Almost all travelers planning for a safari in Africa yearn to visit and see mountain gorillas since they are rare. In Africa and the whole world at large, you can spot the mountain gorillas in the Virunga ranges that run along the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as the Bwindi impenetrable forest in south western Uganda.
Mountain gorillas are species of Gorilla beringei beringei, one of the subspecies of Eastern gorillas. They can be found in 4 national parks in Africa which are Virunga national park of D.R. Congo, Bwindi impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks of Uganda and Volcanoes national park of Rwanda. They are also the biggest apes living on planet earth. Let’s look at the national parks where you can find these primates.
Mountain gorillas live in areas with dense vegetation and mountainous in altitude of 8000 to 13000ft and their thick fur which makes it possible to survive in this area where temperatures goes below 18 degrees Celsius. They live in groups / families of 3 to 30 individuals but they keep dividing themselves due to misunderstandings hence forming additional families. The group is normally headed by the alpha male known as silverback.
Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Bwindi is located in the southwestern region of Uganda at the edge of Albertine Rift, Western branch of the East African Rift. The park has over 50% of the great apes/mountain gorillas with 19 habituated gorilla families ready to be trekked. The park stands at an altitude of 1,160 to 2,607 meters above sea level. This park has a history attached dating way back to 1942 when it was gazetted as a forest reserve and in 1992, it was upgraded to a national park. The gorillas can be trekked in 4 different sectors across the park – i.e.; Ruhija, Rushaga, Buhoma, Nkuringo and the headquarter Buhoma.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Mgahinga gorilla national park sits on the elevation of 2,227m – 4,127m and gets its name from the volcanic stones cleared from farmlands piled at the edge of the forest. The park has only one habituated gorilla group, known as Nyakagezi. This unique national park with its small size of 33.7 Square kilometers has other rare primate species like golden monkeys that are normally spotted and trekked in the lower slopes within the scattered bamboo plantations.
Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes national park is one of the finest national parks in Rwanda known to inhabit the rare mountain gorillas. This is where the gorilla habituation experience started with Dian Fossey, a female primatologist who saved mountain gorillas from ruthless poachers and also started a research center between two mountains – Karisimbi and Bisoke hence its name Karisoke center.
The park has now 11 habituated gorilla families open to trekkers and until now, Fossey’s conservation efforts have been continued by government, civil society and other private organizations like the Dian Fossey fund.
Virunga National Park.
Virunga national park is situated on the Eastern side of Democratic Republic of Congo in the Albertine rift. Its creation in 1925 makes this park one of the oldest national parks in Africa. It has the lowest elevation of 680m in Semuliki River and 5,109m at Rwenzori Mountains as its highest elevation. This is another home for these great apes with 9 habituated gorilla families that are open to visitors. The park is as well the host to two most active volcanic mountains – Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo that attract hikers all year through.
Therefore, one can take a mountain gorilla safari to any of the national parks as detailed here. Your safari destinations will depend on your choice, budget and time. You can opt for either Gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience or you can do both in Bwindi impenetrable national park.
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