These are a rare group of primate species, only found on the continent of Africa. They mainly live in mountainous places with a cool climate and rainforest regions. They have thick bodies with sparkling eyes that do not like to be stared at.
A fully grown male has a silver-like line on his back. The silverback is the leader of the group, while the females, who are usually the majority in the group, take care of the infants and other group activities.
Mountain gorillas spend each night in a different place, building their nests and making sure they are fully guarded. An encounter with another group often leads to a fight, which may cause the group to split.
They feed on vegetables, mainly bamboo shoots, roots, stems, fruits, and sometimes insects.
Rwanda is the smallest country in East Africa but one of the most beautiful, with hills, growing plantations, happy people, and good infrastructure. It borders Burundi to the south, Uganda to the north, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, and the Republic of Tanzania to the east.
Gorilla trekking is the country’s top safari activity. A maximum of eight people with valid trekking permits, aged 15 and above, are allowed to visit these relatives.
Found in Volcanoes National Park, north of Rwanda at the foothills of the Virunga Mountains, there are over 400 individual mountain gorillas, grouped into families. Tracking these special creatures starts very early in the morning with a pre-trekking briefing at the park headquarters.
The rangers explain important tracking rules and regulations and also allocate visitors to different habituated gorilla families.
Some of the jungle rules before, during, and after trekking include: wash your hands before meeting the gorillas, do not litter the park, dispose of waste properly, do not make noise, no smoking, no use of flash while taking photos, stand about 7 to 8 meters away from the gorillas, follow the trekking rules, do not look directly into the gorillas’ eyes, do not feed the gorillas, and do not imitate their movements or sounds.
Failure to follow these rules and regulations may lead to fines, penalties, or suspension from the trekking activity. A drive to Volcanoes National Park takes about two hours, with the gates opening at around 7:00 am.
Gorilla trekking is one of the most special experiences in the world. These creatures are so rare that even when you reach their kingdom, it may take more hours to find them. Still, make the effort because the price is affordable, and with proper planning, your dream of meeting these cousins will surely come true.
