DISCOVER DR CONGO
Mapuwa family
Of the 26 members of the Mapuwa family in Virunga national park, there are 3 silverbacks, 1 blackback, 8 adult female gorillas, 3 sub adult gorillas, 3 juvenile gorillas and 8 infant gorillas.
Mapuwa family in Virunga national park consists of 26 members and can be seen around the Jomba area in the national park. The dominant silverback in the Mapuwa gorilla group if called Mvuyekure. The silverback who formed this gorilla family in Virunga national park was Mapuwa and this was around 1998. With 2 females who were taken from the Lulengo group which is another of the gorilla families in Virunga national park, the Mapuwa group was formed. The 2 females were named Kagoferi and Kanepo.
Mapuwa who was a son to Rugendo of the Rugendo group in Virunga national park left the group with his brother around 1995. Later around 2017 the group formed by Mapuwa split into 2. One group which split from Mapuwa was led by a silverback called Mvuyekure who took many of the gorillas in the group with him. At a later time, the Mvuyekure group reunited with the Mapuwa group after living in the same area. Of the 26 members of the Mapuwa family in Virunga national park, there are 3 silverbacks, 1 blackback, 8 adult female gorillas, 3 sub adult gorillas, 3 juvenile gorillas and 8 infant gorillas.
Visiting the Mapuwa family in Virunga national park
The Mapuwa family is among the habituated gorilla groups of Virunga national park. A gorilla permit issued to tourists interested in seeing these gorillas costs 450 USD per individual. Travelers below the age of 15 years are not permitted to engage in gorilla trekking in Virunga national park. The gorilla trek starts with briefing on gorilla trekking in Virunga national park which is done at the park headquarters by the park officials. After briefing, groups are allocated with ranger guides and the trek begins.
During the search for the gorillas, tourists can enjoy the biodiversity of Virunga national park and when the gorillas are found, 1 hour is spent with them. Tourists can take photos and record the moments with the gorillas during this time. However, the use of flash photography is discouraged during recording of the gorillas. The best time to see these gorillas in Virunga national park is during the dry season around June to October when the conditions are favorable. Gorilla trekking can also be done during the rainy season.
When visiting Virunga national park apart from Mapuwa group, other gorilla families to visit include Bageni, Humba, Baraka, Wilulunga, Munyaga, Nyakamwe, Rugendo, Lulengo and Kabirizi.
