Gorilla habituation in Rwanda: Gorilla habituation is a task done within national parks where mountain gorillas get used to human presence and behaviors. That is to say gorillas are trained to be with humans. Gorilla habituation takes 2 to 4 years. Later after the habituation process the habituated gorillas are unlocked for the day-to-day trekking activity. This task is done by scientists, rangers, conservationists and researchers who learn or study about each member within a family and also offer names according to the behaviors of the gorilla.
Rwanda is among the countries where the endangered mountain gorillas can be found and these are found in Virunga mountains which is shared by three countries that is rwanda, uganda and democratic republic of Congo. While in rwanda the endangered gorilla mountains are found in the volcanoes national park and it should be remembered that the habituation process started way back from the volcanoes park by Dian Fossey a primatologist and researcher who had positioned in the Virunga mountains in the early 1970s.
Volcanoes national park is found in the far northwest of rwanda and covers an area of 160 square kilometers and its generous diversity which includes over 200 bird species, a variety of mammals and primates such as golden monkeys, mountain gorillas and monkeys. The national park is surrounded by 5 of the 8 virunga volcanoes such as karisimbi, bisoke, gahinga, sabyinyo and muhabura. A variety of activities are done within the national park such as gorilla trekking, nature walks, hiking, golden monkey trekking, bird watching among others.
The national park has over 11 habituated gorilla families that are unfolded for tourists on their gorilla safari in rwanda. Its on a high note that rwanda only carries out gorilla trekking and not the habituation experience. Therefore, for a tourist to embark on a gorilla habituation safari in Africa, it should be in Bwindi national park especially in rushaga and nkuringo sectors in uganda where one gorilla family is habituated every day and 4 tourists are allowed to habituate the family.
The habituated gorilla families include
SABYINYO which means `old man’s teeth’ and inhabits between mount sabyinyo and gahinga and it got its name from mount sabyinyo. It has 12 family members and 2 silverbacks.
AMAHORO family with 17 members with one silverback. The name amahoro means peace and that’s why the family earned its name due to the gentle character.
UMUBANO family which means live together and this split from amahoro family. The group has 11 members and one silverback.
KWITONDA family with 11members and two silver backs. The name means humble one’ which was named after their humble and peaceful dominant silverback.
HIRWA with 12 family members and one silverback and the name means` lucky one’. The group has twins which move on the slopes of mount sabyinyo.
AGASHA family with 25 members and 2 silverbacks. The name means news.
BWENGE family with 10 members and one silverback whereas the name means `brightness’. The family lives on mount bisoke.
UGYENDA family with 11 members and one silver back. The name means departure and it inhabits the region of mount bisoke.
SUSA family with 29 members and 3 silverbacks and it’s known to be the largest group before it split. Its name is derived from Susa River and it became popular after it bore twins impano and byishimo.
KARISIMBI FAMILY with 15 members with 3 silverbacks. The gorillas move on the slopes of Karisimbi volcano.
The gorilla habituation in Rwanda gives an amazing experience compared to the trekking because during the habituation process the tourists spend 4 hours maximumly in the presence of the gorillas as tourists get to learn their behaviors, feeding style, how they relate with one another among others. Being with them gives the tourists a memorable and exciting safari.
