There are only 880 mountain gorillas left in the world and Rwanda is a good tour destination to trek gorillas.It is a 3 hours drive from Kigali to the Virunga ranges where mountain Gorillas are live. And the habituated gorilla groups are so easy to reach from the Rwandan side of the ranges, than those living in Uganda and the DRC (just across the border). Tracking Gorillas takes good effort among thick bush on steep mountain slopes that are muddy but the time you spend with the Gorillas makes it up.
Lifestyle of Mountain Gorillas
Gorillas live in groups consisting of about 25 to 35 members. When male Gorillas mature, they develop a silver-like color at the back hence the name ‘Silver Back’. A silver back is the leading male in a Gorilla family, accompanied by several females with their young.
Authority and power are clearly laid out in a gorilla family. The leading male – silverback has the top position and the senior females rule over the younger ones. Like with other species in the animal world, gorilla males achieve the high ranking because of their size. Male mountain gorillas can weigh up to 200 kg and can reach 1.70 meter when they are standing upright. Besides the strength they also have to prove their experience and abilities. It is their duty to protect their family from danger and intruders. Below is Guhondo – the largest silver back in Rwanda, he’s the leader of the Sabinyo gorilla family:
Normal Day of a Gorilla
A gorilla spends most of its time at rest. A normal day starts in the morning at 6am to look for food within their territorial home usually 20 sq kilometer. The rest of the time of the day is spent traveling and feeding. Gorillas are unique among primates; they are vegetarians by nature and spend most of their time on the ground.
What to pack for a Gorilla trek
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Carry comfortable hiking shoes suitable for steep muddy slopes because the trekking area is a dense forest and it usually rains here.
- Ear Plugs are advisable to carry if unplanned jungle sounds are not your taste.
- Gorilla trekking in the forest may take over 6 Hours; its good to carry a packed lunch and enough drinking water
- A rain gear is a must have; to remind you – Bwindi forest is an equatorial forest with frequent rains or drizzles through out the day.
- Sunscreen lotion, a hat and insect repellent are good to carry.
- Get a photo film Camera. Gorillas are scared by camera flash lights and may charge if you flash at them, photo films of 400-800 ASA are suitable.
