How Many People Are Allowed to Trek a Gorilla Family in Uganda, Rwanda &Congo Safari
How Many People Are Allowed to Trek a Gorilla Family in Uganda, Rwanda &Congo Safari : Many travelers wonder on how many people are allowed to trek a group family, group and this is a repeated question to travelers who prefer going for African primates’ safari. As it is noted that, endangered mountain gorillas can only be found in three African neighboring countries Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. The number that allowed to track a gorilla family/group are only 8 people per day in each gorilla destinations, in Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park both in Uganda, Volcanoes national park Rwanda, Virunga national park or Kahuzi Biega national park Congo. After once you locate the Great Mountain Gorillas after the long gorilla trek which takes 1 to 8 hours, tourists are allowed to have only ‘’one’’ 1 hour.
Those interested in Gorilla Habituation Experience, only 4 people are allowed to habituate a gorilla family or group in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable national park per day at a cost USD1,500 per person /per gorilla habituation experience permit. After locating them in the mooring before they nest out, given time is only 4 hours. For this matter, Uganda is more blessed internationally to be the only country in the world where you can be amazed in gorilla habituation experience and can be carried out in Rushaga sector one of the four habituated gorilla sectors that is Buhoma, Ruhija and Nkuringo gorilla sector where gorilla trekking can be conducted all stipulated in Bwindi Impenetrable national park Uganda, with 21 habituating gorilla families.
Reasons why gorilla trekking is limited to 8 people per group per day, for those asking how many people are allowed to trek a gorilla family.
Gorilla trekking is limited to 8 people, to reduce behavioral disturbance to the gorillas because too much crowd of people around gorillas may cause stress and discomfort to gorillas which is against conservation measures.
To resist the risk of gorilla exposure to human borne diseases, because gorillas share 98.5% DNA to humans. Gorillas are highly susceptible to human diseases but do not have the same immunity we have. Ideally, exposure to human virus or illnesses like flu, Covid-19, diarrhea, malaria, cough all these can devastate entire gorilla population.
To conserve the forest creature by reducing the damage to the forest.
When it comes to Uganda gorilla habituation experience, only 4 people are allowed to spend 4 hours with endangered mountain gorillas under habituation.
Currently, Uganda gorilla habituation experience is conducted in Rushaga sector in the southern parts of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
In fact, habituation experience is a fabulous activity that allows visitors to take part in gorilla habituation process undertaken 2 to 3 years of training, it involves in training and encouraging wild gorillas to feel comfortable and eye- contact to humans for long hours. Visitors on trek can be accompanied by a team of researchers, park rangers, specialists, journalists and trackers.
Reasons why the gorilla habituation experience is limited to 4 people per group per day, for those asking how many people are allowed to track a gorilla family or group;
Gorilla habituation experience take 4 hours with gorillas apart from the trekking time. The reason as to why this experience is limited to four people because a large group of people may not be appropriated for the safety and conservation purposes. Also to avoid stressing them and uncomfortable crowds of people.
Note, gorillas are semi-habituated, thats why they don’t need a lot of commotion from the people as they can easily charge negatively against the travelers.
Below is the highlight list of the gorilla families in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo;
Uganda Gorilla Families/Groups
Currently, Uganda offers 21 habituated families, the number is still increasing 20 of them living in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga gorilla national park called Nyakagezi. Uganda Bwindi Impenetrable Gorilla families /group include;
- Mubare Gorilla Family
- Habinyanja Gorilla Family
- Kyaguliro Gorilla Group
- Rushegura Gorilla Family
- Katwe Gorilla Family
- Bitukura Gorilla Family
- Muyamba Gorilla Group
- Nshongi Gorilla Group
- Oruzogo Gorilla Family
- Mishaya Gorilla Family
- Bweza Gorilla Group
- Kutu Gorilla Group
- Kahungye Gorilla Family
- Busingye Gorilla Family
- Nkuringo Gorilla Group
- Rwigi Gorilla Family
- Mucunguzi Gorilla Family
- Bikyingi Gorilla Family
- Christmas Gorilla Group, all these are stipulated in four habituated gorilla sectors Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga.
Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park has 12 habituated gorilla’s families /groups
- Susa Gorilla Family ‘’Susa A’’
- Karisimbi Gorilla Family ‘’Susa B’’
- Amahoro Gorilla Family
- Umubano Gorilla Group
- Sabyinyo Gorilla Family
- Agashya Gorilla Group ‘’Group 13’’
- Kwitonda Gorilla Family
- Igisha Gorilla Family
- Ugenda Gorilla Family
- Muhoza Gorilla Family
- Bwenge Gorilla Family
- Hirwa Gorilla Family
Congo’s Virunga national park Gorilla Families/Groups
Virunga national park in found in Democratic Republic of Congo, offers 8 habituated groups of endangered mountain gorillas these include;
- Humba Gorilla Family
- Munyaga Gorilla Family
- Rugendo Gorilla Family
- Lulengo Gorilla Family
- Mapuwa Gorilla Group
- Kabirizi Gorilla Family
- Nyakamwe Gorilla Group
- Bageni Gorilla family
