Tag: Gorilla National Parks /Rwanda, Uganda, DR Congo/
National parks protecting mountain gorillas consist of the rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, plus three parks in the Virungas, the chain of eight volcanoes straddling the border of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The home of Grauer’s gorillas is Kahuzi-Biega National Park in eastern DR Congo.
For our main Gorilla National Parks page with travel advice please click here.
Our Stories:
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The Godfather and the Controversial Martyr of Mountain Gorilla Research
The first scientist to study mountain gorillas full time in the wild was George Schaller. When he reviewed the literature he could find few verifiable facts, largely due to the secretive lifestyle of the gorilla in dense forest and bush. In 1959 he chose a research area in Kabara (DR Congo) because of its more open habitat,…
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Tale of Kachima Reviewed by Mom and Daughter
The Tale of Kachima: Saving the Golden Monkeys with Sandra Gray is a fun, adventurous, wildly artistic book that allows the imagination of a child to explore and create possibilities. The book takes us on a journey of a conservationist as she learns the secrets of Mother Nature and its inhabitants, especially the endangered golden monkeys. The…
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Showered Siblings
500mm, 1/400s, f/4, ISO800 Well, this takes me back quite a few years! My first gorilla experience was actually in DR Congo, in Virunga National Park. I had just spent a few weeks in Uganda, where I met Miha and a few other members of the Gorilla Highlands team who are still part of the…
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Were Batwa Really Dangerous to Gorillas?
The sad story of the Batwa “Pygmies” of the Gorilla Highlands reached its dramatic peak when they were kicked out of national parks. This was in line with the traditional view of conservation — nature can only be protected in strict separation from indigenous peoples — but was that actually needed? Were they truly dangerous to gorillas? Dian Fossey,…
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How Do Gorillas Get Habituated (Used to Humans)?
In the national parks of the Gorilla Highlands, many gorilla groups roam. But only some of them can actually receive one-hour visits from tourists. That is because they are habituated or, in other words, used to humans. This is done very selectively and carefully. For example, when in 2017 Rwanda doubled its gorilla tracking fees…
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Why Do Gorillas Fart So Much?
Contrary to old myths about bloodthirsty gorillas hunting humans, mountain gorillas are peaceful vegetarians. What Do Mountain Gorillas Eat? They are herbivores, eating up to 140 different types of fruit, herbs, stems and roots. Like other primates they sometimes munch on ants and termites and have been seen to enjoy a communal meal off a favourite…
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Nyiragongo Has Finally Erupted
Today’s spectacular volcanic eruption near Goma, DR Congo, profoundly changes one of our region’s biggest attractions, Mt Nyiragongo … Nyiragongo was famous for being a hiking destination with an overnight near the lava lake (our members can watch it in In-Sights: The Region), but it has been closed since the beginning of the Covid pandemic,…
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Batwa “Pygmies”: History and Present
The Batwa “Pygmies” are one of the oldest peoples in Africa and their origin is unknown. They were hunter-gatherers, roaming the forests in bands foraging for honey, wild yams, fruit, stems and tubers, and hunting small game with trained dogs. They were highly skilled bowmen. Today, the Batwa live as a unified group mainly in people’s imagination. In all the three countries of our…
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I Tasted the Brand New 2-Day Muhabura Hike
Dear readers of the Daily Dose, In my first report from Mgahinga Gorilla National Park I told you that we were preparing to make hiking Mt Muhabura (4,127 m/ 13,540 ft) more accessible. The highest of the three volcanic mountains that our park boasts, it is the preferred climb by seasoned climbers who summit and…
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