Trips to see the Gorillas of Rwanda, the Congo, and Uganda

The joy of spending time with gorillas is unlike anything else you can experience in Africa. Due to the rarity of trekking opportunities outside of a few isolated regions, safaris in these areas have a sense of adventure and discovery that is hard to find elsewhere. Seeing wild gorillas is frequently considered a once-in-a-lifetime experience for tourists because the species is critically endangered and treks are highly monitored.

With the advent of tourism in the Congolese jungle, the population of western lowland gorillas is likely to flourish, just as the number of mountain gorillas has stabilized in recent years thanks to the money brought in by tourists.

The Amazing Gorillas of Volcanoes National Park

A visit to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is a necessity if you want to go mountain gorilla trekking. Because of its proximity to Rwanda's main city of Kigali (a mere two hours drive away), it is the country's most accessible park.

It was in Rwanda's Virunga Mountains that Dian Fossey began her groundbreaking study of the critically endangered mountain gorilla. A little more than 400 of the world's severely endangered wild gorillas call this place home. There are more than 200 different species of birds and animals to see, in addition to the golden monkey.

Mountain Gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, in southern Uganda, is the most popular tourist destination in the country. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is located close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

About 400 mountain gorillas, 120 other mammals (including several other kinds of primates), and 350 bird species have been counted in the area. Spotting an elephant in the wild is an adventure of chance.

The Lowland Gorillas of Odzala-Kokoua National Park

Odzala-Kokoua National Park is located in the midst of the world's second-largest tropical rainforest in the country's northern region. More than 400 different types of birds have been spotted there, along with a small population of gorillas, elephants, and other mammals.

Preparations for Your Gorilla Experience

You won't be allowed to trek if you have a contagious illness, as gorillas are extremely vulnerable to human diseases yet lack immunity. A trip to the jungle requires you to be in relatively good health and to pack for the wet conditions you'll likely encounter. High humidity, steep slopes, dense foliage, damp and muddy conditions, and vast numbers of insects make the rainforest challenging to travel even in the summer. In order to get the most out of your time with gorillas, you should be in good shape.

With the help of a knowledgeable guide and tracker, you can travel far into the forest in search of a habituated family of gorillas. After finding the gorillas, you will sneak up on them and stealthily study them from a distance of 7 to 10 meters. Your time with the gorillas will last anything from 40 minutes to an hour, during which you will get to see the adults forage and groom each other while the babies tumble and play. The enormous silverback patriarch will keep a watchful eye on you since he is very protective of his brood. Going on a gorilla walk can change a person's life because they will witness wild gorillas exhibiting emotions and behaviors that are strikingly similar to those of humans.

You'll wear a mask in the Congo to prevent transferring sickness to the gorillas, and you can get a fly net to shelter yourself from the sweat bees, which are absolutely harmless (and stingless), but very relentless. Only a camera is allowed on the treks to see the mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda; food, water, and other items must be left with the porters. The use of a flash is prohibited, and a camera that makes little to no noise while operating is recommended when taking pictures indoors.

Chimpanzee Trekking

Some of the best spots to go chimpanzee trekking include the Mahale Mountains and Gombe Stream in Tanzania, as well as the forested sections of Uganda's Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls national parks and Kibale Forest.

As opposed to trekking with gorillas, chimpanzee trekking is a very different experience. Chimpanzees are easier to identify and observe than gorillas, and they also prefer flatter ground. Trekking with gorillas in the wild is only second to visiting Kibale Forest to see the habituated chimpanzee communities there.

Chimpanzee Trekking in Africa

According to Jane Goodall, who has devoted her life to protecting monkeys and studying their behavior, there is something innately majestic about chimpanzees that sets them different from other creatures.

Chimpanzee-Viewing Safaris in Tanzania

You can see chimpanzees in two of Tanzania's protected national parks: Gombe and Mahale Mountain. You could be confused by these primates' fascinating, human-like behavior. The unique coexistence of lions and chimpanzees makes Mahale a special place, and it's not only because it's home to the world's largest chimpanzee population.

However, primatologist Jane Goodall's work with the park's chimpanzees has made Gombe National Park famous worldwide. Because of the abundance of trees in the area, chimpanzees and other primates find refuge here.

Chimpanzee Hikes in Rwanda

Located on a ridge between the Congo River and the Nile, the Nyungwe Forest Nature Reserve protects one of the largest bands of montane rainforest in eastern Africa.

Over 150 different sorts of plants call this area home, including 250 different kinds of orchids; 85 different kinds of animals; 310 different kinds of birds; and a troop of chimpanzees that have become quite at home here. This national park also features a suspended canopy walkway that is 40 meters in height and 200 meters in length, giving visitors a breathtaking view of the forest floor below.

Visit Uganda in Search of Chimpanzees

When it comes to Ugandan parks, none are bigger than Queen Elizabeth National Park. It's best known for its population of chimpanzees, although the park is home to 90 different types of mammals, 10 of which are other species of primates. With over 600 different bird species, the park is also a fantastic destination for birdwatchers visiting East Africa.

The "Valley of Apes," which is in the reserve's eastern part, is home to a variety of primate species, including chimpanzees, baboons, colobus monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys. The southern part of the park is known for its tree-climbing lions.