Gorilla encounters are the ultimate wildlife experience, whether they’re mountain gorillas, Western lowland gorillas or even the rare Grauer’s gorilla. The sheer majesty of the silver backs, the playfulness of the toddlers and the tenderness of their mothers are just amazing. They’re found in only three countries: Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Thankfully, their numbers are increasing; the latest census confirmed there are now over 1,000 compared to 250 when conservation efforts first started some 50 years ago.
More than 100,000 western lowland gorillas live in the lush rain forests of west and central Africa. Classed as critically endangered, fewer groups are habituated for tracking because of their inaccessible homelands.
The Virunga Mountains spanning the borders of Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park are home to over 600 mountain gorillas. Rwanda, known as the Land of a Thousand Hills, is one of the best places to see mountain gorillas. It has ten groups available for tracking, including the Susa group which lives high up on Mount Karisimbi and was studied by famous primatologist Dian Fossey. Other groups roam lower down the slopes and are easier to track, although being wild, they’re constantly moving.
Rwanda’s permits are expensive at US$1500. With super-luxury accommodation now available in Musanze, Rwanda is becoming the second richest destination in Africa next to Botswana. Here you will find gorilla safari experiences at high cost.
The best and affordable mountain gorilla safaris is in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, with over 19 groups and around 1000 gorillas in the mist. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, while just as beautiful, lies within the Virunga Massif neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and has only one habituated group which sometimes wanders over the borders.
As with Rwanda, it’s a very smooth operation, with excellent rangers and trackers, and local communities benefiting from fees. The hiking can be tough, there’s a reason it’s called impenetrable but some groups are easier to reach than others. And the permits cost just US$700.
Bwindi also offers the Gorilla Habituation Experience where you spend up to four hours with a semi-habituated group. They’re less predictable and not as docile as habituated groups, and it’s a fascinating, intimate glimpse into how gorillas gradually get used to humans. At US$1500, it’s the same price as one hour with Rwanda’s mountain gorillas.
Democratic Republic of Congo is the only country that has both lowland and mountain gorillas. Compared with Uganda and Rwanda, it’s the least visited, most adventurous and cheapest of the Virunga Mountains’ three homelands, with permits costing US$400. Four groups of mountain gorillas live within Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park, which was closed after British tourists were kidnapped. It reopened in February 2019, with assurances that it was safe again.
Grauer’s or eastern lowland gorillas are only found in Democratic Republic of Congo. They’re believed to number around 5,000 and are the biggest of the species. The best place to see them is Kahuzi – Biega National Park, home to some 250 Grauer’s gorillas, with the pretty lakeside town of Bukavu offering good accommodation in colonial mansions.
Democratic Republic of Congo is a volatile country, so keep an eye on the security situation. It’s best to see the gorillas in Congo on an organized trip.
Congo Brazzaville is one of the best places to see western lowland gorillas. Odzala – Kokoua National Park in Congo’s north-west has two habituated groups in this wild, tropical rainforest. Because of its remoteness, it’s not a cheap destination but it offers an exclusive experience, with groups of only four people and rustic luxury accommodation combined with some tough tracking. Neptune is a particularly charismatic silver back and seeing his group is especially rewarding.
Western lowland gorillas can also be seen in Nouabalé – Ndoki National Park around Mbeli Bai at a camp that’s often visited by a resident silver back. It’s best suited to more intrepid travelers.
Central African Republic (CAR) is the only other country aside from Congo that has habituated western lowland gorillas but it’s not for the fainthearted. CAR’s Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve lies within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sangha Trinational Reserve and its tropical rain forest ecosystem also spans protected areas in Congo and Cameroon.
Its home to the world’s highest concentration of western lowland gorillas and forest elephants. Dzanga Bai is the best area to see them and Sangha Lodge is the place to stay. If you can cope with the hardship of travel in this country, you’ll be highly rewarded, and you’ll be helping the local Ba’aka people supported by the lodge.
Serengeti National Park is a World Heritage Site teeming with wildlife: over 2 million ungulates, 4000 lions, 1000 leopard, 550 cheetahs and some 500 bird species inhabit an area close to 15,000 square kilometres in size. Join us on a safari and explore the endless Serengeti plains dotted with trees and kopjes from which majestic lions control their kingdom; gaze upon the Great Migration in awe or find an elusive leopard in a riverine forest. Or perhaps see everything from a bird’s-eye view and soar over the plains at sunrise during a hot air balloon safari. Accommodation options come in every price range – the sound of lions roaring at night is complimentary.
The Serengeti is the place for a picture-perfect safari, a destination that ful fils your wildest dreams, time and time again. Why not explore some of the more remote corners of this vast national park? Or meet your hosts, the Maasai?