How are gorilla families organized?

Just like humans, gorilla families are organized and led by a dominant silverback and live in families of 6 to 40 individuals in each group. The gorilla families consist of the leader, the dominant male silverback, and in case there are other males in the group, these are known as the blackbacks. The families also consist of females, children and younger male gorillas which are known as juveniles. The silverback comes about because when the black backs start aging, the black lining along their backs turns to silver.

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The male gorillas are in charge of protecting the gorilla family and all the members from intruders. There are gorilla families that have more than one silverback, and when this happens, the leader and main silverback are always near the gorilla family, whereas the rest will keep a distance and be on the lookout for enemies before an attack. The main silverback (leader) keeps protecting the children, females and juveniles when they are playing and eating.

When it comes to mating, it is usually the dominant silverbacks that mate with the females in the gorilla family. In case other silverbacks want to mate with the females, they have to do so behind closed doors; otherwise, if they are caught by the main silverback, they will be severely punished.

Gorilla families are organized according to territories but they tend to mark their territories and are hostile to intruders. Mountain gorillas are organized because they do not usually meet with other gorilla families and in cases where they meet, it happens for a short period before they move away from each other.

Gorilla families are organized after the habituation process, which takes about 2 to 3 hours before the families are ready for habituation. Throughout the habituation process, the gorillas are studied and named because of their characteristics, the area where they are located and sometimes the dominant silverback leading the group. Each member of the gorilla family is identified by the name given to them by the researchers during the habituation process.

Gorilla communication: This is an interesting sight to see as Mountain gorillas have almost 25 different ways of communicating with each other and they use these sounds to communicate with each other as they move within the thick vegetation and when resting. You will sometimes hear barks and grants as they move around helping each family member to locate one another. In case of danger, you will hear screams (the fighting has steps like making noise, pretending to eat, the stand on two legs, beating their chests, throwing stuff around and slapping on the ground) and roars especially from the dominant silverback and in times of happiness, rumbling belches that are deep and sound like sighs show happiness. Beating on the chest also is a form of communication when the Mountain gorillas are ready to mate.

Nesting: Mountain gorillas spend in nests that they make by themselves and these are made using leaves and branches. The nests are usually 2 to 5 feet wide and each of the gorillas has to make its own nest. The silverback usually chooses a spot where they can easily have an eye on each of the family members. Gorilla babies sleep with their mothers, and as they grow older, they start making their own nests close to their moms. Gorillas create a new nest per night and, in most cases, in different locations.

Conflicts in gorilla families: This is a rare occasion, especially in stable gorilla families, but in cases where two different Mountain gorilla groups, there is a possibility of the silverbacks fighting fiercely and causing injuries to each other using their large canine teeth. Females rarely fight each other, especially if they are friendly, but sometimes can act aggressively towards each other. In cases where female gorillas fight, the male gorillas might step in and stop the fight.

The diet of the gorillas: Mountain gorillas have a daily routine that includes rest, travel and feeding. The diet of the Mountain gorillas includes shoots, leaves, stems and fruits. There is always plenty of food for every gorilla in the family so they do not have to compete with each other for food. Fruits are sometimes hard to come by and gorillas have to travel long distances in search of the fruits. The primates also feed on termites and ants and use sticks to remove them from their hives. Mountain gorillas rarely drink water, and this is because the food that they eat contains water, which sustains them until they get a water source.

Habitat for gorillas: Mountain gorillas in Africa live in the Virunga ranges in East Africa in areas with altitudes 2400 and 4000 meters above sea level. In Uganda, the Mountain gorillas live in two sanctuaries separated by human settlement. The first population of gorillas in Uganda occupies Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the second population occupies Mgahinga National Park. Rwanda’s gorilla population occupies Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda and DRC’s gorilla population occupies Virunga National Park.  The habitat, however, is under threat from the increasing human population that encroaches on the land and poaching.

Gorilla trekking families

Uganda, Rwanda and DRC all have habituated gorilla families situated in the different national parks and these are open for habituation all year round. Below is a list of the gorilla families that are found in the different gorilla trekking destinations.

Uganda: Uganda has the highest number of habituated gorilla families found in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Uganda is home to 21 families with one in Mgahinga. The gorilla families in Bwindi are found in the different sectors of the National Park, and these are Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. Rushaga sector has gorilla families including Nshongi, Kahungye, Mishaya, Bweza, Busingye, Rwigi, Bikingi and Mucunguzi, Nkuringo sector has gorilla families including Nkuringo, Christmas and Bushaho gorilla families, Ruhija has gorilla families including Oruzongo, Kyaguliro, Bitukura and Mukiza, Buhoma has gorilla families including Mubare, Rushegura, Habinyanja, Muyambi, Katwe and Binyindo. The Nyakagezi (the only gorilla family in Mgahinga) is found in Mgahinga National Park.

Rwanda: Rwanda has about 12 habituated gorilla families and these include Susa, Karisimbi, Amahoro, Sabinyo, Kwitonda, Hirwa, Umubano, Agashya, Ugyenda and Bwenge gorilla families. There are more gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park. However, these are still under habituation and will be opened to the public once the habituation is complete. 

DRC: Although DRC, at the moment, is not a safe destination for gorilla trekking, there are 10 habituated gorilla families in the Virunga National Park. The different habituated gorilla families in DRC include the Rugendo gorilla family, Baraka gorilla family, Muyanga gorilla family, Mapuwa gorilla family, Lulengo gorilla family, Kabirizi gorilla family, Nyekamwe gorilla family, Bageni gorilla family and Humba gorilla family.

The cost of a gorilla safari

The cost of a gorilla safari is determined by several factors, and these include the cost of the permit, the number of days spent on a safari, the season of travel, additional activities combined with gorilla tracking, and the number of people traveling in a group for gorilla trekking. The cost of the gorilla trek permit in Uganda is $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents and UGX 300, 000 for East African citizens. The cost of the trek permit in Rwanda includes $1500 for foreign non-residents, $500 for foreign residents and citizens from other African countries and $200 for EAC citizens. The cost of the gorilla trekking permit in DRC is $400 for foreign non-residents, $20 for DRC nationals and $200 for EAC citizens.

How to book the gorilla trekking permit

A gorilla trekking permit is the only confirmation that one will trek Mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. Contact a tour operator with the trekking dates you have so that the guides can check for the availability of the permits and once they have been confirmed, you will be requested to make the necessary payments for the permit. You will also have to provide personal details like a copy of your passport with the name and passport number visible. After the payments have been confirmed, the permits will be purchased, and a copy for record purposes sent will be to you. Gorilla permits have to be booked in advance (6 months prior) for better planning.

After booking and purchasing the permits, you need to reserve accommodation, especially during the dry season; get in touch with your guide to help you book accommodation and transport, other activities that you can combine with gorilla trekking and other facilities that you can use when on your safari.

The permits can be bought directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda and the Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda; however, all tourists are advised to use registered local tour operators who are familiar with the territory.

Is gorilla trekking safe in Africa?

Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is a safe safari activity because of the safety measures that have been put in place to ensure that both the Mountain gorillas and the trekkers are safe. Rwanda is known to be one of the safest countries in the world and both Rwanda and Uganda offer some 24/7 security at the national parks where trekking is carried out and the armed rangers are trained to protect in case of any emergencies. The Democratic Republic, on the other hand, is not a safe place to go for gorilla trekking because of the ongoing civil conflicts within the country, and tourists are advised to avoid visiting DRC for gorilla trekking at the moment until it is safe.

Security measures taken when gorilla trekking in Africa

Several security measures are taken when gorilla trekking in Africa, and these include the rules and regulations that tourists have to follow to be able to participate in the exercise, and these include the following.

• Always make sure that you carry a First aid kit for emergencies in case you get hurt while trekking Mountain gorillas in the national parks.
• You will not be allowed to trek gorillas in their natural habitat without a ranger guide. The national parks have other wildlife species some of which include forest elephants, antelopes, duikers, forest hogs and all these are not habituated like the gorillas.
• The trekking age limit in Uganda is 12 years and in DRC and Rwanda, the trekking age limit is 15 years. The age limit helps reduce the number of people participating in the exercise and since children are harder to control and can’t follow the rules, they are exempted from trekking the habituated Mountain gorillas.
• Eating from the national park when close to the Mountain gorillas is prohibited. Food crumbs might be picked up by the gorillas and this is bad for their health.
• Always keep with the gorilla trekking group to keep safe and follow all the guidelines given by the ranger guides.
• The trekking group has a maximum of an hour with the Mountain gorillas and this is to reduce the risk of human to gorilla disease transmission.
• Avoid provoking and touching the gorillas. This irritates them and they might attack when they feel threatened.
• The trek groups have to leave a distance of 7 to 10 meters from the Mountain gorillas after locating them. The distance left helps you observe the Mountain gorillas without disturbing their day-to-day behavioral patterns and it also limits disease transmissions.
• Avoid carrying large wards of cash and counting money in public as this attracts thieves. Do not carry any jewels with you especially if you are not sure about the destination and request for a safe to store your valuables.
• The groups that trek the Mountain gorillas are divided into a maximum of 8 people. This is to reduce the number of people that visit the Mountain gorillas daily, and this protects the well-being of the primates.
• Smoking and feeding the gorillas is prohibited.
• Security is in the form of trained, armed rangers and security agencies that provide 24/7 security for both the gorillas and the trekkers.

Contact Encounter Africa Safaris for more information.