Best Places To See Mountain Gorillas In Africa

Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the best places to see mountain gorillas in Africa. The endangered mountain gorillas are some of the most adorable creatures on this planet, partly because they share about 98% of their genetic makeup with us human beings.

With only 1,063 individual mountain gorillas in existence, these gentle giants need to be conserved without hesitation. Mountain gorillas are highly intelligent and social primates whose behaviour has captivated millions of people around the world. They live in groups, also known as families or troops.

Each family is basically led by a dominant male, usually a silverback who ensures the safety and survival of subordinates. The family comprises several females, their offspring and a number of younger males.

Mountain gorillas form strong bonds with each other that foster a sense of community. These are done through playing with each other, grooming themselves and communicating through vocalizations, gestures and hooting among other ways. Mountain gorillas in Africa primarily forage on a diverse range of food. These comprise leaves, stems, fruits, flowers and occasionally, insects.

Their diet for the most part is heavily reliant on the availability of seasonal vegetation in their ecosystem. Their foraging habits are highly critical to sustain their survival and health, since they require large quantities of food for their large body sizes. They need a lot of energy, and since they mainly feed on plants, they have to eat plenty of them.

In Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, the best places for gorilla trekking in Africa include Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Virunga National Park. Their descriptions are as follows.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is situated in the southwest of Uganda in Albertine graben. This UNESCO World Heritage site sits on approximately 124 square miles of land. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is endowed with abundant greenery on its rugged terrain to make it one of the most breathtaking natural beauties in the world.

The dense Afromontane vegetation is a haven for over 400 of the 1063 endangered mountain gorillas still living today. With 24 habituated mountain gorilla groups, Bwindi is one of the best places to see gorillas in Africa. Gorilla trekking tours in Bwindi are done in any of the four sectors – Ruhija, Nkuringo, Buhoma and Rushaga. Other key tour activities to experience in Bwindi include gorilla habituation, birdwatching, Batwa trail and others.

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park in the northwest of Rwanda sits on approximately 62 square miles of land in the Albertine graben. Volcanoes is part of the Virunga Massif, which is a volcanic range spanning Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. The park constitutes of a luxurious vegetation cover, verdant biodiversity and beautiful landscapes. The lush vegetation of Volcanoes National Park harbor the beautiful mountain gorillas.

There are over 600 individual gorillas in Virunga Massif, and some of them move across the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Volcanoes National Park has at least 10 habituated gorilla families that can be trekked by visitors on Rwanda gorilla tours. The iconic volcanoes, Bisoke and Karisimbi provide a lovely backdrop for these amazing primates, thus positioning Volcanoes National Park as one of the best places to see mountain gorillas in Africa.

Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo

Virunga National Park in eastern Congo occupies about 3,011 square miles in the Albertine graben and part of the Virunga Massif. This UNESCO World Heritage site comprises of both tropical rainforests and Afromontane forests. The park is home to the endangered mountain gorillas, with at least 8 habituated gorilla families available for trekking tours.

Virunga National Park is also blessed with the iconic volcanoes – Nyiragongo, Mikeno and Nyamuragira. These misty mountains are complemented by the hidden valleys beneath, thus making it one of the best places to see mountain gorillas in Africa. Other tourist activities include birdwatching, cultural tours, hiking tours and others.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda

Mgahinga in the southwest of Uganda sits on approximately 13.1 square miles of land in the Albertine graben. The park is also part of the Virunga Massif that spans Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. With a total of 603 transboundary mountain gorillas in the Virunga Massif, Mgahinga has only one habituated gorilla family that visitors can witness on gorilla trekking tours.

These mountain gorillas inhabit the Afromontane vegetation that include bamboo forests. There are 3 inactive volcanoes that provide lovely views for visitors on gorilla trekking tours. These include Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabinyo. There are numerous wildlife species in Mgahinga thus positioning the park among the best sites to see mountain gorillas in Africa.

The best time to see mountain gorillas in Africa

You can see mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo throughout the year, with the public holidays being no exception. But the dry months are more conducive since the trekking adventure is often done on drier gorilla trails compared to the muddy ones in the wet season. The dry season runs from December to February and from June to August.

However, the availability of gorilla permits is an important factor when desiring to see mountain gorillas during the dry season. Therefore, you need to book your gorilla permit through licensed Rwanda or Uganda tour operators in advance, at least 3 months prior to your safari.