December 13, 2021 | Bujo Safaris
Wondering whether mountain gorillas eat meat? Gorillas rank among the most sought-after attractions in the whole world. A handsome number of tourists every year embark on safaris into the heart of the African jungle to have a one-on-one encounter with humble, magnificent beasts. There are mainly two species of gorillas; precisely the Eastern gorilla and the Western gorilla. These two are further divided into four subspecies of gorillas with each main species having two subspecies.
The Eastern gorilla is split up into eastern lowland gorillas and mountain gorillas while the western gorilla is subdivided into the Cross River gorillas and western lowland gorillas. The mountain gorillas are the most famous of all the subspecies and these can only be encountered in three places on the whole planet. These blessed places are Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Visitors can have a one-on-one encounter with the mountain gorillas on a gorilla trekking safari in one’s desired gorilla destination.
Most of the mountain gorilla population inhabit a stretch of the area known as the Virunga Mountains except for the Bwindi population which is also very close to the Virunga massif. These mountain ranges are characterized by evergreen tropical rainforests the ideal habitat for mountain gorillas. These forests are thick with beautifully intertwined bamboo, vines, ferns, trees, and shrubs. Mountain gorillas are also recorded as the second largest primates after the eastern lowland gorillas.
Gorillas have a strongly similar DNA to humans ranging from 96 to 98 percent based on what matter is included in the test. This makes gorillas one of man’s closest relatives after the bonobos and chimpanzees. Although gorillas nearly share the same DNA with humans their diets differ incredibly and are predominantly comprised of a vegetation diet. Gorillas eat from a variety of over 100 plant species with their favorite being bamboo shoots, wild celery, bedstraw, and other types of fruit. Gorillas rarely drink water because they derive most of it in their succulent diet, which they consume in between breaks of napping, family bonding, grooming, and playing.
As earlier stated, even though they share a closely related DNA with humans and an almost similar digestion system, few gorillas have been recorded eating meat except for a few captives in zoos. Unlike their cousins, chimps and bonobos have a great craving for meat and often hunt smaller mammals like monkeys or squirrels. Even though their digestive systems can support the digestion of meat, the only other food they have apart from plant matter is mainly termites which they resort to in case their vegetable food becomes scarce.
Even when mountain gorillas are dangerous animals, they primarily eat plants and insects and sometimes take advantage of the carcasses found on the ground. Mountains rarely hunt down other animals except when the leopard is trying to hunt down its members.
Gorillas can be encountered in a few countries across central, western, and eastern Africa. Some of these countries include Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, and the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville). Among all these countries the best gorilla trekking destinations are the East African countries of Rwanda, Uganda, and their neighbor Democratic Republic of Congo; this is mainly because they are the only countries that harbor the elusive mountain gorillas. There are four gazette parks where travelers on a gorilla trekking safari can visit and interact with these magical creatures. These are Bwindi impenetrable and Mgahinga national park in Uganda, Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda.
Volcanoes National Park is remarkably the best traveler’s destination for gorilla trekking safaris in Africa. Volcanoes National Park is located in the northwestern part of Rwanda covering an area of about 16,000 hectares that is home to a variety of wildlife species such as spotted hyenas, buffaloes, bushbucks, and elephants among other primate species. The park also consists of 5 famous Volcanoes; Muhabura, Sabinyo, Gahiga, Bisoke, and Karisimbi. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park takes you through the dense forests of Volcanoes National Park and the steep slopes in the montane forests. Along the trek, a traveler will have chances to spot a variety of wildlife species such as birds; the archer’s ground robin, collared Apalis, dusky crimson wing, Grauer’s rush warbler, red-faced woodland warbler, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird and the strange weaver. Though their enormous size usually portrays them as dangerous and menacing animals, gorillas are some of the most peaceful and gentle creatures on earth. The misinformed stories of gorillas being portrayed as menacing creatures can be cleared on a gorilla safari and meet the gentle giants of Africa.
As you plan your gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, there are some things you must pack regarding Gorilla trekking to have an incredible experience such as long-sleeved pants, a gorilla trekking permit, and sunglasses. Face musk, bottled drinking water, cameras, backpack, snacks, a pair of Binoculars light jackets, walking sticks, and sturdy hiking shoes among others.
Mountain gorillas can be visited in all months of the year though a few months are more suitable for gorilla trekking than months. The recommended months are mainly June through August and December to early February. These are dry seasons in these respective countries and more ideal for trekking because there is less rain to be expected during a trek, trails aren’t slippery and muddy plus there are limited insects to interrupt you. The rainy months of March to May are less suitable than the dry season but are ideal for people who prefer smaller crowds and are on a low budget. During low seasons, lodges and tour operators offer discounts on their services to attract more customers. Have any questions about gorillas? Book a gorilla permit to any destination of your choice to encounter, interact with, and learn more about gorillas on a personal level.
To have an incredible moment with the mountain gorillas, a traveler must have a gorilla trekking permit that allows tourists to access the gorillas in their natural habitat. A gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda costs USD 1500 as of 2024 / 2026. However, one may opt to do gorilla trekking in Uganda which is relatively affordable and cheaper for travelers planning a Uganda safari. Embark on a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park which has about 406 gorilla individuals. Gorilla trekking Permits in Uganda cost; USD 800 (Foreign Non-Residents), USD 700 (Foreign Residents), and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens.
Are you planning a gorilla trekking safari to Rwanda? Here is how you can get to Rwanda for an exclusive gorilla trekking safari. The park is 2 hours drive from Kigali International Airport to Volcanoes National Park. Meeting the mountain gorillas in their natural sanctuary is a natural wonder that no traveler on a safari to East Africa would opt to miss out on.
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