The best wildlife experience is seeing gorillas in their natural habitat. Both the playfulness of the children and the sensitivity of their moms are captivating, as is the absolute majesty of a fully grown male silverback. What are the top locations for a gorilla safari, then?

Your sense of adventure and financial constraints will determine that to some degree. The majority of visitors go to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda, both of which have extensive tourist infrastructures and are safe places to visit. There are a few more isolated locations where daring tourists can see lowland gorillas in the east and west. There is little doubt that tracking gorillas will be one of the most exciting and poignant wildlife experiences of your life.

1. Rwanda’s Volcanoes NP

Because of its connection to Dian Fossey of “Gorillas in the Mist,” Volcanoes National Park is Africa’s most renowned gorilla trekking destination. It safeguards the Rwandan part of the Virunga Mountains, a group of breathtakingly picturesque volcanoes with towering bamboo stands and forests lining their steep slopes.

Here, you may track 12 different gorilla families. The most well-known is the Susa group, who reside high on Mount Karisimbi and whom Fossey researched while she was a resident in the region. Although they are wild and always moving, other groups are simpler to follow and roam deeper down the slopes.

Rwanda’s drawback is the high cost of gorilla permits, which cost US$1,500 for non-resident foreigners. (For inhabitants of Rwanda and other East African nations, the charge is reduced to US$200; for international residents and holders of other African passports, the fee is reduced to US$500.)

Now that a variety of ultra-luxurious lodging options are close to Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda has emerged as the “Botswana” of gorilla trekking, providing an unparalleled experience at an exorbitant price. It is therefore frequently visited as a quick add-on to upscale safaris in Kenya or Tanzania for gorilla trekking.

When you reach Volcanoes National Park, consider engaging in additional activities there. The difficult forest walk to Dian Fossey’s grave at the now-defunct Karisoke Research Center, the golden monkey trekking, and the more strenuous journey to the stunning crater lake on Mount Bisoke are our favorites. The yearly Kwita Izina naming ceremony of infant gorillas, which draws thousands of tourists to the park headquarters at Kinigi, may be something you can see if you plan your trip around September.

2. Uganda’s Bwindi NP

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to 460 people and more than 25 family groups accustomed to tourist visits, is Uganda’s primary gorilla safari destination. Similar to Rwanda, gorilla trekking in Uganda is a well-run enterprise with top-notch trackers and rangers, and the payments are used to support the local community. Some groups are simpler to access than others, but hiking in Bwindi can be more difficult than in Rwanda—there’s a reason the park is known as impenetrable.

The fact that permits are far less expensive in Bwindi than in Volcanoes National Park (US$800 for foreign nonresidents, US$700 for foreign residents, US$80 for East African citizens, and US$500 for holders of other African passports) is a major draw for the majority of tourists. Other significant advantages of Uganda over Rwanda include a wider selection of reasonably priced lodging options and enough other attractions to make a two-week trip there manageable.

You can spend up to four hours with a semi-habituated group of gorillas during Bwindi’s gorilla habituation adventure. Although these will be less dependable and submissive than habituated animals, the excursion provides an intriguing, up-close look at how gorillas progressively acclimate to people. The event costs US$1,500, which is the same amount as an hour spent with Rwanda’s mountain gorillas.

3. Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which borders Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), shares a stunning setting with Volcanoes National Park, high in the Virunga Mountains. Permits are in great demand because there is just one habituated group here. But it’s a great place to go gorilla trekking if you can find one.

The environment beneath the volcanic Virunga ranges is breathtaking, and the hiking conditions are comparatively easy (the term “relatively” is stressed). One of the few that can claim a coalition of three outstanding male silverbacks is the habituated group.

Permits for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga are the same as those in Bwindi. At least in terms of visitor traffic, the park feels more subdued than Bwindi or Volcanoes due to its small number of visitors. Other fantastic walking options include guided bird-watching paths, golden monkey trekking, and strenuous day walks to the peaks.

4. DRC’s Kahuzi Biega NP

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the only nation with both mountain and eastern lowland gorillas. Virunga National Park is home to a number of habituated mountain gorilla populations, although it has been off-limits to visitors since March 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic was the original cause of this, but more recently, security concerns have taken precedence.

It appears doubtful that the park will reopen anytime soon. Currently, Kahuzi Biega National Park, which is home to about 250 eastern lowland gorillas, is a more practical choice. The only area to track eastern lowland gorillas, which are exclusive to the DRC and do not exist anywhere else, is Kahuzi Biega.

The charming town of Bukavu, which is located on the shore of Lake Kivu and offers some decent lodging in historic colonial homes, is only a short drive from Kahuzi Biega. It’s a less-traveled and more daring option than Rwanda and Uganda. With permits costing $400 USD, it’s also reasonably priced. It should be underlined that because the DRC is a turbulent nation, it is best to keep an eye on the security situation and follow gorillas here on a planned trip.

5. Republic of Congo’s Odzala-Kokoua National Park

The greatest place to see western lowland gorillas is in the relatively calm and peaceful Republic of Congo (commonly known as Congo Brazzaville), which should not be mistaken with the more unstable DRC. The untamed, tropical rainforest of Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the northwest is home to habituated gorillas. This is not an inexpensive destination due to its remoteness. However, it does provide a unique experience, combining challenging trekking with small groups and rustic luxury lodging.