Simply No. Only the African continent is home to gorillas, the largest species of primates on earth. They share 98% of human DNA, making them similar to humans. The Republic of Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda are among those where gorillas can be found. Gorillas are gregarious animals that reside in family units. They are led by a powerful silverback who makes sure that everyone in the family is safe and at peace. There are mountain, lowland and western gorillas. The most prevalent members of gorilla species live in the highlands of the Virunga conservation area and are known as mountain gorillas.
Young gorillas stay with their moms up until the age of 4 years, enjoying the breast milk and their mom’s company. From that age forward, they usually split up to start new families. Gorillas never consider eating their own siblings, instead they protect them against attacks from other gorilla families. The silverbacks and female gorillas typically spend a lot of time watching their babies. A close relationship with the fathers of young gorillas born while the group functions as a unit is crucial and they even go so far as to assist in removing the wires and other traps they come across.
The entire gorilla group mourns for a while when a baby dies or is lost before moving on to the next activity. These primates are similar to us in that they like socializing with one another. The young spend the majority of the day playing, skipping from branch to branch, and learning from their moms.
A gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience is the best option to confirm the close link and to rule out the possibility that gorillas can eat their babies. The gorilla trekking adventure takes place on foot and lasts for 1 to 8 hours in the middle of impenetrable jungles. You have an hour to observe the apes after finding them, during which time you can see them playing, interacting with their parents, somersaulting, and more. The mothers spoil their off springs. They share nests and take turns enjoying the breast milk until it’s time to eat some greenery.
What is required to partake in either of the two activities, though? Only individuals over the age of 15 are permitted to go gorilla trekking or habituate. Foreign non-residents must pay 800 USD for a gorilla trekking permit; Ugandans and East African citizens pay 300,000 UGX; and foreign residents must pay 700 USD. Only park entrance fees and the ranger guide who is in charge of showing you around the forest are covered by the funds. The collection also serves to benefit individuals who live nearby the park, such the Batwa pygmies, and advance conservation efforts.
Gorillas are peaceful and friendly, yet they do react when they feel threatened. Visitors are expected to remain calm and maintain their posture even as it approaches them. The gorillas attack by thumping their chests as a display of dominance, shredding the leaves, somersaulting, hooting, racing on two legs, and other behaviors.
The key to a truly wonderful trip is adhering to the ranger guides’ directions. Some of the regulations to follow when entering someone else’s territory include not making noise, properly disposing of human waste, standing at least 7 meters away from gorillas, taking pictures without flash, not impersonating silverbacks, and not staring intently into the eyes of apes, among others.
Best time to encounter gorillas in Africa.
All year long, gorillas can be found in the park and there is a greater than 98% probability that a tourist will see one. However, the best time to visit Africa for gorilla trekking is between the dry months of June through September and late December through early February, when the weather is excellent. Budget-conscious travelers can benefit from the discounted costs of hotels throughout the low tourism seasons of March to May and October to early December.
Gorillas live in families and have strong bonds with their young ones. They never eat them. Visit the African continent for gorilla trekking safaris and learn the true distinctiveness of these our cousins.
