Wild mountain gorillas (Gorillas beringei beringei) live only in Africa, and particularly in 2 secluded populations: the Virunga massif and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The Virunga massif covers about 8000 square kilometers comprising 3 national parks, Virunga in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Volcanoes in Rwanda and Mgahinga in Uganda. Bwindi spans about 321 square kilometers in Uganda and it is connected to the Sarambwe Reserve in Congo to form a greater transboundary conservation area for the mountain gorillas.
Mountain gorillas primary live in high altitude regions, covered by montane and bamboo forests. The 3 national parks in the Virunga massif have most of the surviving forests in the Albertine region including montane, bamboo and some savannah vegetation lying on altitudes of 2,000 meters to 3,600 meters. These habitats offer the mountain gorillas shelter and their cherished food, composed of mainly leaves, shoots, fruits and, insects etc. With the extant total population of mountain gorillas at 1,063, the entire Virungas comprises around 604 individuals.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda is among the oldest and biodiverse ecosystems in the world. The park is endowed with a diversity of Afromontane forests, sitting on elevations ranging from 1,160 meters to 2,607 meters above sea level. Besides the mountain gorillas, these dense forests are rich in flora and fauna, and some of which are Albertine endemics. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site with about 459 individual mountain gorillas, which is about a half of the global total.
Mountain gorillas are identified by their strong build, covered with thick black or brown fur to enhance their survival in the cool high-altitude temperatures. The adult male, commonly known as the silverback gets its name from a distinguished silver-grey section on their back and hip. On average the adult male weighs about 160 kilograms and can stand over 1.8 meters tall when fully erect. On average, a female mountain gorilla weighs around 98 kilograms and can stand at 1.5 meters when erect. They can live for 40 to 50 years in the wild.
The mountain gorillas have well-developed brains and share 98% of their genetic make up with us humans. They are generally terrestrial and often move on all four limbs, with legs relatively shorter than their arms. They use their knuckles to support their weight while walking. Occasionally they can climb fruit trees whose branches are strong enough to support their weight. They are most active during the day, when they spend most of the time eating, especially in the morning and late afternoon. They sleep in their nests during the night, and wake up the next day at around 6 AM, unless it is too cold for them to stay much longer.
Social structures of mountain gorillas are sophisticated and patriarchal, with the dominant silverback, usually the oldest and largest male leading a unified family of up to 30 individuals. Families are non-territorial, consisting of multiple females, their offspring and, though rarely, younger males. All decisions regarding movement, feeding and protecting the family against threats rests on the leader. They express their social bonds through various ways including grooming, playing, and communicating through vocalizations and gestures.
Most males, at around the age of 11, leave their natal home gradually, by first spending some time near the group until they ultimately separate themselves. These will either remain solo or move in a group of other males for a couple of years before attracting females to join and form a new family. Over a half of the young females will move away at around the age of eight. They will either join an established family or choose to frequently move in different new groups before choosing to settle with a silverback.
The death of the dominant silverback causes disruption in a family, and unless there is a charismatic male successor, they will either split or accept the headship of an unrelated male. This new leader will most likely kill the young offsprings of his dead predecessor. Also, in the case of death or exodus of a mother mountain gorilla, the dominant silverback takes the responsibility of caring for her forsaken infants. Also, all dominant silverbacks play a huge role in mediating conflict within the family. At the age of nine, a female mountain gorilla is capable of producing offsprings. Their gestation period is much like that of a human female — nine months and mostly produces one baby gorilla at a time.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorizes mountain gorillas as critically endangered thus the need for conservation. This is so due to the threats they face, like habitat loss, disease and poaching among many others. These issues are currently being addressed through gorilla-based tourism, supporting anti-poaching initiatives and public conservation education programs mostly aimed at adjacent communities. Revenues from the tourism are shared with the local communities to foster their support for the mountain gorillas.
When to Book for gorilla trekking permits
Booking a gorilla trekking permit can be done throughout the year, however, your choice for traveling depends on their availability. If you opt to travel for a gorilla trekking tour in the dry season, chances of acquiring a permit are much lower in Uganda and Rwanda compared to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is because the dry season is the peak season for tourism and a permit has to be booked in advance, at least 3 months before the tour. If you are interested in visiting any of the 3 countries for gorilla trekking tours during the wet season, you will have a higher chance of acquiring a permit since relatively fewer visitors book them. However, during the wet season, the heavy rains that fall cause the gorilla trails and access roads to be muddy and slippery hence challenging to navigate. Booking during the wet season is also advantageous for budget tourists. This is because you get a higher chance of acquiring the gorilla permit on a discounted fee.
