Where To See Gorillas in Africa? Gorilla Safari Destinations

1. Uganda

When it comes to places to observe gorillas in Africa, Uganda tops the list. The best mountain gorilla trekking experience is why you travel to Bwindi Forest National Park. Each journey costs $ 700 for a gorilla permit (1 hour with the mountain gorillas.)

Mgahinga National Park, which is also a member of the trinational Virunga Conservation Area, is the other park in Uganda where gorilla tours are available. Habituated gorillas frequently travel into DRC. Additionally, climb Mt. Sabinyo, where Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC meeting. This is also a unique opportunity to observe mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, which is a forest island surrounded by a sea of thickly populated farms.

Gorilla Safari in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park;  You may see the biodiverse Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in the North, where the roads wind, from a lower altitude. Four gorilla groups in this area have been trained for tourism, and two more have been trained to meet demand. The most realistic packages to see gorillas in Uganda are provided by Kabira Gorilla Safaris.

The absence of hair on their brow makes Bwindi gorillas, which some taxonomists classify as a distinct subspecies of the eastern gorilla, easy to distinguish from their shaggier Virunga relatives.

White water rafting on the Nile’s source, chimpanzee trekking, and many other Uganda safaris are just a few of the additional activities that can be done with gorilla trekking in Uganda.

Uganda Gorilla Treking Safaris

Gorilla trekking in Uganda offers a premier wildlife experience, with over half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas residing in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Permits cost US$800 per person (as of late 2024), allowing small groups to spend an hour with habituated families. The best, driest trekking conditions are June–August and December–February.

Rwanda Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda, centered in Volcanoes National Park, is a premier, eco-friendly wildlife experience offering a near-certain (nearly 100%) chance to encounter endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Permits cost USD $1,500 per person per trek, with daily, strictly monitored, one-hour, face-to-face encounters.

Congo Gorilla Trekking Tours

Congo gorilla trekking offers the most budget-friendly, intimate experience to see mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park ($400 permit) or lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park. The DRC is the only country where visitors can track both types of gorillas. Treks are physically demanding, available year-round (best during dry seasons), and require booking 3–6 months in advance.

4. Cross River National Park – Nigeria Cross River Gorillas

You can also explore Nigeria’s Mbe Mountains and Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary in addition to Cross River National Park.

The government has made significant investments in the tourism infrastructure in the cross River state, where cross River gorillas may also be found. One such example is the spectacular cable car that ascends the Obudu cattle Ranch Hotel.

Although there is a very slim probability of seeing these mountain gorillas, there are more than 200 of them in total, and they are spread out over an area of more than 12,000 km. These locations include Afi Mountain, the Okwangwo Division, and Mbe Mountain of the Cross River National Park.

This is why scientists are so careful to habituate them. Visits to their environment will aid in its preservation, as well as the preservation of the two surviving primate sanctuaries, the chimpanzee and tool monkey pandrillus, and the numerous monkey species that call Calabar home.

5. The Equatorial Guinea – Western Lowland Gorillas

The Monte Alen National Park in Central Rio Muni is home to Western Lowland Gorillas (often known as gorillas). They are regarded as severely endangered because there are fewer than 316,0OO gorillas left in the world.

6. Monte Alen National Park

Beautifully forested Monte Alen National Park benefits from the protection provided by its rugged topography from being classified as a commercial attraction.

To our knowledge, there are no Lowland gorillas living in the wild. The locals who have received training have only recently begun leading guided day hikes because the tourism industry is so new and in its infancy. Gorillas can currently be seen in this park.