. The wet/rainy/low season in Uganda usually occurs in March, April, May and October, November and these are the best months of the year to embark on budget gorilla trekking tour in Uganda.

    Gorilla trekking in Uganda is only conducted in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park and all the two national parks are located in southwestern Uganda. They offer refuge to nearly half of all the 1004 mountain gorillas that today still thrive on earth and about 21 gorilla families are available for both tourism and research purposes.

    In Bwindi National Park budget travelers can start their gorilla treks in anyone of the park’s 4 regions; Nkuringo, Rushaga, Ruhija and Buhoma, each of which comprises of distinct gorilla families. If your plan is to trek gorillas from Buhoma region then the groups for you to explore include Mubare, Rushegura, Habinyanja and Katwe; Nkuringo region; Nkuringo, Bushaho and Christmas; Ruhija area; Bitukura, Mukiza, Oruzogo and Kyaguliro while in Rushaga area, the gorilla families include Kutu, Mucunguzi, Nshongi, Mishaya, Busingye, Rwigi, Bweza, Bikingi and Kahungye.

    To trek gorillas in Uganda whether on budget or luxury safari, you need $600 to help you secure a gorilla permit although the rates will with effect from 1st July 2020 be at $700 for you to obtain gorilla permit in Uganda. Budget gorilla trekking tours are aimed at making tourists who may not be in position to trek mountain gorillas during the peak/high season to also realize their travel dreams. To be on a safer side, we advise all our clients to always book their permits in advance at least 4-6 months prior embarking on actual trip.

    Budget safari lodges to book during budget gorilla trekking tour in Uganda

    When it comes to budget gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda, we get you a comfortable safari lodge for your stay while in Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park. The budget safari lodges to book for your budget gorilla trekking tour in Buhoma sector of Bwindi National Park include Buhoma Community Campsite, Buhoma View Bandas, Wagtail Eco Safari Camp; at Ruhija region they include Crater Bay Cottages, Bunyonyi Overland Camp among others which are mainly found around Lake Bunyonyi. Rushaga area has budget accommodation options like Gorilla Valley Lodge, Kisoro Travelers Rest Inn, Nshongi Campsite and others.

    Benefits of budget gorilla trekking tour in Uganda

    Trekking gorillas in Uganda on budget tour allows you to enjoy treks with less congestion as most trekkers avoid rainy season. You also have a chance to get the best of magical encounter with gorillas yet at low rates as most accommodation facilities cut down the prices.

    What to pack on gorilla trekking in Uganda

    Whether it is budget or luxury gorilla trekking safari, all trekkers are required to pack appropriately. The key items to consider in the packing list include waterproof hiking boots, bottled water, camera with no flashlight, long sleeved shirts, rain jacket or poncho, gardening gloves, first aid kit, insect repellents, sweaters, hat, sunscreen and others.

    Other things to enjoy on budget gorilla trekking safari

    In addition to gorilla trekking, you can also explore Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will have magical encounter at the tree climbing lions at the Ishasha sector, track chimpanzees at Kibale National Park, relax and chill around equator crossing.

  • Hiking to the Dian Fossey Grave: Pay tribute to Fossey

    If you have ever heard about Dian Fossey and you wish to explore more about her history and life as a conservationist or primate enthusiast, then count hiking to the top of Dian Fossey site a must for you while in a safari to Rwanda.

    Situated within the Volcanoes National Park, the Dian Fossey tomb site is one of a bucket list adventures for visitors on gorilla safaris in Rwanda. The hike to this amazing site aims at offering visitors opportunity to explore more about the works of the popular American primatologist and zoologist, Dian Fossey who devoted herself to research and protect the lives of the critically endangered mountain gorillas for over 18 years in the Virunga Volcanoes in Rwanda.

    Given the fact these endangered primates had been exposed to poachers, they became very fearful to humans but Dian Fossey was such exceptional person, she began to patrol the place together with her group mates and saved several gorilla babies after their family members were murdered. As she kept on, her efforts in Rwanda earned her a local name Nyirmachabelli or Nyiramacibiri which means the woman who lives alone on the mountain. She gained trust of gorillas and also got international support from various organizations like Mountain Gorilla Project, World Wildlife Fund, Fauna Preservation Society and African Wildlife Foundation.

    She also established Karisimbi research centre within Mount Karisimbi and Bisoke where it derived its name. Her great work is credited that the mountain gorillas got known to the world. She fought against poaching for long period but unfortunately she was mysteriously murdered in 1985 and buried near Digit her lovely silverback gorilla at a time. The hike to Dian Fossey tomb site offers amazing opportunity to also explore other stunning attractions within the national park especially the mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, several primates as well as distinct bird species.

    Dian Fossey hike is conducted in the morning. Visitors are required to be at Kinigi park headquarters at 7:00am for briefing from the park guide and then set off at 8:00am. You will drive off for about half an hour to the base of the Mount Bisoke where the treks start from. The hike is strenuous and you are advised to come with a walking stick at a free cost to give you support while hiking and if you do not trust your strength, make sure you hire a porter who will help you to carry your luggage.

    You will catch a glimpse of the spectacular views of the Virunga Mountains while you are still outside the park. After you by pass the stone wall that marks the demarcation of the park and also acts as barrier for elephants and buffaloes that may want to cross to the local community. The trek then leads you to Mount Bisoke through a place where mountain gorillas tend to be and amazingly you will have a chance to catch a glimpse of them and several wildlife species like buffaloes, duikers, golden monkeys and many more.

    Around 2967 meters, Dian Fossey tomb trail then breaks off from Mount Bisoke hiking trail and then you will have another episode of hiking to mount Karisimbi which comes with spectacular stretch of Hagenia hypericum forested zone at elevation of 2900 to 3000 meters. This elevation means the hike is breathtaking but rewarding. It comes with amazing mountain sceneries of Virunga Mountain ranges from Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The en-route offers visitors with sightings of incredible bird species and for bird lovers, this is the best spot for you to catch a glimpse of the Albertine rift endemics.

    The trek usually takes about one to three hours but this depends on visitors’ level of physical fitness. You need waterproof hiking boots that are light weight and make you feel comfortable while hiking, long sleeved shirts or T-shirts to guard you from the stinging insects as well as thorny plants, snacks and water to keep you strong, camera, gardening gloves and many more.

    Dian Fossey left a legacy with Gorilla Fund that monitors the ten (10) gorilla families out of the 15 that are found in the Rwanda Volcanoes National Park as well as other tourism and conservation projects that all aimed at protecting mountain gorillas and their habitats. Hiking permits for Dian Fossey tomb are always obtained at the park headquarters at $75 per visitor and this includes fee for the guide.

    In conclusion, Dian Fossey was such a great primatologist whose legacy still counts in conservation of mountain gorillas in Virunga Mountain ranges. Trekking to the Karisimbi mountain slopes rewards hikers with not only her story as a conservationist but also other spectacular sightings of the Virunga Mountains, birdlife, primates, plant species and many more which all make the experience memorable.

  • A Day in Life of Gorillas

    A day of mountain gorillas in the wild involves a number of activities and begins with these creatures getting up early in the morning from their nests. A day of gorillas starts with looking for what eat in the whole morning and a group is led by a silverback. Mountain gorillas spend 30% of their day feeding; moving and coupling while 40% resting. They spend much of their time on ground and they can roam up to one kilometer everyday however, they keep within their home range of about 20 sq.km.

    Mountain gorillas depend on vegetation although they also feed on ants and other insects. They thrive around the bamboo and feed on the bamboo shoots; leaves, stems, vines, fruits. A mature male gorilla can feed about 20kg every day and in the afternoon, these creatures rest and play.

    Like humans, mountain gorillas do hug each other, bite, hit the ground and at the end of the day/evening, they built new nests. Each of them will have a nest except for mothers that may share with infants. Note, mountain gorillas set up new nests everyday for them to retire for the night. Nests are built using tree/plant branches.

    Mountain gorillas spend their playing especially the young ones and also during integrations. This is one way for the infants to get acquainted to each other. It is time for them to communicate and explore different behaviors. They spend eight hours sleeping unless the weather it is cold. A day of mountain gorillas ends when they set up new nests to retire for the night.

    Mountain gorillas share 98% of their DNA with humans and this makes them our closest living relatives in the wild. Currently, they remain not more than 1004 and only found in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi National Park in southwestern Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda and Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These creatures thrive in a group or family of 10 to 35 individuals with each family being led by a mature male (silverback).

    A silverback gorilla is responsible of protecting other group members and also leads them to area to forage in the course of the day. A gorilla family comprises of many females, black backs, juveniles and infants. A new born gorilla weighs 2.5 kg and they grow fast enough and at 40 weeks, they can walk and when it reaches 3 years, it begins living an independent life but slowly.

    At 6 years, their height reaches up to 1.20 meters and weigh 70kg. At this stage, females start maturing although they still gain weight for yet another 4 years. For males, they won’t reach maturity stage until they reach 10 years. At a time when their black backs begin changing into grey, it is actually time when they leave their original families. They begin moving lonely or instead join other male gorillas prior attracting females that later join them. At end of it all, they make up their own group. These creatures have a slow rate of reproduction and have a gestation of about 8.5 months with females giving birth to single babies and on rare occasions to twins. Mother gorillas usually do teach their young ones, serve as caregivers and the fathers are mainly teachers.

  • Dian Fossey – A woman of the Mist

    In every aspect of Rwanda mountain gorillas, Dian Fossey is one of the brave dedicated humans who gave in her all for the survival of Rwanda Mountain Gorillas in Africa a thing which made Louis S. B. Leakey her sponsor to confirm that women are better suited for primate observation than men. Though she is no longer with us, her 20 year conservation effort still prevails in every gorilla tracking activity today. She did not only impact gorillas but also fellow humans Jane Goodall the former chimpanzee student whose efforts gave the captive chimpanzees a new home – Ngamba island in Uganda. The primatologist also went an extra mile and showcased the beauty of mountain gorillas through a move Gorillas in the mist and whoever grabbed a copy had to visit Rwanda for more evidence .The entire world had to come to Africa and witness how the lovely unique primates behave, eat and sleep. Today we have many researched results about mountain gorillas including their population, behavior and gestation period which all started after Dian relocation from Zaire to Rwanda.

    At the moment mountain gorillas are Rwanda’s prime attractions which draw hundreds to the country every day permitting other visits to other Rwanda National parks and attractions. Many lodging facilities have been built in Kigali city, Musanze, Kinigi, Gisenyi ,Goma ,Kayonza etc to cater for the increasing number of Rwanda travellers whose main reason is to see mountain gorillas. Rwanda has also developed in several aspects infrastructure, hospitals, agriculture, art and creativity, culture among others since Mountain gorilla tourists don’t only visit Volcanoes national park but also demand for other things, souvenirs, food, healthcare, connectivity among others. Most Rwanda safaris start and end in Kigali and no guest can leave a foreign country without exploring the main city hence making Kigali city a place for Rwanda visitor impression. Different Kigali city tour itineraries have been designed not only to see the city but also to visit the mountain gorillas in memory of Dian’s effort. Travellers go beyond city tours and decide to take on the most easy and convenient Rwanda gorilla tour a thing which connects Gorilla tracking visitors to other parts of the country every time they think about Rwanda travel and attractions.

    Still Dian Fossey sensitized the local communities on the benefits of all forest habitats including floral and fauna,trees,birds, insects, mammals,primates plus other wildlife. Nyungwe forest and Akagera National Park are other Rwanda parks which respect nature and its beauty.Even the undiscovered tourism resources have been put on the world map, Rwanda lakes – twin lakes Bulera & Ruhundo, Volcano mountains – Bisoke and Karisimbi,Lake Kivu & Lake Muhazi,cultural villages – Ibywachu,the genocide memorial sites etc. Also the neighboring countries of Uganda and Democratic republic of Congo adopted same conservation efforts which has protected the endangered mountain gorillas from poachers and hunters as well as wildlife.

  • Why Are Mountain Gorillas Still Endangered?

    Have you ever imagined why mountain gorillas feature as the most critically endangered species in the world? With fewer than 1000 individuals that are left in the world today, the rare mountain gorillas are listed under IUCN Red book as the critically endangered Apes in the world and their survival on earth is at risk of extinction.

    They are scientifically known as gorilla beringei beringei, a sub species of Eastern gorilla which is only thriving within the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Southwestern Uganda; Volcanoes National Park in Northwestern Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). There are a million reasons why these rare apes are listed as the most critically endangered species on today and among many include the following;

    Habitat loss

    Like most wildlife species that thrive on earth today, the mountain gorillas are also interfaced with habitat loss. Most of areas where these unique creatures thrive are highly populated and their habitats are often deforested and replaced with agricultural farms, firewood, building materials as well as for human settlements. The other factor is traditional medicine as most of body parts of these endangered apes are highly used as charms by most of the traditional healers and this also has become a threat to their survival on earth.

    Illegal hunting (poaching)

    This is another severe threat to the survival of these rare apes. Since 1902, mountain gorillas have been hunted for various reasons including food up to date. In the DRC, most of the people poach these rare species mainly for their meat. Others poach these Great apes for sport and not to leave out the illegal exotic pet trade poses another threat where babies are captured and sold. Whereas most of the traps are set to catch the small animals like antelopes, in the course of the day the mountain gorillas too get entangled in these wire snares.

    Political unrest

    Besides habitat loss and poaching, the country’s political insecurity also proves to be a severe threat. Civil wars come with diverse effects which include habitat loss and illegal hunting and all these make the lives of these rare apes hard while in their natural habitat.

    Oil and gas exploration

    This also proves a severe threat to the thriving of these Great apes. The European oil and gas companies have been granted exploration concessions in the Virunga National Park where more than 200 individuals of these large primates thrive in the DRC. Whereas the habitat isn’t within an oil concession, the development in the protected area could negatively inflict on the wildlife’s security.

    Human infectious diseases

    Mountain gorillas share about 95% of their DNA with humans and this means that they are very susceptible to human infectious diseases. They already have the severe disease effects to overcome and the further threat of human infectious diseases especially flue and cold can cost their lives. The first time exposure to these illnesses, can cost their population in the habitat.

    In conclusion, mountain gorillas have a slow reproduction rate and yet also they are most threatened apes in the world today. There is need for collaborative effort to conserve these critically endangered primates on earth so as to help increase their number in the wild.

    These endangered apes can be saved by selling out gorilla trekking permits to generate more money that can help to support environmental programs like conserving and protection of mountain gorillas and provide alternative sources of income for local residents around the parks.