Page 14 - Rwanda

GORILLA TREKKING

what you need to know

Seeing the enigmatic mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is a life-changing experi-
ence; something that you’ll forever remember.
Lead by a highly trained guide, you’ll trek through dense rainforest in search of a gorilla
family to observe. As you see the young gorillas race about playing, the females cooing
over their babies, and the brash posturing of a silverback, you’ll begin to understand the
enduring fascination with these almost human creatures.

It truly is a bucket list worthy experience.

Before you embark on your once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trek, there are a few things you
should know. Unlike a game drive, you’re much closer to the action when on a gorilla
trek. Read on to learn the important things you should know before paying a visit to
these gentle giants.

About mountain GORILLAS Despite their size, mountain gorillas do not
range widely, and tend to keep to a relatively
small area of their habitat.

A subspecies of the Eastern gorilla (the other Best Time to Visit
being the lowland gorilla), the mountain go-

rilla is the largest primate in the world, and
also one of the most endangered. Poaching While it is possible to go gorilla trekking
and habitat destruction has led to a situation throughout the year, the dry season tends to
in which there are only 840 mountain gorillas be the best time to enjoy a gorilla trek. Not
remaining in the wild, with the majority of only does the wet season tend to make for
more difficult hiking conditions, but the rain
these residing in Rwanda and Uganda.
also encourages the gorillas to seek shelter –

Unlike the smaller primates that spend a making them harder for you to observe.

great deal of their lives in trees, mountain Depending on the country you are in, wet
gorillas are ground-dwellers who prefer season falls during different months.
to live in open canopy forests where light

reaches the forest floor. They are herbivores
whose diet consists of roots, leaves, vines, Rwanda: The short wet season is from Octo-
ber to November, while the long wet season
stems, and bamboo.
stretches from mid-March through to June.

Despite being capable of bipedal movement, Fitness & Health
gorillas are predominantly knuckle walk-

ers who move about on all fours. Females It is not possible to predict ahead of time just
choose their breeding partners based on how long you’ll be hiking before you encoun-
their ability to protect them, and groups ter a gorilla family. Some people spend as
of gorillas range in size from anywhere be- little as 40 minutes hiking before they come
tween a mated pair to up to thirty individ- across gorillas, while others can spend up to
uals. On average, ‘families’ of gorillas are seven hours.
comprised of nine gorillas.

Male mountain gorillas stand approximately For this reason, it is recommended that all
six feet tall and can weigh up to 200 kilo- gorilla trekkers be in good physical and men-
grams, while females are smaller at under tal condition.
five feet in height and weighing around
100kgs.