Where to find Mountain Gorillas in Africa?
Mountain gorillas were almost becoming extinct in the world, but thank God for the great work of American primatologists and other conservationists who came in place to protect this endangered species. Mountain gorillas live in forests high in the mountains at elevations of 8000 to 13000 feet.
Mountain gorillas can only be found in three countries in the world and those are Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic republic of Congo, of which Uganda boasts almost half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Mountain gorillas have thick fur that helps them survive in the cool temperatures of the mountains.
Conservation has led to an increase in mountain gorilla numbers despite human encroachment on their habitats, civil wars, and poaching. Let’s look at places where to find mountain gorillas in the world.
Uganda
In Uganda mountain gorillas can be found in two national Parks Mount Mgahinga national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park both found in the southwestern part of the country. Mount Mgahinga is one of the volcanic ranges and the gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park have been speculated by some primatologists to be of a different species.
Gorillas Habituated in Ugandan national Parks are; Nshongi family, Mishaya family, Nkuringo family, Oruzogo family, Mubare family, Kuhungye family, Habinyanja family, Bitukura family, Nyakagezi family, Busingye family, Bweza family, Rushegura family and Kyagurigo family for research purposes. All of this is in Bwindi national park except for the Nyakagezi family in Mount Mgahinga national park.
Bwindi national park can be reached in 7-8 hours from Kampala via Mbarara. Mount Mgahinga national park can be reached in 8-9 hours via the Kabale-Mbarara road from Kampala.
Rwanda
In Rwanda, mountain gorillas can be found in the famous volcanoes national park in the northeastern part of the country. The maximum group of people allowed to trek gorillas in Congo is 8 and the country has habituated 8 gorilla families and these are the Sabinyo family, the Susa family, the Hirwa family, the Kwitonda family, the Amahoro family, the Umubano family and group 13.
Volcanoes national park in Rwanda can be reached withina period of one hour’s drive from the country’s capital of Kigali.
Democratic republic of Congo
In Congo, mountain gorillas can be found in Virunga national park that’s part of the volcano massif. Mountain gorillas in Congo are habituated in 8 groups for tourism and research purposes. The mountain gorilla groups in Congo include the Humba family, Bageni family, Rugendo family, Munyaga family, Lulengo family, Mapuwa family, Kabirizi family, and Nyakagezi family.
Virunga national park can be accessed within 7-8 hours from Kigali in Rwanda. Apart from gorilla trekking, Uganda boasts various other wildlife and over 1040 species of birds.
