Lulengo Gorilla Family
Lulengo Gorilla Family / group – DR Congo is one of the 3 African countries where you can encounter the endangered mountain gorillas from apart Uganda and Rwanda. Mountain gorillas are a subspecies of eastern gorillas.
Mountain gorillas are the world’s largest primates and share 95% DNA with humans the reason many people travel to have an encounter in Africa though it’s expensive, gorillas live in social groups of 5-30 individuals dominated by a silverback that’s responsible for the activities and safety.
Gorillas are very calm and gentle animals but can become extremely dangerous if they feel disturbed or insecure but before a gorilla even charges at someone, they send threatening signs such as thumping the ground, beating the chests, tearing vegetation, and making loud outs. If a gorilla shows threatening signs and the opponent doesn’t seem to surrender then it leads to a serious fight.
Lulengo mountain gorilla family was at first known as Musekura gorilla family but the name was later changed to Lulengo in memory of the Virunga national park technical director who was killed by a land mine. The gorilla family is now composed of 9 individuals including 1 silverback, 1 sub-adult male, 3 adult females, 3 babies, and 1 juvenile. Numbers in gorilla families kept on changing from year to year due to new births, deaths, fights leading to the separation of group members and the addition of new members.
Lulengo the dominating silverback of the group was born in Rugabi gorilla family and his father Rugabo died when he was shot by the poachers during the great lakes refugee crisis in 1994. This group can be trekked from Jomba and Bunagana near DR Congo and Ugandan border.
Gorilla permits Lulengo Gorilla Family
For one to trek mountain gorillas in Virunga national park, they should have a valid gorilla trekking permit which costs $450 in the peak season and $200 in the low season. Permits to Virunga national park are sold to persons above the age of 15. if you are planning to visit the country in the peak season you are advised to book your gorilla permit in advance of 3-4 months to avoid disappointments
Best time to visit Lulengo Gorilla Family?
DR Congo can be visited at any time of the year although some months are better than the rest. The best time to visit Virunga national park is the dry season which happens to be from June to September and December to February and it’s during these months that the trails are also not muddy and slippery during this period.
What to carry for gorilla trekking?
Those intending to travel should pack good waterproof hiking shoes, a hat, garden gloves, enough drinking water, rain jackets, warm long-sleeved clothes, energy-giving snacks, incest repellents, sunscreen and much more.
