Our Most Favorite Gorilla Trekking Tours in Africa (2023)

The three greatest nations in the world for a gorilla safari are all located in Africa. In the Gorilla Trekking Tours in Africa sector, Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo have established themselves as the top locations for tourists looking to go Gorilla Trekking Tours in Africa, and walk through wild, pristine jungles in quest of these elusive primates. For those who have had the honor of taking advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime chance, seeing mountain gorillas in their natural environment is reported to be a life-altering and eye-opening event that has become an indelible memory.

Best Gorilla Trekking Tours in Africa

Ready to Start Planning Your Gorilla Trekking Adventure to Africa?
Gorillas are critically endangered and trekking is carefully regulated in Africa’s gorilla parks. Permits are both costly and difficult to secure and cannot be held on a provisional basis. Traveling to such remote destinations and ensuring the best chances for a successful gorilla trek requires the kind of direct experience and local knowledge that you get from an Africa Safari Expert. Get in touch with someone who’s been there:

Chimps, Wildlife & Gorillas in Uganda

Duration: 7 Days

A week’s safari in Uganda is just about enough time to fully appreciate the wonders of the nation’s gorges, rainforest, and beautiful savannah. During this 7-day trip, you will travel into Kasese from Entebbe, the country’s capital, and then spend four days in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here, you may go on game drives to see some of your favorite African species and track chimpanzees. After that, you’ll be driven to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a tropical forest wonderland with impressive fauna and spectacular scenery. Naturally, you’ll have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to interact with one of the four known habituated gorilla families that call the mountains home in Bwindi’s pristine forest.

Highlights

• Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Spectacular views of the Rwenzori Mountains
• Boating on the Kazinga Channel
• Dedicated private guide throughout your trip
• Visit the local community centres & Batwa villages
• Spot the pride of tree-climbing lions in Ishasha

Visit All the Safari Hotspots in Tanzania & Uganda

Duration: 14 Days

You will experience some of the top safari activities that East Africa has to offer on this amazing 14-day journey. Your journey begins in the equatorial rainforests of Uganda, where you hike through verdant terrain and up challenging mountains in search of the local gorilla families. On Rubondo Island, the entertainment never ends as chimpanzees, elephants, and giraffes are regularly spotted there. The undulating plains of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater replace the wooded scenery on the fifth day of the journey. The Great Wildebeest Migration may be seen at both of these locations, and you can also visit the largest preserved volcanic caldera in the world and have an incredible experience.

Highlights:

• Visit some of East Africa’s most popular wildlife destinations
• Fantastic photography opportunities for keen photographers
• Spot the Big 5 in the Serengeti
• Small, intimate safari lodges throughout – ideal for couples & honeymooners
• Explore the exclusive Rubondo Island & trek for habituated chimpanzees
• See the Ngorongoro Crater – the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera
• Witness the annual Wildebeest Migration in season (July to October)

Adventure Through Uganda’s Lush Forests

Duration: 9 Days

On this nine-day safari adventure, see the best of Uganda and have spectacular wildlife encounters. You’ll help chimpanzee researchers observe these intelligent, acrobatic primates in their natural environment as your journey begins in the bush of Kibale Forest. You will then proceed to the well-known Queen Elizabeth National Park for some traditional safari wildlife viewing on land and in the water. Your visit to the renowned Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the highlight. Here, you’ll get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to track Uganda’s mountain gorillas with a qualified guide. The final night of your journey is spent in Lake Mburo National Park, which is ideal for a leisurely yet thrilling night drive over the plains in search of nocturnal animals.

Highlights:

• Explore the energetic city of Entebbe
• Track chimpanzees in Kibale Forest
• Classic safari experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Spot the tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha Plains
• Cruise down the Kazinga Channel
• Stand with one foot in each hemisphere at the Uganda Equator Line

Congo Gorilla Safari in a Magnificent Rainforest

Duration: 8 Days

Eight days in one location may seem excessive for this luxury safari trip to the Congo. However, as soon as you enter the Odzala-Kokoua National Park, you’ll realize that a week might not be long enough to spend here. The park is a vast primary forest known for its biodiversity and abundance of species, including elephants, forest buffalo, and western lowland gorillas. Previously regarded as inaccessible, the jungle is now the location of a few eco-sensitive resorts, each of which offers a distinctive perspective on the rainforest, marshes, and savannah. You can participate in gorilla trekking, river cruises, kayaking excursions, guided hikes, and other thrilling activities while you’re here.

Highlights:

• Stay in luxury, eco-friendly chalets throughout your journey
• Encounter unique forest wildlife & landscapes
• Enjoy two gorilla treks, water-based activities & nature walks
• See a sizeable portion of the world’s remaining gorilla population
• Spectacular views of the surrounding forest & ‘bai’ – an area of open, marshy ground frequented by elephants, buffalo & antelope

Classic Big 5 Safari and Gorilla Trekking in East Africa

Duration: 15 Days

It will be difficult to find a safari vacation that is more thrilling than this 15-day itinerary, which packs the most significant wildlife encounters in East Africa into a single journey. The vacation begins with a gorilla hike in the pristine rainforests of Uganda before flying to two the Masai Mara and Serengeti, two of the most well-known safari locations in Africa. The Great Wildebeest Migration, nature’s most spectacular spectacle, will be on display right in front of you while you’re here. The adventure ends at Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater, where you may have a traditional game drive in the conservation area in search of the Big 5 and other exciting animals.

Highlights:

• Visit some of Africa’s best safari hotspots
• See the Big 5 & other big game in Ngorongoro Crater
• Enjoy cultural encounters with the Batwa people
• Go on night game drives & nature walks
• See the Great Wildebeest Migration in season (May to October)
• Stay in luxurious tented accommodation throughout
• Optional hot-air balloon rides over the Masai Mara

A Short but Sweet Rwanda Gorilla Safari

Duration: 4 Days

The four days you spend on this incredible vacation in Rwanda are packed with thrilling activities and life-changing encounters. Volcanoes Virunga Lodge is a beautiful place to stay while traveling. The resort offers a relaxing yet opulent stay and has the most amazing views of the nearby dormant volcanoes, thick forests, and serene Lakes Bulera and Ruhonda that make up Volcanoes National Park. Naturally, the time you spend looking for and viewing the mountain gorilla family in their natural environment will be the highlight of your trip. When not on your gorilla trek, take a lovely stroll to the grave of renowned primatologist Dian Fossey and the gorilla cemetery she established as a burial place for poached gorillas. You may also track the golden monkeys, another endangered mammal in Rwanda.

Highlights:

• Visit Dian Fossey’s resting place & the gorilla cemetery
• Discover the untouched beauty of Lake Kivu’s beaches
• Enjoy guided walks in search of rare golden monkeys
• Sensational views of the surrounding forest & volcanoes
• Immerse yourself in local Rwandan life

The Ultimate Gorilla Trek Safari Through Uganda & Rwanda

Duration: 10 Days

This 10-day journey visits the top gorilla trekking locations in Uganda and Rwanda, Bwindi and Volcanoes National Parks, two of the continent’s newest and most thrilling safari areas. You’ll have the chance to immerse oneself in the pure, untamed nature of these thriving nations in addition to experiencing ethical interactions with magnificent animals. The trip starts in Entebbe, Uganda, then continues to Lake Mutanda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Volcanoes National Park, and the gorilla safari destination. A lot of cultural enrichment may be had while traveling around Africa by visiting the Nkuringo and Batwa people, the Rwanda Genocide Memorial Center, and the Miles Collines Hotel.

Highlights:

• Cross Lake Mutanda in a dugout canoe
• Experience the culture of the Batwa & Nkuringo people
• Comfortable accommodation in a pristine rainforest setting
• Enjoy scenic walks on trails that run along the Ivy and Kashasha Rivers
• Explore the thriving city of Kigali

A Luxurious Safari Adventure in Uganda’s Rainforest

Duration: 5 Days

Spend five wonderful days tracking some of the 340 mountain gorillas who live in the beautiful Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda’s quiet jungle. You will lodge in the posh Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, a chicly furnished tented lodging that guarantees you will enjoy your surroundings at the height of luxury. This is certain to be one of the most memorable African gorilla trips, especially with the frequent visits by habituated gorilla families.

Highlights:

• Enjoy luxurious, authentic accommodation in a private concession
• Guided forest walks & exceptional birding
• Habituated gorilla families can be seen strolling through camp
• The perfect add-on to a classic safari in the Serengeti or the Masai Mara