Gorilla trekking safaris

Mountain gorillas

The only area in the world where you can see mountain gorillas is the Albertine Rift - a mountainous area wedged between Uganda, Rwanda and the far east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Populations of these gentle giants are concentrated in two regions within the Albertine Rift:

• The Virunga Mountains: Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in DRC and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda

• Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda: Bwindi offers the standard one-hour gorilla encounter and a more extended gorilla habituation experience, which involves tracking non-habituated gorilla families and spending up to four hours with them

Lowland gorillas

Lowland gorillas are more widespread than mountain gorillas, but the most easily accessible places to trek for them are

1. Odzala Kokoua National Park in Congo-Brazzaville, where you will track the western lowland gorilla

2. Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where you will track the eastern lowland (Grauer's) gorilla - the largest of all gorillas

Gorilla trekking involves walking in mountainous areas to find habituated gorilla families. You will spend a maximum of one hour with them and only trek once per day. The gorilla family group will usually be nearby, and you will need to wear medical masks to protect them against human diseases. You need to be fit to walk for two to four hours at a relaxed pace. A gorilla trekking permit is required. Gorilla trekking occurs in Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Congo-Brazzaville

Gorilla watching (only available in Congo-Brazzaville) involves waiting in elevated treehouses overlooking forest clearings (baïs) for unhabituated gorillas to appear. There is no time limit to watching these gorillas, and you may enjoy multiple gorilla sightings, depending on how long you remain in the treehouse. No medical mask or permit is required, and the walk to the treehouse is usually short and not strenuous.

Trekking rules are essential to protect the health of the gorillas, which are susceptible to human diseases. Gorillas will be stressed if there are too many visitors or if visitors misbehave.

Feeling sick?

If you show any sign of illness on the day of your trek, please let your guide or the park staff know. They may decide to prevent you from trekking on that day. Exposing gorillas to disease may be catastrophic for the entire population. Also, if you are in the company of gorillas and need to cough or sneeze, please look away and cover your face with a cloth. Some parks expect you to wear a mask when in the company of gorillas and chimpanzees.

Group size and frequency

Each gorilla group is visited daily - only once. Group size is limited to 6 or 8 tourists, and the interaction is limited to one hour.

Minimum visitor age

The minimum age for tourists is 15 years old, to prevent exposing the gorillas to childhood diseases such as mumps, chickenpox, measles, etc.

Photography

Flash photography is not permitted - the flash may frighten the gorillas or provoke an aggressive reaction.

Minimum distance

Tourists must remain at least seven metres from the gorillas. Gorillas may approach you, in which case you should retreat slowly if possible.

Stay together

Try to remain in a tight group - to make it easier for your guides to manage the situation and to prevent the gorillas from feeling threatened.

Your behaviour while with gorillas

Remain seated or crouching and keep your arms at your side when spending time with gorillas. Keep quiet - even when filming a selfie. Shouting, standing or gesturing with your arms may be perceived as a threat by gorillas. Silverback gorillas have been known to beat their chests, roar and even charge at tourists. If this happens, remain seated and avoid eye contact with the gorilla. These threat displays look and sound scary, but the gorillas soon calm down and go about their business without harming anybody.

Eating, drinking & smoking

No eating, drinking or smoking is permitted anywhere near gorillas. This may attract their attention, leading to unwelcome close encounters. Your food may also be bad for gorilla health.

Toilet

Please go to the bathroom before you set out. If you need to go to the toilet whilst in the forest, you will need to dig a deep hole to bury any excrement and fill the hole up afterwards. Your guides will lend you a machete for this purpose, but you will need to bring toilet paper.

Litter

Please keep all of your rubbish in your backpack and deposit it at your lodge after the trek.

The dry seasons - mid-December to early February and June to September - are more comfortable for trekking. That said, don't be completely put off by the rains of November and March-May, as you will have the forests, mountains, guides and gorillas to yourself.

A mountain gorilla trek permit usually costs US$700 per trek in Uganda, US$1,500 in Rwanda and US$400 in the DRC. A mountain gorilla habituation experience permit in Uganda costs US$1,500. Lowland gorilla trekking permits cost $750 per trek, whereas lowland gorilla watching from an elevated treehouse does not incur a trekking permit fee.

These prices may change during off-peak trekking periods, and discounts are often available for local or regional travellers. The proceeds from these permits are directly allocated toward protecting these species in the respective countries. The gorilla trekking permit generates revenue for government conservation efforts and creates ecotourism jobs for rangers, trackers and porters. Local communities also benefit from additional knock-on business opportunities related to tourism. These benefits ensure that local people value gorillas and their habitat.

We will advise you of the exact prices once you provide your travel dates. The cost of your gorilla safari lodge varies based on the luxury level, location, and time of year. Our ready-made packages provide our suggested lodge options.

Other animals in the region include forest elephants, forest buffalo, duikers, forest hogs, bush pigs, golden cats, jackals and civets. It should be noted, though, that sightings are rare due to the thick vegetation. There are 1,074 bird species in the Albertine Rift, of which 42 occur only there, and you can expect to tick off many colourful birds as you hike.

The hiking pace during gorilla treks is relaxed - expect frequent stops to admire the incredible views or identify a bird. But high humidity and steep hills take their toll - you should be fit enough to walk for 2-4 hours at a relaxed pace. Watching gorillas from elevated treehouses requires a low level of fitness.

The minimum gorilla trekking age is 15 years. There is no maximum age

1. What to pack: Water, snacks for while you walk, lunch, raincoat (all available from your lodge), several layers of clothing including a warm top, long-sleeved shirt and long pants, wide-brimmed hat, hiking shoes/boots, towel, insect repellent and equipment such as binoculars, cameras and lenses

2. Backpack: Take a day pack for the above items

3. Porters: Hire a porter for the hike - he will carry your backpack - freeing you to carry only binoculars and perhaps a camera. The cost is a fraction of your daily expenses in gorilla-land, yet it makes a big difference in the porter's life

4. Photography: The forest is dark, and the use of large lenses will be limited. Keep that big lens in your backpack, and use a general-purpose lens on your camera. Keep a dry lens cloth handy to wipe away dew and raindrops. Flash photography is not permitted while with the gorillas

5. Waterproofing: Carry a few waterproof bags for equipment in case of showers and high humidity

6. Mask: Gorilla treks require the use of a surgical mask while you are with the gorillas

7. Weather: Mountain gorilla treks are at high altitudes in high rainfall areas. The weather can swing from clear and hot to torrential rain and cold in minutes.

We have been handcrafting experiential safaris since 1991. Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?

Booking through a respected tour operator with many years of experience means that all you need to focus on is helping us design your safari and then having a superb vacation. The rest – all the nitty-gritty detail and admin – is done while you relax. Our 24/7 concierges take care of problems such as flight changes and missed flights, last-minute road-transfer and lodge changes due to unexpected events, and itinerary changes requested by you.

Remember that you will not save money by attempting to book and manage your own safari, but you will inherit mistakes and problems that arise.

You only make your first payment when you book your gorilla tour. Your second (last) payment is about 90 days before you travel.

Yes, your money is safe. Your payments go into a third-party TRUST ACCOUNT – protecting them in the unlikely event of a financial setback on our part. Also, we are members of SATSA who attest to our integrity, legal compliance and financial stability. See what travellers say about us.

Yes, your gorilla trek has become a vital financial lifeline for conserving the last remaining mountain gorillas and their highland habitat. The gorilla trekking permit generates revenue for government conservation efforts and creates ecotourism jobs for rangers, trackers and porters. Local communities also benefit from additional knock-on business opportunities related to tourism. These benefits ensure that local people value gorillas and their habitat.

Also, by booking your safari with Africa Geographic, you make a significant difference because:

• We donate a portion of every safari sold to selected conservation efforts at ground level

• Your safari supports our conservation publishing efforts, which educate the world about Africa's incredible biodiversity and the local people who protect it

• Our chosen lodges support local community initiatives, ensuring that tourism benefits the nearby villages directly. They also adhere to strict environmental practices, such as limited vehicle numbers and sustainable camp operations, which help protect the ecosystem

YOUR safari choice does make a difference – thank you!