How many people are allowed to trek a gorilla family?
For those organizing a gorilla trekking safari to Africa ,you might be asking yourself, “How many people are allowed to trek a gorilla family?” During the day for gorilla trekking, the authorities assign 8 people per gorilla family in all the three countries of Uganda, Rwanda and D.R Congo.
Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the home of several habituated gorilla families about 20 living in this place. Bwindi offers 152 gorilla permits to trekkers per day, this is the highest in Uganda. In case you want to know; How many people are allowed to trek a gorilla family in Uganda? In the destinations of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park., a single group of visitors consists of 8 members assigned to a particular gorilla family. However, this is a bit different from the gorilla habituation experience. Gorilla Habituation takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park allowing travelers to be part of the experience of teaching gorillas to get used to humans.
Gorilla Habituation adventure allows visitors to spent 4 hours around gorillas that are being trained to adapt to human surrounding. How many people are allowed to do gorilla habituation? If you are looking forward to spending more time with gorillas, embark on the habituation tour to Bwindi, where they allocate 4 permits per day for the experience. Unlike the normal gorilla trekking where each group of gorillas is assigned to 8 people( trekkers), Gorilla habituation allows for 4 members to visit the family together with the team of staff. During the habituation, the trekkers move alongside guides, researchers, conservationists and armed rangers.
If your preference is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park of Uganda, it should be to your notice that the park has one habituated family to see. Due to the limitations of group sizes by the authorities in Uganda, only 8 people per day are allowed to visit the Nyakagezi Family of gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This group is well blessed with a dominant male silverback, adult females, juvenile males and infants. The used to migrate to Volcanoes National Park but since 2012, it has managed to remain in Mgahinga National Park.
How many people are allowed to trek a gorilla family in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
If Rwanda is your dream place to visit for your gorilla trekking safari holiday tour, then Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda will be your host. The group sizes in Rwanda don’t differ from those in Uganda, the team of trekkers is always 8 for a particular group of gorillas. Despite Volcanoes National Park being the most famous place for gorilla trekking, the park hosts only 10 habituated gorilla groups. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park issues up to 80 permits to gorilla trekker per day. These permits cater only for the normal gorilla trekking experience where one hours is given to visitors to stay with the gentle giants. The habituation permits are only issued by Uganda Wildlife Authroity and the adventure takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Rwanda has fewer gorillas than Uganda therefore it is advisable for those planning to go for gorilla trekking to book in time to avoid any inconvenience especially during the high peak period when demand is on the rise.
What is the best destination for gorilla trekking? Rwanda is an amazing place to host a gorilla trekking tour to Africa despite the high cost of the permit which is twice that of Uganda. Rwanda is greatly admired by many travelers who visit Volcanoes National Park annually. However, the experience in Uganda is worth it all regarding the money, time and sight of mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
If you are curious to know; How many people are allowed to trek a gorilla family? All gorilla trekking countries in Africa allow only 8 people to find a particular gorilla family assigned to it with the help of staff or guides and rangers.
Why is the number of people allowed to trek gorillas restricted to 8 members – Why only 8 peoples are allowed to trek a gorilla family per day?
All the three gorilla trekking countries; Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R Congo allow 8 people to trek a gorilla family per day. In case you still want more light on ;why only 8 people? To answer this question, one needs to first of all understand the whole gorilla conservation program. Mountain gorilla are endangered primates species that live in the Virunga Mountains with only 1000 individuals left in the world. The authorities reduce human interference with the gentle creatures by allowing only 8 people to track a gorilla family per a day, this is a conservation measure that protects both the gorillas and their habitat. This article shades some light on why only 8 members are allowed to trek a single gorilla family per day;
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To minimize behavioral disturbance
To minimize behavior disturbance, there needs to a coherent format of undertaking the gorilla trekking safaris without affecting the way of life of gorillas. However much the gorillas are social animals, they need to be respected by restricting the number of people around them in the wild. This may include bringing small groups of trekkers to face each family of the African apes since large crowds would stress them and make them uncomfortable. In the end their ways would be affected as seize to portray the normal gorilla behavior.
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To protect gorillas from human bone diseases
Mountain gorillas are very much related to people sharing up to 97% DNA with humans. It is very possible for them to catch some of the communicable diseases and this could destroy their population in the world. To conserve the gorillas, restricting the number of trekkers to 8 members is a good guideline to conserve the endangered species in their natural habitat and prevent them from being around humans and catching their diseases.
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To ensure sustainability of the gorilla tourism
Conservation gears to future existence of the endangered animals, and this could mean allowing future generations to embark on gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and D.R Congo. To achieve sustainability, the authorities limit the numbers of trekkers to 8 individuals per day for a family in order for the primates to grow shielded from the danger that humans to pose to them.
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To ensure a quality gorilla trekking experience
Crowds can be a hinderance during the gorilla trekking experience and at times information from guides could be missed out by some of the visitors. Small groups increase information sharing between guides and trekkers. Furthermore, there is no striving for spectacular viewing as all the group members can clearly watch the assigned gorilla family in the wild from conducive angles and photography is much easier.
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To ensure safety of individuals during the trek
Maintaining control of the visitors in the wild is a very vital aspect of primate tracking. Rangers and guides can easily manage small groups of 8 people compared to bigger ones who may not follow the set guidelines. While trekking mountain gorillas in the wild, you are advised to adhere to all the set rules and guidelines provided to you during the briefing. Guides and rangers are ever on the watch to keep visitors’ behavior within the set guidlelines which is possible with only a small group.
Gorilla Families in Uganda – Habituated gorilla families that you can trek while in Uganda
Uganda holds the largest concentration of mountain gorillas that live in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in the remote areas southwest of the country. While in Uganda, travelers have the opportunity to trek about 21 habituated gorilla families . Bwindi alone is home to 20 of the habituated groups of Uganda while the other inhibits the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Habituated gorilla families in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park;
- Bweza Gorilla Group
- Kahungye Gorilla Group
- Busingye gorilla family
- Kutu gorilla family
- Rwigi Gorilla Family
- Bikyingi Gorilla group
- Christmas Gorilla Group
- Mucunguzi Gorilla family
- Nkuringo Gorilla Family
- Mubare Gorilla Group
- Nshogi Gorilla Group
- Mishaya Gorilla Family
- Oruzogo Gorilla Family
- Bitukura Gorilla Family
- Kyaguriro Gorilla Family
- Muyambi Gorilla Family
- Katwe Gorilla Group
- Rushegura Gorilla Group
- Habinyanja Gorilla family
Gorilla Families in Rwanda – Habituated gorilla families that you can trek in Rwanda
- Susa Gorilla Family
- Karisimbi Gorilla Family
- Umubano Gorilla Family
- Sabyinyo Gorilla Group
- Amhoro Gorilla Group
- Bwengye Gorilla Family
- Agashya Gorilla Family
- Kwitonda Gorilla Family
- Hirwa Gorilla Family
- Ugenda Gorilla Family
- Igisha Gorilla family
- Muhiza Gorilla Family
Other Questions that are frequently asked
Are groups the only way how gorillas move? Do gorillas travel in groups? Mountain gorillas are very social primates which like being in groups that are referred to as “Gorilla Families”. Visitors usually find the families of the primates in the wild and spend one hour with them. There is a sense of leadership among the gorillas and each family is under the silverback, the dominant male. The main role the dominant male is protecting its family from any possible threat from animals or other families in the wild. Other members of the group include; juveniles, adult females and the babies. All can be seen during the gorilla trekking safari.
How many members are in a gorilla troop? – How many gorillas can be in a group?
The average gorilla family is not known because of several factors which cause frequent migration of the members to other groups. The gorilla society is dynamic implying that there are several changes to group sizes that occur overtime. During habituation process, it is possible to study some families and count their members. The trekkable gorilla families are known and usually the size of the group is known by the guides and the visitors are briefed about the expected numbers to see.
How many male gorillas are in a group?
The males in a gorilla group tend to influence leadership and administration of the family. The dominant male is the main leader of the team, who is feared and respected. Three are also other males in the group who could be juveniles or adults. These are mere subordinates of the silverback and there proportion is always small.
What are the requirements for gorilla trekking?
Are you travelling to Africa to trek mountain gorillas? if yes, and you are wondering; What are the requirements for gorilla trekking? Uganda and Rwanda are the home for mountain gorillas that are found in Bwindi. Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Park. If you are interested in visiting these destination, these are some of the things that you need; The first item is the gorilla permit that you can book through your trip agent however, the price is different in the three countries.
If the permit is sorted out, ensure to carry the following while in Rwanda or Uganda for gorillas; boots, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and gloves, a pair of binoculars and rain gear are also recommended for a gorilla safari tour.
Is gorilla trekking worth the money?
Absolutely, the adventure is worthy all the time and money invested into it. When you visit the natural habitat for gorillas, the experience is so rewarding and you will not have any regrets. The money for permits ensures the continued conservation of the home of mountain gorillas and secures future tourism for the generations to come.