Hirwa Gorilla Family Returned to Rwanda

Hirwa gorilla family returned to Rwanda after it had migrated to Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park on 28th August 2019. Hirwa gorilla family returned to Rwanda a few weeks ago and it was first spotted and identified by Rwanda gorilla trackers on 15th April 2020 in Volcanoes National Park. The RDB {Rwanda Development Board) confirmed the return of the Hirwa gorilla family and thus issued an official statement on their official website. The news of the return of the Hirwa gorilla group was received with great joy and much anticipation of the future.

At the time Hirwa gorilla family migrated to Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, there were 17 gorilla individuals in total. However, Hirwa gorilla family returned to Rwanda with only 11 gorilla individuals after 4 perished from lightening that struck them dead on 3rd February 2020 while 2 succumbed to intestinal obstruction and respiratory infections. The only additional member that Hirwa gorilla family had gotten whilst in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, born in January 2020, also passed away due to intestinal obstruction of the colon.

Hirwa gorilla family is among the many other gorilla families in the Virunga Massif area comprising of Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park where it had migrated to. Gorilla families in this area constantly roam around due to seasonal food availability, inter-group competition for food and reproduction, which has them crossing their home boundaries and finding themselves elsewhere. One of the other gorilla families that migrate from one park to another in the Virunga Massif is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park’s Nyakagezi gorilla family which up until a few years ago settled in the park.

For the last eight months or so that the Hirwa gorilla group was staying in Uganda, it was trekked from Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with bookings being made with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, at the set gorilla permit price of $600 which is set to change to $700 per person by July 2020. All revenue that was collected was shared equally between Uganda and Rwanda. 

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park 

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the most sought after activity in Uganda since it gives not only a good gorilla trekking experience but also tranquillity. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga takes place throughout the year, and travellers can book their safaris through very trusted tour operators. The park has only habituated gorilla family; the Nyakagezi gorilla family that settled in the park for the past several years. Having had only one habituated gorilla group meant that only 8 persons per day were able to do gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park since only 8 gorilla permits were available per day. This was so until August 2019 with the migration of Hirwa gorilla family that had raised the number of gorilla trekkers to 16 per day.

Having the Hirwa gorilla group returned to Rwanda affects Mgahinga Gorilla National Park gorilla trekkers allowed into the park per day since only the Nyakagezi gorilla family is the only one left. 

Travellers interested in gorilla trekking in Mgahinga are advised to book their gorilla safaris way in advance since gorilla permits sell out very fast due to demand and a limited number of trekkers allowed. Gorilla permits in Uganda cost $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents and ugx250,000 for East African citizens, and can be purchased from the Uganda Wildlife Authority reservations team or through trusted tour operators. With the cost of a single gorilla permit in Rwanda costing $1,500, many tourists divert to do gorilla trekking in Uganda in either Mgahinga or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Hirwa gorilla family migrating into Uganda in 2019 was well received by the Uganda Wildlife Authority officials and the tourism industry in the country as a whole; in the same way, its return home is respected greatly. With or without the Hirwa gorilla family, gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can still be done. Be sure to see the Nyakagezi gorilla family upon your visit to the park, and you will be left amazed by their spirit of togetherness and peace. Get in touch with a trusted tour operator to help you plan the best gorilla safari in Uganda.