Gorilla Trekking Africa Guide 2024
GORILLA TREKKING AFRICA 2024
To any first-time traveler, a lot of thoughts fog your mind whenever you are planning to do something for the first time. When all you have is a gorilla picture; a lot more needs to be done to have a face-to-face encounter with the mountain gorillas.
Besides the gorilla picture, in most cases, there is an icebreaker that births the desire in you to go for a particular safari. It might be an advert or a review of someone you know.
Amidst all this, someone might desire a comprehensive hub; call it an all about gorilla tracking in Africa. This includes but is not limited to gorilla national parks, clothing fit for gorilla trekking, gorilla families, mountain gorillas, and low land gorilla among several other facts.
GORILLA DESTINATIONS IN AFRICA
There are only 10 gorilla destinations in the whole of Africa; though these destinations can further be subdivided according to the gorilla species that can be tracked in a particular destination.
These include; the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Angola, and Central African Republic.
Table of Contents
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MOUNTAIN GORILLA DESTINATIONS
Mountain gorillas are some of the world’s most endangered species which today do not even make a total population of 1100 in the whole world. However, measures are being undertaken by the three countries that inhabit mountain gorillas in the whole of Africa to grow these numbers.
The Distinguishing factor of mountain gorillas from other types of gorillas is darkness in the fur, size, and habitation.
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Uganda
Today Uganda is the leading mountain gorilla destination. This is due to its cost friendliness and security compared to the other two destinations.
In Uganda, mountain gorillas are found in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. Several silverbacks (adult male gorillas) can be traced in these tropical forests. The two parks all together have over 15 gorilla habituated families that can be trekked whole year-round hosting half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. There is also amazing footage on YouTube of several amazing gorilla experiences in Uganda.

Gorilla Habituation Experience – Bwindi National Park – Uganda
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Rwanda
Rwanda is the second-best mountain gorilla destination. Due to the size of the country, the distance to the gorilla park is relatively shorter compared to that of Uganda and the country is equally as secure as Uganda. Volcanoes national park is the only place you can trek gorillas in Rwanda.
Volcanoes national park is part of the Virunga mountain ranges which also incorporates the Mgahinga gorilla national park.
The only thing drawing a line between the two destinations is the cost of the mountain gorilla permits. A gorilla permit in Rwanda costs $1,500 while the one in Uganda costs only $700
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Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
The democratic republic of Congo is the only destination in the whole of Africa where mountain gorillas, western lowland, and eastern lowland gorillas can be tracked. Unfortunately, it is facing security challenges and most of the gorillas are not tourist habituated. Of recent, the gorilla tracking safaris were put on hold until further notice.
The gorilla permit in DRC is the cheapest; going for $450 with the option of exploring the western lowland gorillas as well as mountain gorillas in the same country but the tours are still on hold.
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WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLAS
Western lowland gorillas are relatively smaller in size compared to the mountain gorillas, they have shorter brownish hair, and longer arms compared to mountain gorillas and live at a lower altitude compared to mountain gorillas.
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Gabon
Gabon; a country located in the western parts of Africa; holds over 50,000 western lowland gorillas. Apparently, it is one of the places in Africa where a tourist is assured of a wonderful gorilla experience.
The western lowland gorillas would pass for “common” gorillas since they are still abundant on the face of the African continent. It is this gorilla species that you are likely to find in any zoo around the world.
The infrastructure to the parks is still average, implying that there are still accessibility challenges in some places, and there are also fifty-fifty chances of spotting gorillas in Gabon.
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The central African Republic
One of the things that sound worldwide about the Central African Republic is commonly the unrest in this country. But amidst all this negative media coverage; behind it lies some of the African wildlife treasures; the western lowland gorillas.
The infrastructure of the park is still poor, though not the worst, and there are still rare occasions where visitors fail to spot even a single gorilla.
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Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea is another unexplored gorilla destination that is still under development in terms of content and accessibility. The only unfortunate beat about the Equatorial Guinea gorilla safaris is; that there are high chances of not spotting gorillas because the gorilla tracking industry is still in its infancy stage.
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Congo
Congo Brazzaville is one of the places in Africa where you can find both western lowland and Eastern lowland gorillas. This makes it an ideal destination only that most of the gorillas in this country are still undergoing habituation
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Angola
The gorilla tracking industry in Angola is also still growing. Angola only harbors western lowland gorillas whose habituation status is not statistically known but a lot is still being done to grow the industry in this country.
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CROSS RIVER GORILLA DESTINATIONS
Cross River gorillas are a subspecies of the western gorillas. They are the most endangered gorilla subspecies in the whole of Africa.
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Nigeria
Nigeria is the best destination in the whole of Africa to spot cross-river gorillas under the care of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The infrastructure of the park is improving however the chances of spotting the gorillas are still low but statistically improving due to the heavy investment by the government in this area.
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Cameroon
Cameroon is home to both cross river gorillas and western lowland gorillas. The gorilla tracking industry in this country is also still in its infancy stages making accessibility by road difficult as well as spotting some gorillas.
Gorilla National Parks In Africa
- Loango National Park (Gabon)
- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national Park (Uganda)
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Uganda)
- Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda)
- Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Lobeke National Park (Cameroon)
- Monte Alen National Park (Equatorial Guinea)
- Dzanga-Ndoki National Park (Central African Republic)
- Maiko National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Odzala National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo)