Munyaga gorilla family
Munyaga gorilla family in Virunga national park was one of the gorilla groups that was not habituated for tourism purposes before 1998 but it was known by many researchers during that time. The gorilla group had numerous interactions with Buhanga family and some of its members had to join the Munyaga group. Some of the mountain gorillas that joined Munyaga group include Kasole and Mawazo who are brothers and silverbacks in the group.
When Kabirizi and Buhanga gorilla families fought, Buhanga was killed and this was a good deal for Munyaga in which he stole all the group members of Buhanga family. Kabirizi tried to fight with Munyaga but he failed to take some of its members.
From the fights that happened from 1998 to 2002, Munyaga gorilla family was able to lose 6 of its members to other groups and deaths. In 2007 and 2008 Munyaga gorilla family ran away from his group because its area was occupied by CNDP rebels and in the process, Mawazo became the dominant silverback. Mawazo is still the leader of Munyaga gorilla family and from the time Munyaga left the group, it has been able to increase from 6 to 10 members, one emigration and 5 never births.
Trekking Munyaga gorilla family
Trekking any gorilla family in Virunga national park starts very early in the morning at the park offices. Trekkers are advised to wake up very early and have breakfast after which the driver guide will transfer them to the park offices where they will meet the wardens to teach them about the rules and regulations of the gorilla trekking activity. The trekking activity takes 2-5 hours depending n the location of the gorilla group and the speed at which you are trekking.
Later grouping is done and since the wardens are aware of the family you want to trek and so they will group you with those gong for Munyaga gorilla family trekking. Armed ranger guides do lead the trekkers through different trails of the park as they search for this family. During the search they are able to meet different park mammals, primates, birds, and plants, when the trekkers meet Munyaga gorilla family, they are given 1 hour to be around this group, learn about their habits, take photos and spot them do daily activities.
Trekking permits for Munyaga gorilla family
Trekking permits for Munyaga gorilla family are 8 every day at Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature. Only 8 people can be allowed to trek this gorilla group accords to the rules of the park. Each permit does cost $450 for foreign non-residents and foreign residents, $200 is for east African citizens and Congolese in the high seasons. During the low season of March to May and October to November, the permits are $200 per person per trek.
Booking gorilla permits for Munyaga gorilla family
Booking gorilla permits for mu Munyaga gorilla family can be done with Africa adventure vacations limited a local tour company in East Africa. All you have to do is send us an email containing the dates of the month and year that you want to travel. We shall use these dates to check for the availability of the trekking permits with Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature.
When we find the trekking permits for Munyaga gorilla group available, we shall send you banking details and when you send the money, we shall book the permits for you. Travelers are advised to book the trekking permits for Virunga national park in advance to avoid last-minute booking disappointments.
Best time to trek Munyaga gorilla family
Virunga national park is open at all times of the year for those that want to trek Munyaga gorilla family however there are months that are better than the rest. The dry months are the best to trek Munyaga gorilla group in Virunga national park and they happen from June to September and December to February. In these months, there is little or no rainfall which leaves the trekking trials less slippery, the vegetation is thin with clear views of the gorillas and the roads leading to the park are passable.
Travelers, most especially the budget one can visit Virunga national park for Munyaga gorilla trekking in the rainy season of March to May and October to November to enjoy huge discounts on accommodation facilities and gorilla permits. However travelers should know that during this period, there is plenty of rainfall, the trekking trails are muddy and slippery, roads leading to the park are impassable and the vegetation is thick giving unclear views of the gorillas.
What to pack for Munyaga gorilla family trekking?
The packing list for Munyaga gorilla family trekking is an important thing to look at because anyone intending to encounter the gorilla of this group has to consider what to pack before coming to Virunga national park. What to pack includes waterproof hiking boots, long-sleeved pants, long-sleeved shirts, a pair of binoculars, a pair of gaiters, a camera, insect repellents, rain jacket, gardening gloves, a hat, sunscreen, drinking water bottle, energy-giving snacks, facemask, and sanitizer.
Accommodation on Munyaga gorilla family trekking safari
Virunga national park is the most popular travel destination in DR Congo, and there are a number of good accommodation facilities in and around the national park. The accommodation you choose depends on your budget and they include Lulimbi Tented Camp, Nyiragongo Volcano Summit Shelters, Bukima Tented Camp, Mikeno Lodge, Tchegera Island, Kibumba Tented Camp, and much more.
Activities to combine with Munyaga gorilla trekking in Virunga national park
Birding: Virunga national park is home to more than 706 bird species of which about 20 are endemic to the region. Bird lovers on a gorilla trekking safari can add this activity to their itinerary and stand a chance to encounter most of these bird species. Birding activities are guided by well-experienced ranger guides that lead you through different trials looking for the best spots.
Birds of Virunga national park include tropical boubou, thick-billed seedeater, narrow-tailed starling, streaky seedeater, sharpe’s starling, African citril, black bishop, pin-tailed whydah, baglafecht weaver, lunder’s bushshrike, variable sunbird, malachite sunbird, yellow white-eye, collared sunbird, chinspot batis, olive sunbird, and black-throated wattle-eye.
Other notable bird species in Virunga national park include Rwenzori batis, mountain masked apalis, red-faced woodland warbler, African paradise flycatcher, grey-throated barbet, klaas’s cuckoo, Rwenzori batis, red-eyed dive, strange weaver. African olive pigeon, common buzzard, grey crown crane, and hadeda ibis among others.
Chimpanzee trekking: Combining Munyaga gorilla family trekking in Virunga national park with chimpanzee trekking would be the best way to differentiate between these two apes. Chimpanzee trekking is done by all people above the age f 15 years and all participants must have chimpanzee trekking permits. We advise those coming for gorilla trekking to book the chimpanzee permits before traveling to the country.
Chimpanzee trekking starts with the briefing, warmed ranger guides lead the trekkers into the jungle where they start looking for the chimpanzees. During the search that takes 2-4 hours, the trekkers are able to meet different park animals such as leopards, buffaloes, duikers, elephants, topis, giant forest hogs, bongo, okapi, aardvark, giant forest hogs, birds, and plants. When the chimpanzees are located, the trekkers are given 1 hour to be around them watch them do daily activities, take photos and learn about their habits.
Hiking: Hiking is another activity that can be combined with trekking Munyaga gorilla family. Hiking in Virunga national park is done mostly on mountain Nyiragongo which is the most active volcano in the whole world. The mountain is 34370 meters tall and can be hiked in 5-6 hours. Hiking is done with a help of armed rangers who lead the trekkers to the summit while protecting them from wild animals and telling them different information about the volcano.
Hiking mount Nyiragongo comes with an opportunity of meeting park animals such as buffaloes, duikers, topis, elephants, okapis, leopards, kobs, topis, mongoose, hyrax, giant forest hogs, birds, and different vegetations. On reaching the summit of Nyiragongo, you will have stunning views of the lava lake, Goma city, Virunga volcanoes, Rwenzori Mountain, plantations, and homesteads
