This safari takes to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda or Virunga National Park in Congo for mountain gorilla safari adventures. They are the only countries where you can go see the endangered gorillas and learn about gorilla conservation programs during your wildlife tour.
Gorilla trekking in Africa is a year-round activity but the periods just after the rains are perfect for the adventure. During a gorilla tour in Africa, the decision on which gorilla family to track depends on your overall fitness and preference. Some gorilla groups live near the starting points for tracking while others go deeper in the forest.
The climate conditions in Rwanda, Uganda and Congo allow gorilla safaris to be done throughout the year. However, the best time to visit on a safari is during the drier seasons (January, February, June, July, August and September). During the drier months, the park roads are free of mud. Gorilla trekking in Africa is best done during the dry season to avoid the slippery trails typical of rainy seasons. This comes with higher hotel rates and permits for gorilla tours in Africa need to be booked in advance.
The wet season (March to May and October to September) has its advantages especially if you are coming for Africa gorilla tours. There are fewer visitors in the park making it more personal and private safari especially for photographers and researchers. Hotels reduce their rates because there are few tourists.
Embarking on a Bwindi gorilla trekking safari requires careful planning to ensure a seamless and memorable experience. The first step is to decide on the duration of your safari, as Bwindi gorilla trekking safaris offers a range of options to suit different preferences. From half-day treks to multi-day expeditions, you can choose the adventure that best fits your schedule and level of fitness.
The park has several entry points, each offering a unique experience. The most popular entry points are Buhoma and Nkuringo, both providing convenient access to the gorilla trekking trails. It’s essential to book your accommodation in advance, as the lodges near Bwindi tend to fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons.
The gorilla permits are limited to a certain number daily to minimize disturbances to the gorillas and their habitat. It’s crucial to book your gorilla ticket well in advance, as they are in high demand and can sell out quickly, especially during peak seasons.
The duration of the gorilla trek can vary, depending on the location of the gorilla family you’re assigned to visit. It can range from a few hours to a full day of hiking, but the journey is part of the adventure. Along the way, you’ll be surrounded by the sights and sounds of the forest, with opportunities to spot other wildlife, such as monkeys, birds, and even elephants.
Rwanda is famous for its gorilla trekking opportunities in the Virunga Mountains. This is where Dian Fossey researched and habituated mountain gorillas in the 1960s. Although gorilla trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the country has a lot more to offer. In fact, if gorilla trekking is beyond your budget, Rwanda is still worth visiting as an up-and-coming destination offering primate walks, volcano hikes and bird watching in Volcanoes National Park.
Rare mountain gorillas and golden monkeys reside on the slopes of Rwanda’s Virunga’s, just a three-hour drive from Kigali International Airport. The lush slopes of these volcanoes provide a dramatic natural setting for one of the most thrilling and memorable wildlife experiences – seeing the mountain gorilla in its natural habitat. Roughly half of the world’s wild population of mountain gorillas is resident on the Rwandan slopes of the Virunga’s.
Hike Rwanda’s lush Volcanoes National Park for some of the most accessible mountain gorilla trekking in Central-East Africa. For one precious hour, enter the lives of these remarkable creatures. Infants playing, just as you’d expect a toddler to, adults foraging, completely unconcerned. If you’re lucky, an encounter with a mighty silver back, heart-racing and never-to-be-forgotten.
In Democratic Republic of Congo, the mountain gorillas are only found and tracked in Virunga National Park (Park National des Virunga). The Virunga National Park is part of the wider Virunga Mastiff shared between Volcanoes National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in south-western Uganda. The Virunga National Park is located within the great Volcano region of the Congo basin.
The Congo gorilla trekking usually starts from the Bukima patrol post. The location, however, may change depending on where the gorillas spent the night. Just like in Uganda Safaris and Rwanda, you will be guided by an experienced guide and trackers provided by, Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature in charge of tourism in DR Congo.
Gorilla trekking in Congo is lower; currently $ 400 for internationals and $150 for Congolese nationals. Trekking to and from the gorillas usually takes 1-2 hours of hiking, depending on where the mountain gorillas spent the previous night and the difficulty of the terrain.
You can also use the same chance to visit the lowland gorillas. Lowland gorilla trekking in Congo takes you to some of the remotest areas in Africa in search of the largest primate on earth. Gorillas are large forest dwelling apes that live in the forests, swamps and lowland areas of East, West and Central Africa. Eastern lowland gorillas found only in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
Eastern lowland gorillas are peaceful and quiet apes – They can bark, roar or scream when the need arises. Gorillas never attack or become aggressive without provocation. The males may fight over females once in a while but only occasionally. Gorillas communicate using a variety of sounds or body language. They spend their day grooming, climbing, swinging on tree tops and playfully chasing each other.
Eastern Lowland gorillas differ from mountain gorillas in many ways. They have browner coats and the silver on the back of the male may extend to the lower body to include the thighs. Although relatively small in size, the Eastern lowland gorilla has a larger and wider skull compared to the mountain gorilla. Eastern Lowland gorillas are more mobile than the mountain gorillas because their habitats spread over large areas.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park is the only place where one can track Eastern lowland gorillas. About 400 Eastern lowland gorillas live in Kahuzi-Biega National Park in 9 groups. Three of the nine groups have been habituated and are open for tracking. The park is located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo – near Bukavu and Lake Kivu. Named after Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega, Kahuzi-Biega National Park is one of the largest game parks found in Democratic Republic of Congo. The terrain found in Kahuzi-Biega National Park provides perfect habitat for these great apes.
