459 of these gorillas are found within Bwindi impenetrable national park and are categorized within 50 gorilla groups or families. Uganda has over 600 mountain gorillas which are located within Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Mgahinga national park. Mother gorilla relaxing with baby gorillas We were also issued head nets to protect against small annoying sweat bees who stay close to the gorillas, but who were not averse to moving their attention to other large primates when we were around.īy the end of the safari, it became commonplace at brunch to roll up pant legs or shirtsleeves in order to compare various insect bites and to see whose limbs were the most swollen.īut all of this was a small price to pay for the privilege of seeing lowland gorillas in the wild-and being in the beautiful jungles of Congo.Facts about the gorillas and the habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi. Some portions of the humid jungle hike were very difficult and occasionally required our guides to cut a path through the extremely dense under-vegetation. Interestingly, he did not charge us straight on, but rather cut a diagonal path across the front of our group so that we received the full brunt of his display without the danger of actual physical confrontation.Īpparently, chastened and satisfied that he was willing to protect her, the female fell back in the family group, and we continued to observe the fascinating behavior of the group for the full hour permitted by conservation guidelines.Įven with the expert services and hospitality of Wilderness Safaris, a trip to Odzala National Park in Congo is certainly a little more challenging than a usual safari to East or Southern Africa. He suddenly exploded out of his resting position and came toward us with hoots and grunts, making it very clear that any challenge to his primacy was not welcome.

Neptuno ignored her-and us-at first, but a guy can only take so much provocation. While he tried to rest, she flirtatiously edged closer to us, as if to show interest in our group. A large female sought his attention and used our presence to get a rise out of her mate. Yet, for all his efforts, this wasn’t something he could achieve. I suspect we arrived at such a moment when Neptuno was looking for solitude and rest. Like all fathers, Neptuno looks for those few moments of peace and quiet when the juveniles aren’t rambunctious or when the demands of being the de facto leader of the group don’t weigh on him.

He is a huge, fully grown male, with a well-developed saddle of silver extending from his head down to his back and thighs. Lowland gorillas are slightly smaller and lighter than their mountain cousins, but you would never know it from meeting Neptuno. A mature female was lying on the ground nearby with two youngsters while other gorillas played in the trees above. The silverback gorilla named Neptuno was sitting on the ground perhaps 15 meters from us.

The lowland gorillas also live in the midst of their favorite food source-the broad-leafed marantaceae scrub.Īfter four hours of tough trekking, our safari group, comprised of AWF trustees and myself, suddenly came upon the group we were seeking. The mountain gorillas of the Virungas are often described as living in a giant salad bowl.

Western lowland gorilla superfamily