Gorilla Safaris Africa
One of the most transformative and up-close wildlife experience in Africa is spending time with mountain gorillas. Encountering these great apes face to face gives you a soul stirring memory that will never fade. Since mountain gorillas only survive in the wilderness covered with dense vegetation and hills, you will not find them in zoos. The only way to see and spend time with them is by going on a gorillas safari. Gorilla Safaris Africa are easily among the most popular tourist activities in Africa.
Africa is home to the endangered creatures and they can only be found in Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) because of the presence of thick vegetation in the mountains.
Are you planning on embarking on this unforgettable journey? This blog brings you the best places to go, what to expect and the cost of trekking in each destination.
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Located in the North Western part of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is the oldest park in Africa and is well known for having the largest number of the surviving endangered mountain gorillas; about 600 of them. It has 160km² of bamboo and rainforest which make it a suitable habitat for these creatures.
It is home to other creature like golden monkeys, Bush pigs, forest hogs, forest elephants, spotted hyenas and various species of birds. Volcanoes is literally one of the best parks for a gorilla trekking safari in Africa.
The best time to embark on this journey is during the drier months of June to September and December to February. The other wet/rainy months are perfect for photographers and nature lovers.
Volcanoes is considered one of the safest and most secure sites for gorilla trekking.
The entrance to the park is 10USD for East African Citizens and 50USD for foreigners. To able to trek, you need a trekking permit which costs 1500UD and it can be got from the Rwanda Development Board or your tour operator can help you purchase one.
Accommodations in Volcanoes National Park range from budget, midrange and luxury and cost between 50USD to 500USD depending on the one you choose.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi is located in South Western Uganda, approximately 530km(330 miles) from Kampala. It is home to over 400 mountain gorillas with 19 habituated groups including Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura group among others.
The park offers guided treks through the thick forest which can last anywhere between 30 minutes to several hours depending on the location and movement if the gorilla groups. The best time to trek gorillas is in the dry months of June to September and December to February.
The park entrance is 40USD per person, the trekking permitcosts 700USD which can be bought from Uganda Wildlife Authority or a licensed tour operator. The guide fee is 10-20USD depending on your bargaining power.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers various accommodation options, ranging from budget-friendly guesthouses to luxury lodges and some of the popular options are Bwindi Lodge, Mahogany Springs and Buhoma Community Rest Camp.
You can reach the park by taking a bus or hiring a car from Kampala to Buhoma , the nearest town to the park. Alternatively, you can fly from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi airstrip, which is approximately 10 km (6.2 miles) from the park and hire one the park vehicles to take you around.
Virunga National Park, DRC
Virunga is home to both mountain and eastern lowland gorillas with groups including the Humba, Rugendo and Munyaga.
It is located in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, approximately 320 km (200 miles) from Goma. You can reach the park by taking a bus or hire a private vehicle from Goma to Rumangabo, the nearest town to the park or fly from Goma International Airport to Rumangabo airstrip, which is approximately 10 km (6.2 miles) from the park.
The trekking distance to see these gorillas is 2-4km and can take between 30 minutes to several hours depending on the group’s location and movement. The cost of the trekking permit is 400USD per person the entrance to the park is 30USD per person and the fee for a guide is about 20USD.
Also, the best time to trek gorillas in Virunga is in the months of June to September and December to February. The park has experienced security concerns in the past but safety measures including armed rangers, escorts and security patrols have been implemented to ensure safety of the visitors.
The park also provides accommodations ranging form budget, midrange and luxury.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
Mgahinga is home to the endangered mountain gorillas and offers stunning views of the Virunga Mountains. The Park is located in south-western Uganda, approximately 520 km (323 miles) from Kampala and you can reach there by bus or car hire to kisoro or fly from Entebbe International to Kisoro airstrip which is 10km form the park.
It is home to one habituated group, the Nyakagezi group which consists of only 10-15 individuals. The cost of the trekking permit is 700USD purchases from Uganda Wildlife Authority and the park entrance fee is 40 USD per person.
Kahuzi-Biega and Odzala-Kokoua National Parks
They are both located in Democratic Republic of Congo and are home to western lowland gorillas , a subspecies of the mountain gorillas only found in the central and west Africa.
The trekking permits for both parks cost 400USD per person and guide fees cost 20USD. The best time to visit is during the dry months of June to September and December to February.
Important to note is that all parks where gorilla trekking is done practice sustainable tourism by having various conservation programs and supporting local communities through employment and revenue sharing initiatives.
To be able trek gorillas, you need to be in fit health conditions and ensure to get vaccinated against yellow fever. Contact us to know more about Gorilla Safaris Africa.
