Gorilla Safari

There are only about 650 mountain gorillas left in the world, and seeing them in the wild is something only a few people will ever have the chance to experience.

Approximately 300 mountain gorillas inhabit an extinct volcanic region called the Virunga Range along the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in East Africa. Others inhabit a nearby area of Bwindi in Uganda, a thick rainforest.

Lowland gorillas you may see at zoos around the world. While there are more lowland gorillas (current population about 50,000) than mountain gorillas, viewing them in their natural habitat is not much easier.

Seeing gorillas is not easy, nor are you guaranteed to encounter them. The trek to where the gorilla groups live takes you through very dense vegetation, up steep slopes and can last several hours. These gorillas move around so they aren't all that easy to track. The gorillas you'll encounter are habituated to humans which is why you are able to get quite close to them. Here are the basic rules of tracking gorillas:

- You have to be over 15 years of age
- You can not be sick or have any infectious disease
- Only one hour is allowed with the gorillas and you have to keep a distance of at least 5 metres
- Maximum number of visitors per day is 6-12 people per group
- No flash photography is allowed
- Trekkers must be fit and well equipped, which includes warm clothing for the wet cool climate high in the mountains.
- No eating or drinking in the vicinity of the gorillas
- No touching the gorillas (although they may decide to touch you)

You can track gorillas at any time of year, although the rainy season tends to make the paths a little more difficult to navigate. The rainy seasons are March-April and October-November.