The rugged beauty of Rwanda’s mountains in the North is part of the Virunga Massif, the habitat for the largest surviving population of the Mountain Gorillas in the world. The last census of the gorillas, which was conducted in 2016, put the population in the Virunga Massif at 604. The Volcano National Park (VNP), which is the home of the endangered primates on the Rwandan side, extends over 60 square miles, nearly the size of Kicukiro District and more than a quarter of Musanze District where the park is located.
Since 2005, new born members of the Gorilla kingdom are named in a ceremony known as Kwita Izina and at this year’s ceremony, which was marked on Friday, 23 were named in a colourful event that attracted many international, regional and local dignitaries. Today, VNP is one of the best tourist destinations in East Africa, attracting thousands of visitors every year.
Living without leaving each other
Gorillas can live solo or in families. When in a group, they are very patriarchal; the male gorilla is dominant and the head of the family. According to a Rwandan researcher, wildlife veterinary doctor and field epidemiologist, Dr Jean Felix Kinani, a gorilla position in their society is categorized according to their age of maturity.
For instance, a breast-feeding infant lasts between 3 and 4 years while juvenile varies from 3-5 years. The sub-adult and adult group range from 5 to 9 years and black-backs between 8 and12 years. By 13, a male begins to gain a silverback –a symbol of total maturity that allows it to make, control and defend family. The life expectancy of a male mountain gorilla is to 45 while that of a female is 50 years.
Male silverbacks weigh between 180-220Kgs and eat over 30 kilogrammes of vegetation a day. A grown female eats around 15 kilogrammes and a weaned young juvenile of 4-5 years feeds on five to seven kilogrammes every day. Naturally, unlike other wildlife, gorillas do not need to drink water. They get all the moisture they need from their food and morning dew. While scientists have argued that gorillas don’t like water in general including rain, Kinani says that in 2013 he saw a gorilla drinking water in the Virunga, a rare phenomenon that has triggered his new research.
Communication
While twenty-five distinct vocalizations are recognised among the Gorilla fraternity, Kinani says, five are the most common form of intra-group communication, especially within dense vegetation. Grunts and barks are, for instance, frequently heard during travelling and used to trace the whereabouts of individual group members or during social interactions when discipline is required.
Screams and roars signal alarm or warning and are often made by silverbacks. Deep, rumbling belches suggest contentment for both food and situations. They are heard frequently during feeding and resting periods.
Why gorillas live in Rwanda’s volcanoes
Several reasons have been advanced for the survival of gorillas in Rwanda’s volcanoes chain including the fact that Rwandans do not look to primates for food, clothing or hunting trophies. Moreover, experts have said that the cold climate and the rough topography have also kept the destructive hand of man at bay in this area, making it a safe home for the gorillas.
With mountains rising between 3,474 – 4,507 metres above sea level, temperatures can plunge below 10 degrees, making it a closer competitor of Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro in coldness. The gorillas’ furs blanket them from the chilling coldness of the mountains. The cold weather makes it easier for the primates to move long distances to look for food in the mountains.
This movement increases interactions among groups and fight among silverbacks become inevitable, the two experts opine. However, high population density around the park put them at high risk of contracting diseases such as the herpes virus. Since gorillas are similar to humans in many ways, they easily contract diseases from people. The One Health Approach Concept is used for effective disease control involving scientists incorporate environmental and ecosystem factors into disease assessments and interventions.
A century of gorillas
The earliest recorded evidence of the presence of the mountain gorillas in the north of Rwanda was in October 1902 when a German expediter shot two large human-like apes during his expedition to establish the boundaries of German East Africa. The park’s existence and expansion dates back to 1925 when a small area between Karisimbi, Bisoke and Mikeno mountains was set aside to protect the Mountain Gorillas.
Between 1969 and 1973 about 40 per cent of the park was cleared for cultivation of pyrethrum as the park itself was under the Ministry of Agriculture. Today, Rwanda Development Board is increasing the surface area of the park and gaining more space for wildlife in general.
What to expect while on Gorilla Trekking
Anticipate a difficult hike. Treks range from two to seven hours round trip, and regardless of the season, are often over rough and uphill terrain. Anyone in moderate shape can do this, but expect a serious workout with some possible rain showers and mud up to your knees. Although you’ll have to bring some serious rain and hiking gear, get ready for a trip of an experience of a lifetime.
Check in for the hikes takes place at the Volcanoes National Park offices in Kinigi at 7 am. There, trekkers are sorted into groups based on fitness level and greeted by their park rangers for the day. Expect a really special performance from Intore dancers, a gorilla-oriented briefing, and complimentary tea, coffee, and bananas at the offices. At around 9 am, trekkers pile back into their cars and drive an additional forty minutes to the trail head. From there, porters are available for hire to carry backpacks (and sometimes trekkers themselves) up the steep mountain paths. Sturdy walking sticks are also handed out, and save a many a weary hiker.
Throughout the trek, the park rangers will be in constant communication with the rangers assigned to the respective gorilla families. These rangers are always aware of the gorilla’s movements, and exist to deter poachers, monitor the gorilla’s health, and guide tourists. Upon reaching the gorilla families, hikers will be asked to discard their bags and hiking sticks before officially entering the gorilla’s territory. Groups are allowed to spend exactly one hour with the gorillas, and although tourists must keep themselves 10 meters away, these gorillas are laws unto themselves and can get as close as they want. Thankfully, these majestic creatures are usually very friendly and safe. Get ready to see them play, eat, sleep, swing, and just do their general gorilla thing. These encounters feel entirely natural, and will undoubtedly be the capstone to an excellent trip in Rwanda.
New Horizon Tours and Services Promotion Team.
