Mountain gorillas in Rwanda & Africa – Gorilla tracking safaris in Africa
Mountain gorillas in Rwanda & Africa – When it comes to gorilla tracking in Africa, Rwanda is one of the destination where you can see mountain gorillas a long other countries like Uganda, DR Congo, central African republic, chad, Cameroon and many others for mountain gorillas, eastern lowland gorillas, western lowland gorillas and cross river gorillas respectively.
mountain gorillas live in forests high in the mountains, at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet. They have thicker fur, and more of it, compared to other great apes. The fur helps them to survive in a habitat where temperatures often drop below freezing. But as humans have moved more and more into the gorillas’ territory, the gorillas have been pushed farther up into the mountains for longer periods, forcing them to endure dangerous and sometimes deadly conditions.
What might have been a bleak outlook for the subspecies just a couple of decades ago has brightened in recent years due to conservation efforts Despite ongoing civil conflict, poaching and an encroaching human population, both populations of mountain gorillas have increased in numbers and this is part of your gorilla trekking guide for Africa.
Eastern lowland gorillas
Gorilla trekking guide for Africa-The eastern lowland gorilla—also known as Grauer’s gorilla—is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies. It is distinguished from other gorillas by its stocky body, large hands and short muzzle. Despite its size, eastern lowland gorillas subsist mainly on fruit and other herbaceous materials, just like other gorilla subspecies.
Years of civil unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have taken their toll on both the eastern lowland gorilla and the mountain gorilla. The eastern lowland gorilla makes its home in lowland tropical rain forests in the eastern DRC. In the last 50 years, its range has decreased from 8,100 square miles—about the size of the state of Massachusetts— to about 4,600 square miles today. This subspecies may now occupy only 13% of its historical range. There were nearly 17,000 eastern lowland gorillas in the mid-1990s but scientists estimate that the population has declined by more than 50% since then. An accurate accounting of the animals has been impossible for many years because of violence in the region.
Throughout the unrest, the gorillas have been vulnerable to poaching, even in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, home to the largest population of protected eastern lowland gorillas. Rebels and poachers invaded the park and people set up illegal mines. But, with help from WWF and other organizations, park staff is re-establishing control over the land.
Western lowland gorillas
Gorilla trekking guide for Africa-The western lowland gorilla is the most numerous and widespread of all gorilla subspecies. Populations can be found in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea as well as in large areas in Gabon and the Republic of Congo. The exact number of western lowland gorillas is not known because they inhabit some of the most dense and remote rain forests in Africa. Significant populations still exist, including in isolated swamps and the remote swampy forests of the Republic of Congo.
Western lowland gorillas can be distinguished from other gorilla subspecies by their slightly smaller size, their brown-grey coats and auburn chests. They also have wider skulls with more pronounced brow ridges and smaller ears. Large numbers have not protected the western lowland gorilla from decline. Because of poaching and disease, the gorilla’s numbers have declined by more than 60% over the last 20 to 25 years. Even if all of the threats to western lowland gorillas were removed, scientists calculate that the population would require some 75 years recovering.
Cross river gorillas
Gorilla trekking guide for Africa- This subspecies of the western gorilla is very similar in appearance to the more numerous western lowland gorilla, but subtle differences can be found in the skull and tooth dimensions. Cross River gorillas live in a region populated by many humans who have encroached upon the gorilla’s territory—clearing forests for timber and to create fields for agriculture and livestock. Poaching occurs in the forests as well, and the loss of even a few of these gorillas has a detrimental effect on such a small population.
Efforts to protect these animals are focused on securing the forests that house them. WWF and partners have worked with the governments of Cameroon and Nigeria to create a protected area for the Cross River gorilla that spans the border of these two nations.
Top destinations for gorilla trekking in Africa.
Rwanda.
Volcanoes gorilla national park
It’s located north western Rwanda covering area size of 160km/sq and its famous for the iconic mountain gorillas with estimated population of over 400 mountain gorillas Read more
Uganda.
Bwindi impenetrable national park
This national park is located south western Uganda covering area size of 331km/sq it’s famous for the iconic mountain gorillas with estimated population of 600 mountain gorillas. Read more
Mgahinga gorilla national park
It’s located in the southern part of the country near the border with Rwanda and democratic republic of Congo covering area size of 33.9km/sq it’s famous for the iconic mountain gorillas with estimated population of over 20 individuals. Read
Democratic republic of Congo
Virunga national park
It’s located in the eastern democratic republic of Congo covering area size of 7769km/sq it’s famous for the iconic mountain gorillas with estimated population of over 200 mountain gorillas
Kahuzi-Biega gorilla national park
This national park is located near Bukavu town in the eastern democratic republic of Congo covering area size of 6000km/sq it’s famous for eastern lowland gorilla with estimated gorilla population of over 1000 gorilla.
Gabon.
Lope gorilla national park
This national park is located in central Gabon covering area size of 4910 km/sq it’s famous for western lowland gorillas with the estimated population of over 100 gorillas leaving in one of Africa’s dense tropical rain forest
Central African Republic.
Dzanga-ndoki gorilla national park
This national park is located in south western Central African Republic covering an area of 1143 km/sq it’s famous for western low land gorillas with the estimated gorilla population of 2000 gorillas in the rain forest
Cameroon-Nigeria.
Cameroon-Nigeria gorilla region
The cross river gorillas are restricted to the forested hills and mountains of Cameroon-Nigerian boarder region at the head waters of cross river with estimated area size of 12000km/sq being the world’s rarest gorilla species and being located in the hard to reach areas the last estimate from 2014 suggest that fewer than 250 mature cross river gorillas exist
Why book gorilla tracking in Rwanda.
Mountain gorillas in Rwanda Africa – Great adventure safaris is your premier Rwanda safari in organizing safaris to see the mountain gorillas in volcanoes national park we will ensure that your gorilla permits are well taken care of and other safari related services.
Best time visit Rwanda.
Rwanda can be visited all year round but the best months for safari are the dry months of the year which are usually from June-early September and from December-February which sees the country receive low rain fall except months of March-May and mid-September-November.