Gorilla Forest Corridor Webcam – GRACE Sanctuary, DR Congo

The Gorilla Forest Corridor Webcam looks into the forest at GRACE, the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center near Kasugho in North Kivu, eastern DR Congo, where 14 orphaned Grauer’s gorillas live together as one surrogate family. The view is thick undergrowth of broad green leaves, and a gorilla moving along the corridor can fill the frame, close enough to pick out a silverback’s pale saddle and the stems he strips with his hands. The operator says the gorillas pass through most often in the Congo morning and afternoon. When they are out of view, the stream can switch to recorded clips from the same camera, labeled Livecam Highlights in the corner.

About the Gorilla Forest Corridor

GRACE was founded in 2009 by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund with the Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN) and the Tayna Center for Conservation Biology. It is the only center in the world giving rehabilitative care to orphaned Grauer’s gorillas. In 2012 it began building a forest enclosure of 10 hectares (24 acres) in former gorilla habitat next to Tayna Nature Reserve, and the 13 residents of the time, all orphans rescued from poachers and traders, first moved in during March 2015. Mature trees and dense undergrowth let them practice what they would need in the wild: foraging, building nests and moving as a group.

Grauer’s gorilla, also called the eastern lowland gorilla, lives only in the mountainous forests of eastern DR Congo, with important populations in Kahuzi-Biega and Maiko National Parks, Tayna and the Usala forest. It is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies and the largest living primate, with males weighing 150 to 209 kilograms (331 to 461 pounds). The IUCN lists it as Critically Endangered. Surveys counted fewer than 3,800 in 2016, while a 2021 estimate put the wild population at up to 6,800.

Kasugho lies about 28 kilometers (17 miles) south of the equator, at roughly 1,500 meters (4,900 feet). Beyond the enclosure, GRACE works with communities in the Tayna-Usala corridor to protect more than 200,000 hectares (half a million acres) of forest. Its site now lists four gorillas as back in the wild, which Explore.org calls the first rewilding of Grauer’s gorillas.

Weather and Climate at the Gorilla Forest Corridor

Almost on the equator and well above sea level, Kasugho has no real summer or winter. Ten years of modeled weather data for the village show daytime highs of 23 to 25°C (73 to 77°F) in every month and nights of 14 to 16°C (57 to 61°F). Day length barely changes either, with sunrise close to 6 am and sunset close to 6 pm local time all year.

The seasons run from wet to wetter rather than warm to cold. December to February is the driest stretch, with January and February the least rainy months. Rain builds from March and stays heavy through May, June to August brings the coolest nights at around 14°C (57°F), and September to November is the wettest part of the year. November averages close to four times the rainfall of January.

Things to Do Near the Gorilla Forest Corridor

The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to North Kivu and neighboring South Kivu, so for now the Gorilla Forest Corridor Webcam is the practical way to see this forest. Right beside the enclosure lies Tayna Nature Reserve, which in the early 2000s became the first community-managed reserve recognized under Congolese law. GRACE works with its locally elected management authority to monitor the wild Grauer’s gorillas living there. The nearest city is Butembo, about 53 kilometers (33 miles) to the northeast at 1,750 meters (5,740 feet), just north of the equator.

The one place tourists can visit wild Grauer’s gorillas is Kahuzi-Biega National Park near Bukavu, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) to the south. Two families there are habituated to people: Bonane’s group, led by a silverback habituated since 2013, and Mpungwe, a family of 13 habituated since 2021. Visits are booked through the park office in Bukavu and allow at most one hour with the gorillas. Bukavu is in South Kivu, under the same travel advice, so check the current situation before planning anything.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

Orphaned bonobos at the other end of DR Congo, then more wildlife and primates:

• Lola ya Bonobo Webcam
• Masai Mara Webcam
• Awaji Monkey Center Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you see on the Gorilla Forest Corridor Webcam?

Dense green undergrowth in GRACE’s forest enclosure and the Grauer’s gorillas that move through it, sometimes close enough to fill the frame. When none are in view, the stream can play recorded highlights from the same camera.

Where is the GRACE gorilla center located?

In the Kasugho area of Lubero territory, North Kivu province, eastern DR Congo, next to Tayna Nature Reserve. Kasugho is about 53 kilometers (33 miles) southwest of Butembo, the nearest city, and about 28 kilometers (17 miles) south of the equator.

Are the gorillas on this webcam mountain gorillas?

No. They are Grauer’s gorillas, also called eastern lowland gorillas. Grauer’s and mountain gorillas are two subspecies of the eastern gorilla and share a jet black coat, but Grauer’s gorilla is the largest gorilla of all and lives only in eastern DR Congo.

When is the best time to watch the GRACE gorilla live cam?

Explore.org lists the best viewing hours as midnight to 9 am Pacific Daylight Time, which is 9 am to 6 pm at the camera (Central Africa Time, 07:00 to 16:00 UTC). Outside those hours, or when the group is elsewhere in the forest, the stream may show recorded highlights instead.

How many gorillas live at GRACE?

GRACE counts 14 gorillas living together as one surrogate family. Its site also marks four gorillas as back in the wild.

What is the weather like at the Gorilla Forest Corridor?

Mild and wet all year. Highs run 23 to 25°C (73 to 77°F) and nights 14 to 16°C (57 to 61°F) in every month, with January and February the driest months and September to November the wettest.

Where can you go gorilla trekking to see Grauer’s gorillas?

Kahuzi-Biega National Park near Bukavu, in South Kivu, is the only place where tourists can visit wild Grauer’s gorillas, with two habituated families and a one-hour limit per visit. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to South Kivu, so check the latest advice first.

Source: Explore Gorilla & Bonobo Cams (explore.org)