Ever wonder about the best places for gorilla trekking whilst on safari? Well, read on if visiting mountain gorillas in Africa has been on your bucket list.
The best places in the world for gorilla trekking are…
Uganda
Uganda is one of the best places for gorilla trekking. Mountain gorillas are closely related to man can only be found in Africa. These beautiful, giant and gentle apes cannot live and survive in a zoo. There are less than 1000 mountain gorillas in the world and Uganda has half of this population in its two national parks.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi Impen etrable National park is one of the best places for gorilla trekking with many habituated gorilla families in different sectors of the national park.
The Park has three different sectors where gorilla trekking takes places. These are the Southern Sector known as Rushaga and Nkuringo with about 8 gorilla families, the Eastern sector commonly known as Ruhija with about 3 habituated gorilla families and the Northern Sector known as Buhoma with about 4 habituated gorilla families. Buhoma was the first sector where the first gorilla habituated family and trek took place in 1993.
Mgainga Gorilla National Park – Mgahinga National Park is also one of the best places for gorilla tracking in Uganda. It is the smallest national park of Uganda’s 10 national parks but it should not be overrated. There about 2 gorilla families open for gorilla trekking in this small paradise. Although Bwindi Impenetrable is more popular for gorilla trekking, Mgahinga gorilla national park is also an excellent park for the trek and the experience is as great.
Rwanda
Rwanda is also one of the other best places for gorilla trekking. The best and only place for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is Volcanoes National Park.
It has different habituated gorilla families open for gorilla trekking throughout the year. Thus Gorilla trekking in Rwanda can be combined with bird watching, hiking one of the volcanic mountains among others. The park can be visited on a 2 days gorilla trekking safari for people with little time.
Democratic Republic of Congo
DRC is one of the best places to visit mountain gorillas in Africa. Mountain gorillas in DRC can only be seen in Virunga National Park which has 8 habituated gorilla families. The country is also home to low land gorillas.
It should be noted however that DRC is still not stable as far as security is concerned and many insurance companies do not cover travellers while visiting DR Congo. Travelers should also first consult with their governments to confirm if they are allowed to visit the park.
The Cost of Gorilla Trekking Permits At Each Location
- In Uganda, national parks managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority who determine the prices for the gorilla permits. The cost of the permits in Uganda are USD 700 a permit per person for foreign non-residents, 600 USD for Residents and 250,000 shillings for East Africa.
- Cost of a gorilla permit in Rwanda is 1500 USD per person.
- The cost in the DR Congo is 450 USD per person.
Suggested Gorilla trekking safaris
- 2 Days Gorilla Trekking safari starting from Kigali Rwanda
- 2 Days Gorilla Trekking safari starting from Kigali Rwanda
- 3 Days Fly to Bwindi gorilla tracking safari
- 4 Days Mgahinga Gorillas and Golden Monkeys Safari
- 4 Days gorilla tracking Bwindi from Kigali Rwanda
- 8 Day Exclusive wildlife safari Uganda
- 9 Day Uganda Exclusive Fly in safari
- 10 Days Uganda wildlife safari – Gorillas, Chimps and Lions
- 11 Days Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari
- 12 Days Midrange Pearl of Africa Tour