The Hirwa gorilla family that migrated from the Volcanoes National Park has made a permanent visit in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park south western Uganda. Mountain gorillas by nature are known for their gradual movements until they settle down.
Historically Nyakagezi Gorilla Family was known to roam back and forth crossing to and from Uganda until it settled in Mgahinga gorilla national park.
This implies Hirwa gorilla family crossing from the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda to Mgahinga gorilla national park is a normal behavior of gorillas. The Hirwa Gorilla group migrated from the northern part of Kinigi province all the way south into Mgahinga national park. This family was formed out of luck as the name Hirwa means, it came to existence in 2006 when some of the gorillas from sabyinyo and Agashya family joined together and Luck followed them in 2011 the family got a set of twins.
The Hirwa Family consists of 12 gorillas Including 1 silverback, the family recently received a new born baby. Before Hirwa crosses back to Volcanoes national park, there are now 2 habituated gorilla families open for gorilla tracking in Mgahinga gorilla national park.
Uganda is the leading gorilla safari destination in Africa and the world. Uganda is home to over 400 mountain gorillas, half population of the surviving mountain in the world. There are 18 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Forest National Park shared between 4 tracking sectors, Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo where as Mgahinga gorilla national park has 2 gorilla families Nyakagezi and Hirwa.
Mountain gorillas were first discovered in 1902 by primatologist Dian Fossey who brought mountain gorillas to the lime light. Gorilla tourism in Uganda started in 1991 in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and 1993 in Mgahinga Forest in a bid to promote Eco-tourism.
In Bwindi, Mubare was the first habituated gorilla family and by 1993 it was open for tourism. Gorilla trekking officially started in 1994 in Uganda’s Bwindi national park with the view that gorilla tourism, would bring countless benefits such as employment and income opportunities and increase the countries foreign exchange and revenue.
Gorilla trekking permits cost a fee of usd 700 per person, the activity is done all year round but the dry season between July to September and December to February is preferred because of trekking conditions get quite easier while the wet season for the months of April, May and November. Besides gorillas in Mgahinga, there are also golden monkeys for tracking at a fee of usd 100 and 39 mammal species including Mountain gorillas, duikers, giant hogs buffaloes and elephants, bushbucks among others. The park is also inhabited by 79 bird species.