The Bald Mountain gorilla is the most fascinating individual you will meet in Volcanoes National Park. The park is Rwanda‘s leading safari destination and the best mountain gorilla trekking destination. Volcanoes National Park has over 20 gorilla families with 12 fully habituated and open to tourism. Mountain gorilla families comprise up to 15 individuals or more. Each gorilla family is led by a dominant male gorilla called Silverback.
Among the habituated gorillas families in Rwanda is the Sabyinyo family where the bald mountain gorilla belongs. The family comprises 15 individuals and our beloved bald Mountain gorilla is second in command.
About The Bald Mountain Gorilla
Big Ben is among the prominent male gorillas in the Sabyinyo gorilla family. He was born in 2004 and has steadily grown to dominance in the misty mountains of Volcanoes National Park. The 19-year-old despite not being the lead silverback is loved by the other subordinate gorillas in the family. There is a chance for Big Ben to become the lead silverback of this lovely family.
For any male gorilla to become the dominant Silverback it has to defeat the reigning Silverback. Some after being defeated break away from their families to start new lives with a few gorillas that believe in them. Not all Silverbacks get involved in succession battles and it explains why it has been peaceful for the Sabyinyo Family.
We will keep on monitoring the activities of this family and will surely be excited when the Bald Mountain Gorilla finally takes power.
The Significance of Being Bald
It is not every day that you encounter a bald mountain gorilla which is why Big Ben is incredibly outstanding. Among human beings, being bald is not common either but at least there are several bald people you meet. Some may wonder why the comparison of mountain gorillas to humans and the answer is in the DNA. We share over 95% DNA with these rare primates. This is the reason why we have a lot in common including the aspect of being bald.
Baldness is hereditary or can be caused by aging and changes in hormones. Some humans cover this with treatment and you may never notice even when one is bald. The story is quite different from our Primate cousins who do not use such kind of treatment and simply let nature take its course. It is just fascinating to see Big Ben and look into his eyes. Such moments of truth will never leave you the same and are the ones we value on our Discovery Journey adventures.
Volcanoes National Park Discovery Journeys
Volcanoes National Park is our top-seller safari destination in Rwanda. The park is home to not just mountain gorillas but also golden monkeys, birds, and other mammal species. Mountain gorilla trekking is the most commonly done activity followed by golden monkey trekking.
Now that you have heard about the bald mountain gorilla, this is the best time to book your gorilla trekking Discovery Journeys. It does not matter whether you trek with the Sabyinyo family to see the bald mountain gorilla. You will have a great time with any of the gorilla families you visit while in the park. Mountain gorilla families are allocated at the park headquarters and sometimes one’s physical fitness is a determinant. This is because some gorilla families can be got to after longer hours of hiking and not everyone is physically fit for such hikes.
Where to Stay
Volcanoes National Park has several accommodation options where one can stay. These include high end lodges like Bisate Lodge, One&Only Gorillas’ Nest Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge and Singita Kwitonda Lodge. Most of them get fully booked during the peak tourist season and it is advisable to book them in advance.
Best Time to Visit
Volcanoes National Park can be visited any time of the year. For the best experience with the Bald Mountain gorilla and overall trekking we recommend visiting during the dry season. The dry season spans from June to September and from mid December to early March.
This doubles as the peak tourist season and gorilla permits get fully booked a couple of months in advance. You can still visit the park during the wet months of November and April to May. Rainfall is however more likely to occur during these months. It is always better to have a rain gear even in the dry season. This is because rainfall can be unpredictable given the relief and vegetation.
Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tours
You can book your gorilla tour starting with a one-day gorilla tour adventure. The 1-day Rwanda gorilla tour starts with a pick-up from Kigali at 4:30 am if it is where you prefer to start your tour. From there you are driven to the park by 7:00 am in time for a briefing about the gorilla trekking rules and regulations. After the briefing, you are led to the forested mountains hiking until you meet the mountain gorillas.
The 2-day Rwanda Gorilla Tour is a bit relaxed in case you are not comfortable with the early morning pickup. You can also opt for a 3-day Rwanda gorilla tour that also features golden monkey trekking. There are longer Primate Discovery Journeys like a 4-day Rwanda Tour, a 4-Day Double Gorilla Trekking Tour, and 10-day Rwanda Safaris that also feature chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. Contact us for customized Rwanda Gorilla tours to meet the Bald Mountain gorilla and other adventures. Our other adventures include Kenya Signature experiences and Tanzania Classic safaris.
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