All senses are on high alert, they are only a few feet away. The enormous male silverback presides over the scene in front of him, eating whilst maintaining a watchful eye over his family and keeping track of the human visitors. It’s a breathtaking and incredibly humbling encounter: spending time in the presence of these magnificent animals, the mighty mountain gorillas – Africa’s largest primates. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for during a trip with Explorations to discover these critically endangered creatures in their spectacular jungle kingdom.
Gorilla trekking takes place in the Virunga Mountains which spread across the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda houses more than a third of the remaining mountain gorillas (a subspecies of the Eastern gorilla) left in the world and is well known for its outstanding opportunities to see the rare mountain gorilla high in the mountains.
"There is little more captivating than the Volcanoes National Park where the gorilla families reside in the clearings of the bamboo forest."
Despite threats from poaching and human encroachment, numbers have increased in recent decades. Conservation awareness has risen significantly in Rwanda thanks to the legendary work of the late conservationist Dian Fossey. Today conservation efforts continue and visitors are welcomed on gorilla safari experiences where habituated families of mountain gorillas can be observed from a safe distance as they eat, play and groom. There is little more captivating than the Volcanoes National Park where the gorilla families reside in the clearings of the bamboo forest. The gorilla permits directly contribute towards the preservation of this incredible species and the rangers who protect and conserve their habitat.
In addition to gorilla trekking, we can arrange for you to embark on a golden monkey trek (a rare species that can mainly be found in the highland bamboo forests of Central Africa) and a visit to the inspirational Akarabo Nursery and Gardens. The nursery is undertaking an ambitious reforestation project in partnership with local communities to contribute towards the long-term sustainability of the mountain gorilla habitats, where you can plant trees as part of the programme during your trip.
After days spent exploring the mountain forest and meeting its extraordinary inhabitants, we have a whole range of superb accommodation options for you to unwind in. There are many lodges ranging from rustic and authentic to spacious and ultra-luxurious, so depending on your preferences we have several options to suit.
Taking into consideration every detail regarding your ideal trip, we can curate a highly bespoke adventure for you in the mountains during this mesmerising primate safari.
