DISCOVER DR CONGO
Lulengo gorilla family
There are 11 members in the Lulengo gorilla family including 1 silverback, 3 adult females, 1 blackback, 2 sub adult females, 2 juvenile gorillas and 2 infant gorillas.
Lulengo family in Virunga national park is another gorilla family which can be seen during tours in the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo. There are 11 members in the Lulengo gorilla family including 1 silverback, 3 adult females, 1 blackback, 2 sub adult females, 2 juvenile gorillas and 2 infant gorillas. The name of the dominant silverback in this group is Lulengo. During tours in Virunga national park, the gorillas in Lulengo family can be seen around Bikenga and Jomba areas.
The habituation of the Lulengo gorilla family in Virunga national park started around 1985when it was led by a silverback named Rugabo. Rugabo was unfortunately killed around in 1994 and his son Lulengo took over leadership of the group. At the time when Lulengo became the leader of the Lulengo family, there were 12 individuals in the group. The number of the gorillas in Lulengo increased overtime following interactions with other gorilla groups in the national park like Mapuwa and Rugendo.
Visiting the Lulengo family in Virunga national park
The Lulengo family can be seen during a gorilla trek in Virunga national park either in the dry season or rainy season. Gorilla permits for Virunga national park cost 450 USD for individuals above the age of 15 years. These permits are used for a single gorilla trekking experience which starts with briefing at the park headquarters. After briefing, tourists trek into Virunga forest to search for the gorillas and spend 1 hour with the gorillas and later return to the park headquarters. Many other activities can be done in Virunga national park apart from gorilla trekking and they include chimpanzee habituation hiking Mount Nyiragongo, guided nature walks and hikes.
Virunga national park is home to about 10 gorilla families including the Lulengo family and other gorilla families in the national park include Humba, Kabirizi, Mapuwa, Rugendo, Nyakamwe, Munyaga, Bageni, Wilulunga and Baraka.
