Talking about Bucket List adventures? Look no further, because trekking through the jungles of Africa & coming face to face with endangered mountain gorillas is as good as it gets!
The fact that gorillas as a species are on the verge of extinction & treks are a highly restricted activity, puts gorilla-trekking on top of the list when it comes to once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences.
The rainforest is a challenging environment, so if you want to trek, you need to be fairly fit, in good health & equipped for humid, muddy conditions. Even in the dry season, the steep slopes & thick vegetation can be challenging for some, but if you’re up for the hike, it is worth every moment.
Gorillas are susceptible to human illnesses, but don’t have our immunities – so a common cold can be fatal to a gorilla family, which means that you won’t be able to trek if you are unwell.
You are not allowed to use a flash when taking a picture & have to wear a protective face mask when approaching the gorillas to prevent spreading viral & bacterial diseases from humans to primates.
Each group (a maximum of 6 guests) is led by a professional guide & tracker that will take you into the thick of the forest, in search of a habituation gorilla family. Once found, you’ll be able to spend an hour with the gorillas, watching the adults groom each other & the babies tumble & play.
Those wishing to spend more time with the gorillas can purchase a Gorilla Habituation permit, which will allow them – along with researchers & park rangers – to help train gorillas to get used to people. Gorilla Habituation may take between 2 to 3 years to be completed, so being able to actively engage in conservation is an experience of a lifetime.
Chimp-trekking is quite different to gorilla-trekking. Although the trekking conditions are much easier, they are wary of humans & a little harder to find. Chimps & other primate species can also be seen on a gorilla-trek – but there are several other superb chimpanzee trekking destinations like Uganda’s Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park & Murchison Falls National Park or Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park. You can also spot them in Tanzania’s Mahale Mountains National Park & Gombe Stream National Park.
If you are coming all the way to Africa, you may as well add a gorilla safari to your itinerary. After all, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will leave you with lasting memories.
For the best gorilla-trekking adventure, visit one of the following African destinations.
1. Volcanoes National Park – Rwanda
The beautiful Volcanoes National Park in north-western Rwanda is Rwanda’s prime rainforest & home to 5 of 8 volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains range. The park was also the base for the revolutionary primatologist, Dian Fossey, & is home to a staggering amount of mountain gorillas, rare golden monkeys & a variety of forest birds.
2. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Uganda
The mountain gorillas of Uganda can be found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park – a World Heritage Site of both montane & lowland forest that is home to 120 species of mammals, 350 bird species & 220 butterfly species. Hosting half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas, Bwindi also offers thrilling encounters with colobus monkeys & chimpanzees.
