Gorilla Watching

Without doubt one of the world’s greatest wildlife experiences - the thrill of a close encounter with reclusive mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

Our range of gorilla watching safaris gets you up close and personal with these gentle giants. We operate our tours responsibly, taking care not to disturb these fascinating creatures. We keep a respectful distance – but it’s not unusual for an inquisitive gorilla to come closer to us!

Gorilla tracking in East Africa

Mountain gorillas are one of the world’s most endangered species, with only some 600-700 left in the wild. These magnificent animals live in small troops, each within its own defined boundaries and each with several females and their young being led by a single dominant male – the magnificent ‘Silverback’. Distinct from their cousins who live in the open plains and lowland forests of West Africa, mountain gorillas are normally found in at an altitude of between 1520m and 3650m.

We are lucky enough to be able to offer mountain gorilla tracking in two unique locations - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in southern Uganda and in the Virunga massif of Rwanda’s Parc National des Volcans.

At both locations, gorilla tracking is limited to a daily maximum group size of six people for each habituated gorilla family group. You will be accompanied by expert trackers and park rangers and, although sightings of gorillas can never be guaranteed, the fact that the family groups are tracked daily means that locating the families is easier.

What's it really like?

Our very own Paul Bondsfield recently went on the Ugandan gorilla watching trip. Read his blog entry and find out what it is really like to come face to face with a silverback mountain gorilla! Read Paul's gorilla watching blog.

Helping to protect the gorillas

Explore work closely with The Gorilla Organisation to help protect the remaining 700 mountain gorillas.  Each year we sponsor and take part in The Great Gorilla Run in London. 

About Uganda

Uganda, straddling the equator high on the central African plateau and perched on the northern shore of Lake Victoria, is marketing itself hard as the ultimate eco-destination. Its gorillas represent perhaps the most powerful image of them all. Yet it still receives relatively few tourists compared to its neighbours, Kenya and Tanzania. Those that do visit are well rewarded with a fantastic climate, an ever-changing scenery, and people who are honest, polite and genuinely pleased to help.

As soon as you step off the plane the country immediately gives a good impression: well-maintained roads with immaculately clean verges. A huge array of greens, mixed with the terracotta red of the soil, is easy on the eye. The capital, Kampala, is a handsome city, set among seven hills, with a range of comfortable hotels, al fresco eating places, lively nightlife and a fine public garden. The surrounding towns, while not high on tourist attractions tend to have a modest colonial centre, bustling markets and historical and cultural interest provided by burial grounds of the kings.

Most travellers, however, visit for two main reasons – the gorillas and whitewater rafting. Neither is particularly cheap - both, however, are unforgettable experiences. Aside from the gorillas, Uganda’s national parks provide a rich and unique habitat for a great number of wildlife species. From savannah in the east to rainforest in the west, few countries can match the sheer diversity of the landscape. Kibale National Park has East Africa’s highest concentration of primates, with 13 species, including chimpanzee; while Queen Elizabeth National Park has 95 mammal species including the elusive tree-climbing lions.

Birdwatchers are in for a real treat with more than 1000 species to spot. Exploring the island-studded Lake Bunyonyi by canoe offers the perfect opportunity to commune with nature and soak up Uganda’s glorious scenery.