How to See Mountain Gorillas
The endangered mountain gorilla is one of the largest and most elusive of the primates. With the numbers of mountain gorillas shrinking rapidly due to civil unrest, poaching and loss of territory, seeing mountain gorillas in the wild is a special and unique experience to be treasured for a lifetime. Here are some tips to help you plan a trip to see mountain gorillas.
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Instructions
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Travel to Uganda. Of the approximately 650 mountain gorillas in the wild, about 350 of this number are found in the Bwindi Impenetrable Natural Park in Uganda. The Bwindi mountain gorillas live within a 200-square mile area of dense rainforest. Smaller numbers of mountain gorillas can also be found in the Mgahinga National Park in the Virunga Range in southwestern Uganda. Visit the Uganda Travel Guide website for information on planning a trip to Uganda to see mountain gorillas.
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Visit Rwanda. The Virunga volcanic range on the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to about 300 mountain gorillas. While there are less mountain gorillas in this area, the territory they inhabit is smaller so a trek to see the Rwandan mountain gorillas is usually shorter and less arduous than a trek to see the Bwindi gorillas.
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Go to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Virunga National Park in the Congo is a huge and increasingly popular site for seeing mountain gorillas and has been designated as a World Heritage Site. Both the Responsible Travel website and the Go 2 Africa website sponsor several different safaris to see the mountain gorillas in the Virunga range.
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Check out conservation websites such as The Diane Fossey Gorilla Foundation International and the World Wildlife Fund for information on mountain gorilla treks sponsored by these groups, as well as for general information on the status of the mountain gorilla populations.
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Tips & Warnings
Permits to see mountain gorillas generally run about $500.00 per person per day.
The mountain gorillas' habitat unfortunately encroaches on areas facing civil war and unrest. Be sure to check with the U.S. Department of State for any travel advisories before planning a trip to see the mountain gorillas.
