The Best Places To Spot Or See Silverback Gorillas In Africa In 2023-2024 : One of the most fascinating animals on the planet is the gorilla. They are the biggest and strongest animals, but they also have a gentle side. Gorillas differ from other primates in that they behave differently and share over 97 percent of our genetic makeup with humans.
There are two main species of gorillas in Africa: western gorillas, which are primarily found in the continent’s western region in Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and other nations; and eastern gorillas, which are found in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Cross River gorilla and the Western Lowland gorilla are the two subspecies of western gorillas. Mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas are two of the two subspecies of eastern gorillas. Mountain gorillas include silverbacks in their species.
Mountain gorillas are non-territorial and live in groups of 1 to 4 silverbacks (adult males), a few blackbacks (young males), several adult females, and young.
The term “silverback” refers to adult males who have a large crest on top of their heads and a “saddle” of gray or silver hairs on the lower half of their backs. The Silverback Gorilla is the oldest and largest adult male in the troop, and he serves as the leader. Additionally, the gorilla’s social life is built on the relationship between the silverback and his females.
Because they are in charge of defending the troop, silverbacks are typically more aggressive than other members of the group. All group decisions are made by the silverback because he is the leader. He also gets most of the food and has the power to restrain any undesirable behavior from the other gorillas.
A male must have a secure home range and the strength to take on any rivals before forming his troop. As a result, until they are 15 years old, the majority of silverbacks live alone for about four years before forming their own group.
WHERE TO SPOT A SILVERBACK GORILLA IN AFRICA
Only three African nations—the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Uganda—are home to mountain gorillas. The largest number of mountain gorillas can be found in the Virunga Mountains, which span all three nations.
The best chance to see a silverback gorilla is to travel to one of the three nations. The top locations in Africa to see a silverback gorilla are listed below.
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
The best place to see a silverback gorilla in the wild is in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. There are twelve gorilla families in this national park, and each one has its own name. In Volcanoes National Park, gorilla tracking is risk-free and practical.
You will be led through the tracking by knowledgeable guides who will also teach you about gorillas and their environment. To take advantage of this incredible experience, one must obtain a tracking permit. Any time of the year is a good time to visit the park. We advise going when the special annual Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony is taking place.
Mgahinga National Park, Uganda
Mgahinga National Park is one of the most beautiful and captivating parks in Uganda, despite being the smallest park there. Mgahinga National Park is situated in the southwest of the nation and connects to the Virunga Mountains in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mountain gorillas belonging to the Nyakagezi group live in the park. The tracking possibilities in Mgahinga Park give its visitors a fantastic opportunity to see silverback gorillas. Furthermore, you must order tracking permits in advance.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
Bwindi National Park is one of Uganda’s top national parks to visit and is well-known for the gorilla trekking experience. The park is situated on the rift valley’s edge in the southwest of the nation.
More than half of the mountain gorillas in the world live in Bwindi. The best opportunity to interact with a silverback in its natural habitat can be found in Bwindi, which is just an hour on a chartered flight from Entebbe. To have the best trekking safari, you must also purchase a trekking permit in advance.
Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Another place to see a silverback gorilla is Virunga National Park, which is a section of the Virunga Mountains in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Virunga National Park is situated in Kinshasa, in the eastern portion of the DRC.
The park is one of Africa’s most adventurous national parks and has rich biodiversity. We do, however, advise visitors to travel in accordance with their country’s travel advice due to the security situation in the country.
CONCLUSION:
The best chance to see a silverback gorilla is during a safari in Rwanda or Uganda. You might include visiting other national parks in both countries that have rare sightings as part of your gorilla tracking mission. The best gorilla safari in Africa can be planned with the help of our safari experts.
