Hirwa Gorilla Group
Hirwa Gorilla Group: Gorilla trekking is one of the most sought travel adventures in the world and his can only be done in three countries found in Africa that is Rwanda, Congo and Uganda. This activity can be dine at volcanoes national park in the north western part of Rwanda.
10gorilla groups in Rwanda have been habituated for tourism purposes and this are; the Susa gorilla family, Kwitonda gorilla family, Ugenda gorilla family, Titus gorilla family, group 13, Amahoro gorilla family, Umubano gorilla group, Sabinyo gorilla group, Karasimbi gorilla group, Bwenge gorilla group and Hirwa gorilla group.
Mountain gorillas live at altitudes ranging from 2300- 4500, they mostly feed on fruits, insects, stems, bamboo shoot and many other things to supplement their diet.
The Hirwa gorilla group was formed by some members if Sabinyo gorilla family and group 13, the group was formed in the 17th of June 2006. Its one of the smallest gorilla groups with 9 individuals consisting of 3 adult females, 1 silverback, 3 babies and 2 sub adult females earlier but members of other groups have kept joining the group
The name Hirwa is derived from a local Kinyarwanda word to mean “ lucky one” . this gorilla family is one if the luckiest gorilla groups with twins born in 2011. The family mostly Roma’s round Sabinyo and Gahinga volcanoes.
The Hirwa gorilla family is one if the mist visited and liked by trekkers to Rwanda, the group is dominated by a silverback known as Munyinga who broke off from the Susa gorilla family because of constantly mating with the females in the family.
He left the Susa gorilla group with two females and kept on inhabiting the rest of the members on the way. The group can easily be located within an hours time when trekking and a period of one hour is given to visitors for observing the great apes.
Gorilla permits in Rwanda costs $1500 and can be booked all year round, tourists are advised to book their permits in advance as they can be on high demand more so in the peak season.
During the wet season tourists will be required to carry water proof booys, rain coats, cotton clothing, insect repellents, energy snacks and so much more the trekking paths can be very steep and will require some fitness.
Visitors with infections will not be allowed to trek mountain gorillas as gorillas subject to contraction of disease from humans.
The Virunga ranges in Rwanda can be accessed within 2 hours time from Kigali international airport.
The places where to sleep while trekking gorilla in volcanoes national park will depend on the tourists budget there are budget, mid range and luxurious accommodation sectors. Some if the lodges you can sleep in include; Vest view hotel, Faraja hotel, Sabinyo silverback lodge and solution hotel to mention a few.
There are also a lot of other tourists activities that tourists can engage in while in Rwanda like exploring the Rwandesse culture, wildlife watching, birding, explore the Congo trail, visit the lakes, learn about the genocide in the museums, chimpanzee and golden monkey trekking among the rest.
