Undoubtedly one of the most incredible life experiences one can have is sitting amongst a family group of wild Mountain Gorillas on a gorilla safari tour in Africa. There is something profound and almost spiritual about the experience that will remain with you forever. After hiking from anywhere between half an hour and eight hours to a specific habituated group of gorillas, you spend an hour becoming part of the gorilla’s daily life as the various individuals’ forage for food, rest and play. Connecting with a gorilla as it momentarily gazes up at you as it moves around the forest floor feeding stirs something deep within the human psyche.
Where are the best places to see mountain gorillas in the wild?
Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the only countries where you can see mountain gorillas in the wild. The most popular spots are the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and adjacent Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda. Both are safe, politically stable and have the suitable tourism infrastructure to host a successful gorilla safari tour,
Do you have to be fit to go on a gorilla trek?
Although a basic level of fitness is required, you don’t have to be super fit or super tough to take part in a gorilla safari tour. Gorilla ‘trekkers’ are sorted in to 3 core groups – Easy, Medium and Long treks depending on how long you wish to hike for. Generally older and less adventurous folks opt for the ‘Easy’ trek where specific gorilla families are targeted that have been seen nearby in the last day or so. Those looking to spend as much time as possible in the African jungle opt to trek for gorilla families situated deep within the national parks boundaries.
What happens on a typical gorilla safari tour?
On every gorilla safari tour there are specialised teams of trackers who go out ahead of you to locate the gorilla families. Once located they radio the gorilla safari tour guide and he takes the group in to spend time with the gorillas. You then spend an hour with the family group and get opportunities to take those once in a life time close up photographs of gorillas in the wild. The guide and trackers know each member of these family groups intimately and are a reassuring presence next to you as the gorillas move around you, sometimes coming right up to you.
How much do gorilla trek permits cost?
Gorilla safari tour trekking permits are not cheap but they are worth every cent. The experience is on a par with no other. And a significant portion of the proceeds go directly to the parks to help fund the protection of this critically endangered specie. The costs range from $650 – $750 per person per day depending on where you go to view the gorillas.
About Safari Index
The safari Index operates several Africa safari tour packages tailored to different budgets, comfort requirements and adventurous spirit levels. Also located within the same region are a number of other primates (such as wild chimpanzees) and wild animals so your trip does not just have to be about the gorillas. It can be combined with a traditional safari to see the Big Five, the Great Migration or fantastic forest birding with numerous endemic species found only in these ecosystems. Get in touch with an expert from the Safari Index team to create your dream gorilla safari tour.
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