How to book 2022 gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda

African Countries with Gorillas

African countries with gorillas attract a number of tourists every other year to allow them an opportunity to encounter the gorillas in a gorilla trekking safari tour. Gorillas are arguably the most fascinating primate species in the world. Gorillas are much larger and more powerful primate species and yet still very gentle. Gorillas are human like given they share about 98% DNA with humans.

Gorillas are native to Africa only. There are only species of gorillas; the western gorillas and the eastern gorillas. Western gorillas are further divided into two subspecies that include the Cross River gorilla and the western lowland gorillas. Eastern gorillas are also further divided into two subspecies which include mountain gorillas and the Eastern lowland gorillas. Western gorillas are the most populated gorilla species in the world, with a record of over 250000 gorilla individuals. The eastern gorillas are significantly larger than the western gorillas and also have a lot darker and longer fur. On average, an adult male gorillas can weigh up to 200kgs, so yes gorillas are very heavy and strong.

Where do gorillas live in Africa? Where to see gorillas in Africa

Gorillas in Africa live in the wilderness forests of east and central Africa. African countries with gorillas include Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda. Africa gorilla safaris often times take travellers gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, but the rest of the African countries with gorillas especially in western Africa do offer amazing and significantly rewarding gorilla safaris. African countries with gorillas and their specific gorilla species and subspecies include;

Uganda

Uganda is undoubtedly one of the best places to see mountain gorillas in the wild. Uganda is blessed to have two gorilla destinations from where travellers can encounter the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Gorillas in Uganda can be encountered on gorilla trekking safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, both located in the south western region of Uganda near the border with Rwanda. Bwindi Impenetrable National park is the one country to inhabit more than half the total world population of mountain gorillas, with the rest being shared by the Virunga Massifs which encompass Mgahinga Gorilla national Park of Uganda, Virunga National Park of the Congo and Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda. Travellers can encounter mountain gorillas in Uganda, any time of the year in any of the gorilla destinations in Uganda. It is only the habituated gorillas that travellers can encounter for gorilla trekking in Uganda, with about two semi-habituated gorilla families available for gorilla habituation experiences in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Uganda has about 20 habituated gorilla families that travellers can trek to encounter the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park alone has about 19 habituated gorilla families available for gorilla trekking safaris in the park, while Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has only the Nyakagezi gorilla family that travellers can encounter while gorilla trekking.

African Countries with Gorillas — Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park

To be able to encounter the gorillas in Uganda, travellers are expected to purchase gorilla permits which cost $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents while East African citizens pay only ugx250000 to encounter the gorillas, per person per trek. For gorilla habituation experiences in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a traveller has to part with $1500 per person per experience, for an opportunity to spend up to 4 hours with the mountain gorillas.

Rwanda

Rwanda is one of the African countries with gorillas, and welcomes travellers to encounter these amazing mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, the only gorilla destination in Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park is an amazing rainforest area that served as base for the famous primatologist Dian Fossey who spent time studying mountain gorillas and habituating them. Volcanoes National Park inhabits mountain gorillas, and there are about 12 habituated gorilla families in Rwanda that travellers can encounter while gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. A Rwanda gorilla permit costs $1500 per person per trek.

Democratic Republic of Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo is another of the African countries with gorillas, and also allows gorilla safaris to travellers all throughout the year. The Congo is blessed to inhabit three taxa of gorillas, that is mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park, the Eastern lowland gorillas predominantly in Kahuzi Biega National Park from where travellers can actually see them while gorilla trekking in Congo, as well as the western lowland gorillas which are found in the far western part of the Congo along the Madiakoko Mountains. Travellers can encounter the mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas of Congo all year through, with a Congo permit cost of only $400 per person per trek.

Cameroon

Cameroon is another of the African countries with gorillas. Cameroon is a West African country which hosts both the western lowland gorillas and the eastern lowland gorillas. Cross River gorillas of Cameroon are commonly found between the border of Nigeria and Cameroon, and of all the gorilla species and subspecies, the cross river gorillas are the most critically endangered with about only 250 of them still left in the world. Cross river gorillas in Cameroon are not available for gorilla trekking and encounters, but the western lowland of gorillas of Cameroon found in Campo-Ma’an National Park can be encountered with gorilla trekking adventures. The possibility of encountering the western lowland gorillas in Cameroon is however less than 70%.

Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the African countries with gorillas. Nigeria hosts the cross river gorillas, scattered over a 2900 square mile area of the Cross River National Park, Mbe Mountain and Afi Mountain, making it very hard to easily encounter them. It is also important to note that the cross river gorillas of Nigeria are not habituated and thus still wild and not favourable for gorilla trekking.

Central African Republic

The Central African Republic is one of the best places to trek the western lowland gorillas, amongst all the African countries with gorillas specifically the western lowland gorillas. Western lowland gorillas in the Central African Republic are found in Dzanga-Ndoki National Park, with only one fully habituated gorilla family that travellers can encounter with gorilla trekking adventures. Dzanga-Ndoki National Park is a very dense forest with minimal lighting, making it relatively hard to take good pictures of the western lowland gorillas of the Central African Republic.

Congo Brazzaville

Congo Brazzaville inhabits the western lowland gorillas as well, mostly found in Odzala National Park. Odzala National Park has over 22000 western lowland gorillas in the park, with only two habituated gorilla families that are open for gorilla tourism in the country. The best way to see the western lowland gorillas of Odzala National Park is by staying in hidden enclosures and waiting for the gorillas to come out in open clearings known as Bai. Mbeli Bai is the most commonly spotted clearing, which has about 100 western lowland gorilla individuals.

Gabon

Gabon is one of the African countries with gorillas, and a whole lot more to encounter given the country is a great destination for wildlife. Gabon also inhabits the western lowland gorillas, in most of its national parks with Moukalaba-Doudou National Park inhabiting the largest number of gorillas.

Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea also hosts the western lowland gorillas, found in Monte Alen National Park. Though gorilla tourism is not yet well developed. However, there are a number of trained locals who conduct treks in the forest on a daily, with a high possibility of spotting a number of primates.

Angola

Angola is one of the many African countries with gorillas, inhabiting a number of western lowland gorillas in the northern part of the country, especially in the Cabinda enclave just near the Congo River. Gorilla tourism in Angola is also not well developed here.

Are there gorillas in Africa? Yes, there re gorillas in Africa. The above mentioned re the African countries with gorillas. Though a number of them do not have gorilla tourism well developed, gorilla safaris in Africa can still take place in the few African countries with gorillas like Uganda, Rwanda, the Congo, Cameroon, among others. Get in touch with a trusted gorilla safari tour operator and have an amazing Africa gorilla safari, and more given the magnificent wild beauty of Africa.