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Seeing the great apes of Africa wild and free in their natural habitat is an experience you will find on many people’s life bucket lists. One of the best ways to do this is to go on a gorilla trekking safari to see Africa’s remaining mountain gorillas in the wild in their natural environment. It is a spiritual, awe-inspiring experience, and those who have had the good fortune to go on one of these trips are forever moved after witnessing how human-like our primate relatives are. The central African countries of Uganda and Rwanda host viable habituated populations of wild mountain gorillas, with the best places to view them being the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Volcanoes National Parks. Also possible in the same area, and equally as rewarding, is a chimpanzee trekking safari. Chimpanzees can be seen in Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Kibale Forest. There are also numerous other primate species to be seen, including creatures endemic to central Africa’s jungles, such as forest elephant, giant forest hog, kob and forest buffalo.
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WHERE TO STAY AND WHAT TO DO
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There are numerous accommodation options available around the parks: from super-luxury lodges such as the Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp to the budget-friendly Nkuringo Gorilla Camp. However, the area is best explored on a tour. Consider the semi-luxury 6-day Gorilla Express Safari, or Safari Index’s popular Budget Primate Safari Tour, which lasts 7 days and includes tracking gorillas and chimpanzees on foot through the forests of Uganda, as well as viewing other wildlife in the Queen Elizabeth National Park. Experienced guides will accompany you as you encounter these endangered creatures in their natural habitat in the Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park. Community walks, boat cruises, nature and forest walks, and guided game drives are among the highlights you can expect on the tours. Better still, the tours are conducted in malaria-free areas due to the camps being at high altitudes. There is also an option to upgrade the tour to include lodge accommodation instead of sleeping in tents.
