How to See Gorillas in the Wild
A trip to Africa to see wild gorillas can give you a new appreciation for nature and wildlife. It requires extensive planning and an unlimited budget, but here's how you find wild gorillas.
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Instructions
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Determine the type of gorilla that you wish to see in the wild. There are three major species of gorillas including the Western Lowland Gorilla, the Eastern Lowland Gorilla and the Mountain Gorilla. The Mountain Gorilla is the rarest of the species, and the Western Lowland Gorilla is the most widespread.
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Find the Mountain Gorilla in the Congo at the Parc National des Virunga, in Rwanda at the Parc National des Volcans and in Uganda at the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or at the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
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Look for the Eastern Lowland Gorilla in the Congo at the Kahuzi-Biega National Park and the Western Lowland Gorilla in the Congo at Odzala National Park. You can also find Lowland Gorillas in Gabon at the Loango and Ivindo National Parks; also see Lowland Gorillas in Cameroon, at the Lac Lobeke and Korup National Parks.
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Figure out the type of gorilla encounter that you wish to experience. You can see gorillas in various environments, such as in open grass, on the beach, near volcanoes, near mountains and in the rainforest. You can also go to the national parks yourself to see gorillas or choose to go on organized safaris, gorilla treks or gorilla expeditions.
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Know what the different species of gorillas look like. Mountain Gorillas are the largest gorillas, and they have long, thick black hair, large jaws and large teeth. Adult males can grow to 6 feet tall when standing upright. Western Lowland Gorillas have a reddish colored crest with brownish-gray colored bodies. They are the smallest gorillas, and adult males can grow to 5 1/2 feet tall, when standing upright. Eastern Lowland Gorillas are of an intermediate size, and they are darker in color than Western Lowland Gorillas. They also have long legs, large hands and short noses.
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Tips & Warnings
Permits are required to see gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda. If you go on a tour or safari, you likely will get your permit automatically. However, if you need to purchase a gorilla permit, you can purchase them from the Uganda Wildlife Authority or the Rwanda Tourism Board.
Try to avoid going to see gorillas in the wild during the rainy season from March through April and October through November. The rainy season can make seeing gorillas in the wild difficult or treacherous.
Make sure that you only go to safe and secure areas to see gorillas in the wild. Political unrest in some areas of the Congo can make trips to see gorillas in the wild dangerous.
Avoid going to see gorillas in the wild during the rainy season from March through April and October through November. The rainy season can make seeing gorillas in the wild difficult and treacherous.
