Where to Go Gorilla Trekking in Africa

The only countries in Africa to showcase mountain gorillas include Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Trekking for gorillas in Africa’s rain forests and observing the everyday interactions of these vulnerable primates is arguably one of life’s greatest privileges and the best experience ever.  It involves following gorilla families as they go about their daily lives.

In Rwanda, you will enjoy the presence of gorillas in Volcanoes National Park at a cost of $1500 per permit. In Uganda, you can go gorilla trekking at a cost of $800 both in its two national parks that is Bwindi Forest National Park as well as Mgahinga Gorilla National Park while in the Democratic Republic of Congo, gorilla trekking permit costs $450 in the Virunga National Park and then $ 400 in the Kahuzi Biega National Park where you find the lowland gorillas.

Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is one of its kind where by you can even do a 01-day gorilla trek if you don’t have time. On arrival, very early in the morning, you are picked by the driver/guide then transferred to volcanoes’ headquarters for briefing. You will go trekking in groups of eight people per gorilla family. The search will take 30mins to 7hrs depending on where the family slept last night. Once you get them, you will stay with them for one hour. In the one hour, you will be able to take photos of your choice.

For the traveler with time, the park has got a number of activities to take on while here. Tracking golden monkeys has gained popularity over the years and is now second only to watching the gorillas. Spotting the endangered monkeys feed, groom and swing from one bamboo tree to another costs $100. The tracking is also an early morning activity which also requires its own day from that of mountain gorilla trekking.

You can not go to volcanoes national park and miss out seeing the legacy of Dian Fossey who was and remained a strong pillar in the lives of mountain gorillas. This is done by paying homage to her tomb at Karisoke. This will involve hiking to where she was buried and the former research centre.

You can also visit the new Dian fossey museum in Musanze town where you will even get the opportunity to see the equipment she used at the former research centre at Karisoke. There is a lot on display including the skeleton of a mountain gorilla which was killed in those hard times when Dian Fossey was advocating for its conservation.

She is also credited for introducing new ways of making gorillas comfortable around human presence by imitating their sounds and gaining the acceptance/trust of the dominant male.

You can also visit the twin Lakes of Ruhondo and Burera. A boat cruise through the deep waters of these two lakes will reward you with beautiful sights of birds and the vast hilly landscape with waterfalls.  Visiting the lake islands gives you time to mingle with the locals to learn about their rich heritage and culture that defines them and makes them different from the other tribes in Rwanda.

Transfer to Uganda for yet another gorilla encounter. In here, you will have a choice to choose either Bwindi or Mgahinga national park.

When you choose to go to Mgahinga, you will have the opportunity to trek the Nyakagyezi family the only group in this park. This park is less congested giving you the opportunity to enjoy while with the group taking as many photos as you can.

Mgahinga has more on offer other than mountain gorillas boasting of over 76 mammals which include elephants, giant forest hog, bush pigs, bush back. Buffaloes, leopards, A bird checklist of over 180 species including the 14 endemic Albertine rift notably the Kivu ground thrush and turaco. There is an opportunity of tracking golden monkeys while in the park.

Another choice is Bwindi national park starting with a briefing at the park headquarters at around 7:30am. Wake up by 5am to take breakfast before starting the journey to the park office. After the briefing at the park office, you will put into smaller groups of 8. Each group of eight track a particular gorilla family. Some gorilla families live near the park offices while others are found further away. You will take 30mins to 8hrs to locate the apes depending on where they slept last night. Once you spot the family, you will be allowed only one hour with them so that they don’t start getting uncomfortable. Take photos of your choice as well as learning their behaviours. Descend for your trekking certificate and lunch at your lodge.

Go an afternoon visit to the Batwa pygmies to see the original people who lived in Bwindi Forest for thousands of years. Unfortunately, they have now been evicted from the forest and forced to resettle outside the park. Visiting the Batwa pygmies is a great opportunity to learn about their culture and get involved in some of their cultural activities. Expect to see traditional dance performances while listening to stories about how they used to hunt and gather fruits in the forest long ago.