Where do Rwanda’s Mountain Gorillas live? What is their habitat like?
Where are mountain gorillas in Rwanda?
Rwanda’s mountain gorillas inhabit Volcanoes National Park (Parc National des Volcans or PNV) an area of six volcanoes measuring approximately 125 square km. The Mountain Gorillas live at an altitude of between 2,500 – 4,000 metres. This area was made famous by pioneer American primatologist Dian Fossey, who lived for many years in the park studying gorillas.
How many gorilla families can you track in Rwanda?
Rwanda has seven gorilla families that are fully habituated and available for visits by the public. They are: Agashya, Amahoro, Hirwa, Kwitonda, Sabyinyo, Susa and Umubano.
Each gorilla family consists of at least one male Silverback gorilla, Blackbacks (younger male gorillas), several females and numerous youngsters. The largest family group, Susa, has 38 gorillas. They tend to range high into the mountains so are often the hardest to trek.
With seven gorilla families and a maximum of eight visitors allowed per group, there are a total of 56 permits available to track the gorillas in Rwanda every day.
For gorilla tracking stories and Uganda and Rwanda travel advice, click on the hyperlinks in the Ultimate Guide to Mountain Gorilla Tracking. Looking for more info? Check out my Travel Directory or Contact the Muzungu.
