Rwanda’s Hirwa gorilla family that had crossed to Uganda has returned to Volcanoes National park. Having lived in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for 8 months, Hirwa gorilla family was spotted in Volcanoes National Park on 15th April 2020. Rwanda gorilla trackers who were performing their daily duties of monitoring gorilla’s wellbeing in the national Park saw the gorilla family. The return of Hirwa gorilla family brought joy to Rwanda gorilla overs. Having confirmed the news of the return, Rwanda Development Board wrote a notice informing the general public about the return f the lost gorilla. Hirwa gorilla family was first sited in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park on 28th August 2019. For the last 8 months, Hirwa gorilla group has been trekked from Uganda at a cost of $700 as put by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. However, the two governments (Rwanda and Uganda) have been sharing equally the revenue collected from the sale of gorilla permits belonging to Hirwa family.
The stay of Hirwa group in Mgahinga Park
For the last 8 months, Hirwa gorilla family has been peacefully living in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The family had crossed to Uganda with 17 gorilla members. Unfortunately, 4 members were struck by lightening in February 2020, two other members died of intestinal obstruction while the infant baby that was born from Uganda in January 2020 died of the respiratory infection. Having lost her 6 embers, Hirwa gorilla family returned to Rwanda with 11 members.
Why do mountain gorillas move from one place to another?
Mountain gorillas are wandering creatures, which keep moving from one place to another within the same territory (National Park). The major reason for the continuous movements is search for fresh foods. a gorilla family cannot sleep in the same next for 2 nights. At the start each day, a gorilla family led by the silverback gorilla leaves the nest and moves to another location where it spends a night. In rare cases, gorillas cross from one national park to another in the neighborhood. This is so common especially in the Virunga conservation area where gorilla national Parks share borders. The Virunga Massif is shared by Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Another reason for the movement of gorillas is inter group competition for food as well as interactions between various gorilla families.
Gorilla Families in Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda has a total of 10 habituated gorilla families available for trekking everyday. The gorilla groups in Rwanda are:
1. Susa A Family
2. Karisimbi Gorilla Family
3. Amahoro gorilla group
4. Kwitonda gorilla family
5. Agashya gorilla group
6. Ugenda gorilla group
7. Titus gorilla family
8. Hirwa gorilla family
9. Sabyinyo gorilla family
10. Bwengye Gorilla Family
Each gorilla family is visited b a group of eight travelers everyday for an hour. All gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park start at Kinigi Park headquarters after registration and briefing.
Gorilla addons in Volcanoes National Park
Besides gorilla trekking, travelers to Volcanoes National park have a variety of wonderful tourist activities to do. Among other things to see and do in Volcanoes National Park include:
• Golden Monkey Trekking
• Dian Fossey Graveyard hike
• Nature/forest walks
• Mt Karisimbi and Mt Bisoke hiking
• Visiting Musanze caves
• Visiting the twin lakes of Burera and Buhondo
• Bird watching
• Community Visits
A combination of these make a complete Rwanda safari package to meet, satisfy and exceed you travel expectations.
Postcovid gorilla Safaris in Africa
Apparently, all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are on suspension. Gorilla National Parks were closed to prevent the spread of the deadly corona Virus to the endangered mountain gorillas. However, travelers are reminded that gorilla trekking in Africa will resume soon after the defeat of Covid 19 in Africa. Those who had booked their gorilla trips earlier are humbly asked not to cancel but rather to postpone the trip to save gorilla tourism in Africa. African Apes Tours helps you book and arrange tailored gorilla trips to Bwindi Forest, Mgahinga, Volcanoes and Virunga National Parks at affordable rates.
Where to Sleep in Volcanoes National Park
About gorilla lodges/accommodation in Volcanoes National Park, travelers have a wide selection. A variety of budget, luxury and midrange lodges have been constructed to serve you with excellent food and sleeping services all day and nights at affordable rates. The top lodges in Volcanoes National Park include:
1. Bisate Lodge
2. Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
3. Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
4. Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
5. Virunga Lodge
6. Kingi Guest House
7. Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
8. Virunga Hotel
9. Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
10. Mountain Gorilla s Nest Lodge
11. Home Inn
12. Villa Lodge
13. Jack Hannah’s Cottages
African Apes Holidays help you to book and reserve accommodation on your gorilla safari to Volcanoes National Park Rwanda.
Conclusively, the return to Hirwa gorilla family to Volcanoes national Park was of great joy for Rwanda travel operators, tourists and the whole tourism fraternity.
