Which country has the highest Mountain Gorilla population? – Mountain gorilla trekking safaris in Africa are to no doubt the most thought of by most travelers when planning their vacation to Africa. The safari activity offers one of the most thrilling and life-changing adventures in the wild as you will encounter massive endangered primate species in their natural habitat – heart melting moment for nature and wildlife lovers. The mountain gorilla population is at only a thousand individuals worldwide – the most endangered of all the gorilla subspecies.
Gorilla trekking National Parks – Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda are the three countries where mountain gorillas can be found on the African continent. Mountain gorillas only inhabit four National Parks in these 3 countries. Three of these national parks are located in the Virunga region, which straddles the borders of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is home to a number of active volcanoes. Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda are the three national parks in the Virunga ranges. Despite having a common forest, these three national parks are separated by colonial borders.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda has the highest mountain gorilla population and is perhaps the primary destination for gorilla trekking safaris in the pearl of Africa. The impenetrable forests offer ample feeding and environment for these massive giants.
Mountain gorillas are a subspecies of the eastern gorilla that live in the Virunga region with a range of volcanoes that extend to three East African countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mountain gorillas are the most endangered of all the mountain gorilla subspecies. Why are mountain gorillas endangered? -The mountain gorillas have endured years of war, hunting, habitat destruction, and disease – threats so severe that it was once thought the species might be extinct by the end of the twentieth century. However, the subspecies’ future has improved recently as a result of conservation initiatives, which may have seemed gloomy just a few decades ago. In all gorilla national parks, the mountain gorilla populations have grown in size despite persistent civil unrest, poaching, and a growing human population.
As their name suggests, mountain gorillas live in forests high in the mountains, at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet. They have thicker fur, and more of it, compared to other great apes. The fur helps them to survive in a habitat where temperatures often drop below freezing. However, when humans encroached more and more on gorilla habitat, the animals were pushed deeper and longer into the highlands, where they were subjected to perilous and occasionally fatal conditions.
Mountain gorillas are endemic to the Virunga Region in East Africa and can only be trekked in the countries like Uganda, Rwanda, and, the Democratic Republic of Congo. Which country has the highest Mountain Gorilla population? – Of the three mountain gorilla trekking countries, Uganda is a stand-out destination as it holds the largest number of the mountain gorilla population. The country’s continued conservation efforts toward mountain gorillas have in recent seen the number of individuals increasing steadily – Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park registered over 549 individuals, the highest in a single mountain gorilla trekking safari park in the region. The Virunga region has over 600 individuals and the conservation efforts by different countries have not been in vain. Including the mountain gorillas living in the Virunga mountain range of Rwanda and Congo, the overall total of mountain gorillas is now 1,063.
You can trek in a variety of locations throughout Uganda, and lodging can be reserved based on where you will pick up your trekking permits. Gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park will give you opportunities not only spotting these massive giants but also experience the diversity and nature in the forest. You will encounter several small forest mammals and birds that you will truly enjoy watching.