Mountain gorillas always live in groups comprised of a dominating silverback, black backs, juveniles, infants and several females. Silverback gorillas are always the ones taking care of all the group activities including time for foraging, time and where to sleep in, breeding and so much more.
Gorillas spend most of their day foraging vegetation and take a mid day rest before they get back to forage until about 7pm in the evening when they build nests, gorillas build new nests daily using leaves and tree branches.
Female mountain gorillas normally reach sexual maturity before male mountain gorillas, when the males grow they live their maternal group to start up their own gorilla family by taking some members from the group or grabbing from other gorilla families.
Kyaguriro gorilla family
Kyaguriro mountain gorilla family can be found in Ruhijja sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, the group was habituated in 1999 and it was purposely dedicated for research about mountain gorillas.
At the time of habituation Kyaguriro mountain gorilla family was under the leadership of Zeus a name derived from a Greek god, Zeus fought with silverback Rukina who banished him to the forest and Zeus died in exile.
Due to high demand for gorilla permits in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, Uganda Wildlife Authority decided to open the group for trekking. In 2015 the group split into two when two silverbacks fought and reunited immediately.
The fight resumed in 2016 when Mukiza the silverback grabbed 10 members to start his own gorilla family and this led to the formation of Kyaguriro A and Kyaguriro B mountain gorilla families. The Kyaguriro B mountain gorilla family is still being used for research purposes while Kyaguriro A is one of the groups you can visit for gorilla trekking.
Gorilla trekking
Trekking of Kyaguriro mountain gorilla family starts early morning in Ruhijja sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, a group of eight healthy individuals without communicable diseases are allowed to visit the family. Upon finding Kyaguriro gorilla family then you will be given an hour for observation and taking photos. The visit can sometimes end early In case the gorilla family seems disturbed and wants to charge.
Best time to trek gorillas
Uganda has got favourable climate meaning the country can be visited all year round but the best time of the year to visit mountain gorillas is during the dry seasons of December to February and June to August when hiking trails are in good condition.
Gorilla permits
Mountain gorilla trekking permits cost $700 in Uganda per person per trekking and gorilla habituation permits cost $1500 per person. Travellers are always advised to buy permits in advance of 3-6 months to avoid missing permits especially during the peak season.
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