KING OF THE MOUNTAINS

Since their initial discovery in 1902, the mountain gorilla subspecies has become an icon of the Rwandan wildlife, and the chance to glimpse one of these majestic creatures in their natural habitat represents a must-see for any potential visitor. Sharing ninety-eight per cent of human DNA, the mountain gorilla boasts thicker, more substantial fur than its great-ape cousins, a trait that helps them to thrive in the elevated region they call home: the mountainous regions of the Virungas, situated within Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. In recent decades, the combination of war, poaching, the destruction of habitats, and disease contributed to the decline of Gorilla populations, falling to an all-time-low of just 242 individual gorillas recorded in the Virunga Massif in the 1980s. However, following extensive collaboration between governments, local communities, and NGOs, mountain gorillas within Rwanda have staged a remarkable recovery. As of 2016, the latest count revealed that there are now approximately 1,000 mountain gorillas in the wild, with 604 of these living in the Virunga Massif.

VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK- MOUNTAIN GORILLA

These numbers comprise a total of twelve fully-habituated mountain gorilla families, with another eight families habituated for scientific research. A notable success story of conservation efforts worldwide, the hard work of all those involved experienced its crowning moment in 2018, when the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reclassified the species from “critically endangered” to “endangered”.

Tracking gorillas in Rwanda is safe and relatively accessible, with almost 17,250 visitors making the journey to Volcanoes National Park in 2019 alone. In the interest of preserving mountain gorilla populations and habitats, the issuing of tracking permits is heavily regulated, with only six tracking permits issued per troop per day. For visitors to Volcanoes, this makes for a unique and unforgettable experience. Tracking sessions begin from Kinigi, the headquarters of the National Park. From there, visitors can embark on hikes lasting anything from 30 minutes to four or more hours, reaching an altitude of between 2,500m and 4,000m. Throughout the experience, porters are on hand to carry backpacks and cameras, as well as to offer a helping hand along the route.

Since 2004, the Rwandan government has sought celebrate its successful work in the restoration of mountain gorilla populations with the holding of its Kwita Izina ceremony, held annually on 24 September, a date recognised internationally as World Gorilla Day. Kwita Izina – meaning “to give a name” in the national language, Kinyarwanda – involves the giving of a name to the year’s cohort of new-born baby gorillas. A significant highlight of the Rwandan calendar, the ceremony features music, dancing, and discussion about Rwanda’s great strides in gorilla conservation, and the great challenges that remain, all geared towards the objective of further promoting values of conservation, biodiversity, and encouraging environmental sustainability. A total of more than 300 mountain gorillas have been named over the course of the ceremony, which in 2021 is set to enter its seventeenth year. Kwita Izina continues to contribute to Rwanda’s ambitious strategy to preserve its natural heritage and further expand the role of tourism in the country’s transformation. c