We never gave up hope that the Hirwa gorilla family would return back to Volcanoes national park Rwanda sooner rather than later since the gorilla group’s migration to Mgahinga national park in Uganda and hopefully the group won’t be moving back to Mgahinga national park or even Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo.
The 3 national parks being located within the same geographical location makes easy for the gorilla groups to roam about the place and end up crossing borders unknowingly which happened to Rwanda’s Hirwa gorilla family.
Late August 2019, 11 mountain gorillas from the Hirwa group which comprised of 17 members all together migrated to Uganda’s Mgahinga national park leaving back 6 gorillas in Volcanoes national park which split the group. By nature, gorillas are nomads and keeping moving in groups through the forest searching for greener food and don’t normally stay in the same location for long.
Its been unpredictable when the family would move back to Volcanoes national park as it can even take years to months studying the migration trends of the Nyakagezi gorilla family right now settled in Mgahinga national park. The Nyakagezi gorilla group periodically moved to and from Virunga national park and Volcanoes until it permanently settled in Mgahinga and hasn’t moved
At the end of May 2020, the Hirwa family finally moved back to Volcanoes national park where the rangers spotted the gorillas back home safely. Only 6 gorillas have returned home of the 11 that moved to mgahinga national park. 4 of the 11 gorillas were killed by lightening leaving a total of 5 gorillas who were able to cross back to volcanoes national park Rwanda.
Gorilla Conservation in Virunga conservation region
The virunga conservation region is large eco system covering borders of 3 countries where half of the world’s mountain gorilla population live. The Virunga region covers borders of Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo. The tourism ministries of the 3 countries alongside a number of non-government working hard on mountain gorilla protection and conservation.
What happens when a mountain gorilla crosses from one boundary to the other is the question we must discuss in this article. Regardless of where the gorilla family is coming from, the services of the conservationists are available and ready for the gorillas as they make sure that these highly endangered species are treated and looked after and observed daily in the jungle.
Best places for gorilla trekking
Much as the gorillas are located in the central western and eastern tropical rainforests of Africa which encompasses numerous countries, they are a few countries which entertain gorilla trekking. These countries include Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo and also Gabon is trying to promote it. The three countries located in the eastern part of the great tropical rain forests gazatted national parks to conserve and preserve these amazing huge apes and the best way to protect them was to promote gorilla tourism so that people around the world may know their importance in the eco system. National parks where a travelers go gorilla trekking include Bwindi impenetrable and Mgahinga national parks in Uganda, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and in Dr Congo, Virunga National park and Kahuzi Biega and Maiko national parks- the two have the eastern lowland gorillas and rest of the four park have mountain gorillas.
All we can say, there is no an all-round best place to go gorilla trekking in Africa, each of the national parks or countries has something unique to offer to the travelers basing on the rates of the gorilla permits, accommodation to stay, safety and security, hospitality from the tourism service personnel and other tourism activities complementing the gorilla trekking experience.
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