G O R I L L A T R E K K I N G
S o u l - S t i r r i n g G r e a t A p e E n c o u n t e r s
G O R I L L A
T R E K K I N G
S o u l - S t i r r i n g G r e a t
A p e E n c o u n t e r s
Thanks to the income earned from gorilla trekking tourism, populations are slowly on the increase and scouts, who once may have been poachers of gorillas and other primates, are now their protectors and earn their livelihoods safeguarding what they once killed.
Despite some camps being situated in remote wilderness locations, they still offer superb amenities like private plunge pools, spas and gyms. Accommodation ranges from comfortable safari lodges to relaxed tented camps - enough to suit all tastes, budgets and trip types.
Regular flights and accessibility make it easy to combine your gorilla trekking with a Great Migration safari in East Africa or a beach getaway in Zanzibar. If you’re coming all the way, you might as well experience everything that has Africa to offer!
Thanks to the income earned from gorilla trekking tourism, populations are slowly on the increase and scouts, who once may have been poachers of gorillas and other primates, are now their protectors and earn their livelihoods safeguarding what they once killed.
Despite some camps being situated in remote wilderness locations, they still offer superb amenities like private plunge pools, spas and gyms. Accommodation ranges from comfortable safari lodges to relaxed tented camps - enough to suit all tastes, budgets and trip types.
Regular flights and accessibility make it easy to combine your gorilla trekking with a Great Migration safari in East Africa or a beach getaway in Zanzibar. If you’re coming all the way, you might as well experience everything that has Africa to offer!
See the Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo) and more wildlife found only in Africa, with expert guides who'll get you so
close you can hear them breathe.
Walking safaris, hot air balloon safaris, cultural interactions with
local people- all safari activities support conservation and communities. The ultimate win-win.
Enjoy being off-the-grid and truly away from it all with private plunge pools and spa facilities at intimate lodges in some of the most remote parts of the world.
Sip sundowners as giraffes stroll across the hot pink horizon, and sample gourmet African dishes and wines over fireside dinners while the sounds of the bush serenades you.
The best trips combine Africa's top destinations. Easily go from the African bush to buzzy Cape Town or an idyllic Indian Ocean island- with all the details and transfers taken care of.
Trekking
Gorilla trekking offers one of Africa’s most profound wildlife encounters – their populations, even in protected reserves, are counted in hundreds rather than thousands. So rare are gorillas, that trackers are able to give them individual names and identify their faces and personalities easily.
USD per person per night
From lunar-like desert landscapes and open grasslands to riverine forests and papyrus-lined canals, Botswana delivers the very best in land and water safari experiences. Combine luxury and adventure in some of the world’s most remote locations, while the magical sights and sounds of Africa leave you with memories you’ll cherish forever.
Gorilla trekking offers one of Africa’s most profound wildlife encounters – their populations, even in protected reserves, are counted in hundreds rather than thousands. So rare are gorillas, that trackers are able to give them individual names and identify their faces and personalities easily.
USD pppn
Kenya offers a vacation for every traveller. From unforgettable family safaris with child-friendly activities and services to exclusive hideaways for couples and honeymooners, Kenya has it all and then some. Whatever type of traveller you are, there’s not much that beats a Kenya safari. The standards of service are high and Kenya’s top destinations offer luxury accommodation ranging from lavish, colonial-style lodges to contemporary boutique hotels and amenity-packed resorts.
Rwanda
Africa's easiest and most accessible gorilla trekking is the main draw card of a Rwandan safari. After arriving at the capital city of Kigali, you are only a few hours' drive away from the legendary Volcanoes National Park and its habituated but still wild gorilla families. It was on the bamboo-covered slopes of Rwanda’s Virunga Volcanoes that the late Dian Fossey studied the behaviour of the endangered mountain gorilla for 20 years, followed by the filmmakers who shot Gorillas in the Mist.
Highlights
Kenya offers a vacation for every traveller. From unforgettable family safaris with child-friendly activities and services to exclusive hideaways for couples and honeymooners, Kenya has it all and then some. Whatever type of traveller you are, there’s not much that beats a Kenya safari. The standards of service are high and Kenya’s top destinations offer luxury accommodation ranging from lavish, colonial-style lodges to contemporary boutique hotels and amenity-packed resorts.
Uganda
With its perennial wetlands flourishing beneath towering Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli National Park is the best place in East Africa to see massive herds of elephant. If you’re looking for that iconic postcard image of wildlife against a Kili backdrop, this is the place to get the shot.
Highlights
Kenya offers a vacation for every traveller. From unforgettable family safaris with child-friendly activities and services to exclusive hideaways for couples and honeymooners, Kenya has it all and then some. Whatever type of traveller you are, there’s not much that beats a Kenya safari. The standards of service are high and Kenya’s top destinations offer luxury accommodation ranging from lavish, colonial-style lodges to contemporary boutique hotels and amenity-packed resorts.
Congo
Samburu is an arrestingly beautiful, rocky landscape that heralds Kenya’s vast northern deserts. It’s the traditional homeland of the Samburu people and a haven for the unique Special 5: Beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, long-neck gerenuk and Somali ostrich.
Highlights
Serengeti
Tanzania
January–March & June–October
Dry Season:
The weather is usually mild and dry from January to March, and most of the safari crowds are absent. June to October is safari’s high season; the Serengeti is busy, but weather conditions are perfect and the Wildebeest Migration’s dramatic river crossings take place. Although the sheer size of the Serengeti will give you a soul-stirring sense of space, the areas around the Migration’s river crossing points can get busy. If you want to be close to the action yet enjoy some serenity, we suggest staying in an adjacent private reserve.
Green Season:
November–December
The ‘short rains’ season relieves the dry mid-year winter. Clouds build up in the mornings and break in spectacular, but generally short-lived, showers in the late afternoons. Migrant birds return from the northern hemisphere and resident plains game give birth, which means the predator action is thrilling.
Migration Season:
December–September
The herds usually cross the Grumeti River in the western Serengeti between about May and July, then move towards the Mara River in the north to cross into the Masai Mara between about July to October. November's short rains trigger the herds
to move back to the Serengeti to give birth before calving season, which takes place from January to March and is renowned for bitter-sweet predator action.
Highlights
Consider Adding …
Kenya
Experience a safari vacation in Kenya, the place where safari travel originated. The best Kenya tours and safaris include Big 5 game viewing, incredible natural beauty, and cultural encounters, often combining Kenya’s top attractions with Tanzania and the tropical beaches of the Kenyan coast.
Tanzania
Safari happens almost everywhere you look in Tanzania. It’s been a way of life in East Africa’s second-largest country for decades. From the classic savannah destinations of the Serengeti, Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater to the beaches and coral reefs of Zanzibar, a Tanzania safari delivers one massive experience after another.
Zanzibar
The name alone is likely to conjure up images of spice markets, palm-fringed beaches and white-sailed dhows on a turquoise sea – and happily the reality doesn’t disappoint. Lying only a short distance off the Tanzania coast but at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Zanzibar has long been at the centre of the Indian Ocean experience in East Africa.
7 DAY KENYA'S LAIKIPIA & MASAI MARA
• Track black rhino & the Big 5
• Fly fishing & flying safaris
• Witness the Great Migration in season
• Experience Maasai & Swahili culture
• Off-road game drives
FROM
$4 000pp
13 DAY TANZANIA FLY-IN CRATER, MIGRATION & ISLAND
• All inclusive fly-in safari experience
• Arguably some of Africa’s best game viewing
• Visit Lake Manyara’s tree-climbing lions
• Explore the natural wonder of Ngorongoro Crater
• Witness the wildebeest migration across the Serengeti
• Dive the coral reefs of a tropical island
FROM
$10 000pp
13 DAY PRIVATE GUIDED BOTSWANA & KENYA FLY-IN
• Fly between camps in a Pilatus PC-12 light aircraft
• Private, award-winning guide throughout
• Stay at Relais & Chateaux properties
• Excellent predator sightings
• Best of Botswana & Kenya
• Only 6 places available – ideal for exclusive-use
FROM
$40 000pp
Highlights
Africa's easiest and most accessible gorilla trekking is the main draw card of a Rwandan safari. After arriving at the capital city of Kigali, you are only a few hours' drive away from the legendary Volcanoes National Park and its habituated but still wild gorilla families. It was on the bamboo-covered slopes of Rwanda’s Virunga Volcanoes that the late Dian Fossey studied the behaviour of the endangered mountain gorilla for 20 years, followed by the filmmakers who shot Gorillas in the Mist.
Rwanda
The Kruger
South Africa’s biggest and best-known national park is home to the country's greatest diversity of animals and exquisite safari lodges on private game reserves. As one of the oldest conservation areas in Africa, it boasts healthy populations of wildlife and highly sought-after sightings of cheetah and wild dog. But the Kruger’s pièce de résistance is the almost guaranteed encounter with the super-celebrities of the safari circuit: Africa’s iconic Big 5.
Dry Season:
May–Oct
The dry winter season is considered the best time to go to Kruger for game viewing. Vegetation is low and sparse, making animals easier to spot and follow, and wildlife will not move far from remaining water sources at this time of year. It’s a very comfortable time for a safari with few mosquitoes around, little if any rain, and pleasant temperatures.
Highlights
Green Season:
Nov–Apr
The summer’s afternoon thundershowers transform the Kruger into a beautiful, thriving green landscape that makes for superb photography. Game viewing is still good – with many young summer-born animals around it's a predator's paradise – and it's the best time to visit the Kruger for bird watching plus safari-and-beach holiday combinations.
Uganda
If you've ever wanted to sit with mountain gorillas in their natural rainforest habitat then a Uganda safari will deliver on your expectations. Boasting a 90% success rate at finding habituated gorilla family groups in the extraordinary Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, gorilla trekking in Uganda has become one of Africa's most powerful wildlife experiences - and gorilla populations are increasing.
Highlights
Congo
Changing the face of African travel, the Republic of the Congo (also known as Congo-Brazzaville) has opened up Africa’s equatorial rainforests to travellers, which are now more accessible than ever before. The rainforests of the Congo Basin are sometimes referred to as the second lung of the world - home to western lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, forest elephant, buffalo and roughly 100 other mammal species.
Highlights
Consider Adding …
Safari happens almost everywhere you look in Tanzania. It’s been a way of life in East Africa’s second-largest country for decades. From the classic savannah destinations of the Serengeti, Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater to the beaches and coral reefs of Zanzibar, a Tanzania safari delivers one massive experience after another.
Kenya
Experience a safari vacation in Kenya, the place where safari travel originated. The best Kenya tours and safaris include Big 5 game viewing, incredible natural beauty, and cultural encounters, often combining Kenya’s top attractions with Tanzania and the tropical beaches of the Kenyan coast.
Tanzania
The name alone is likely to conjure up images of spice markets, palm-fringed beaches and white-sailed dhows on a turquoise sea – and happily the reality doesn’t disappoint. Lying only a short distance off the Tanzania coast but at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Zanzibar has long been at the centre of the Indian Ocean experience in East Africa.
Zanzibar
Days
This bucket-list experience takes you deep into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for an eye-opening encounter with highly endangered mountain gorillas. After landing at the international airport in Entebbe, you will fly to the Kihihi airstrip on the outskirts of Bwindi National Park. Home to roughly 340 mountain gorillas, the park is one of the two remaining protected sites where this subspecies of great ape exists in the wild.
Some of the family groups are habituated to human presence and will allow trekkers to track and observe them from a respectful and mandated distance as they go about their daily lives. Back at your accommodation, which is the tranquil Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, keep an eye open for gorillas strolling right through the camp!
$2,980
Days
This 5-day tour will take you into the heart of area first brought to the world’s attention by pioneering primatologist Dian Fossey and immerse you in the majesty of Africa’s first gazetted national park that dates back to 1925.
It is an exhilarating trek from your home at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge through the dense foliage of Rwanda's emerald jungle. You watch the scout up ahead hack a path with his machete… then, a quiet word from your guide and you see a flash of dark fur against the green. You have found what you are looking for: a troupe of rare mountain gorillas.
$8,235
Consider Adding…
Here are some of our best packages, all completely customisable to your requirements and travel wishes:
This trip is perfect for couples or honeymooners. Each accommodation on this safari is an elegant tented camp with facilities such as swimming pools, spa treatments and private dining. The distances between destinations are taken care of by short flights, enabling you to enjoy as much time on safari as possible. You can look forward to a unique rhino tracking adventure and seeking out the Special 5 – Beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, long-neck gerenuk and Somali ostrich – in Samburu, plus incredible game viewing in private conservancies along the Masai Mara.
Rates generally depend on timing (i.e. key travel seasons like holidays) and level of luxury (the type of amenities and exclusivity). As a guideline, South Africa safaris can range anywhere from approximately 450 USD per person per night in low season to over 1 550 USD at the finest lodges in high season.
Rates generally depend on timing (i.e key travel seasons like holidays) and level of luxury (the type of amenities and exclusivity). As a guideline, gorilla trekking can range anywhere from approximately 600 USD per person per night in low season to over 3,025 USD at the finest lodges in high season.
Most accommodations are all-inclusive; all your meals, snacks, beverages, alcohol (with some exceptions) are part of your room rate. The price of a gorilla trekking tour is determined by your travel style, accommodation choice, transfer comfort and mainly the cost of a gorilla permit at the time of travel. The only things you’ll have to pay extra for are porters (a must have!) and just gratuities for the incredible staff who will make your stay at each lodge so memorable.
Rates generally depend on timing (i.e key travel seasons like holidays) and level of luxury (the type of amenities and exclusivity). As a guideline, gorilla trekking can range anywhere from approximately 600 USD per person per night in low season to over 3,025 USD at the finest lodges in high season.
Most accommodations are all-inclusive; all your meals, snacks, beverages, alcohol (with some exceptions) are part of your room rate. The price of a gorilla trekking tour is determined by your travel style, accommodation choice, transfer comfort and mainly the cost of a gorilla permit at the time of travel. The only things you’ll have to pay extra for are porters (a must have!) and just gratuities for the incredible staff who will make your stay at each lodge so memorable.
How Much is Gorilla Trekking?
A true bucket-list item and a very unique experience! Mountain gorillas are endangered, with only about 100 left on earth, all of which are in Africa. To come close to these gentle giants, spend one hour with them and get to experience the family and their interactions is truly special and memorable; there is nothing quite like it!
A true bucket-list item and a very unique experience! Mountain gorillas are endangered, with only about 100 left on earth, all of which are in Africa. To come close to these gentle giants, spend one hour with them and get to experience the family and their interactions is truly special and memorable; there is nothing quite like it!
Based in Cape Town, our team of experts are all born and raised in Africa. We spend our own holidays on safari, and understand what goes into making every trip a once in a life-time experience.
We have first-hand knowledge of every single destination, lodge and activity we recommend. We spend more than 365 days a year on safari to ensure you get the best, unbiased advice.
Our size and trusted relationships with Africa’s top operators gives us access to the best possible rates. If you find a better quote for your itinerary, let us know and we’ll match it.
As an African company, we ensure 100% of the money from your safari stays in Africa, supporting local communities and conservation projects, making a difference long after you return home.
Book with us and we’ll be alongside you from our first chat, offering 24/7 assistance and local know-how from the right time zone, whenever you need it.
Your money is safe with us. All our clients are protected by our supplier default insurance and our accreditation bond with the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association.
Based in Cape Town, our team of experts are all born and raised in Africa. We spend our own holidays on safari, and understand what goes into making every trip a once in a life-time experience.
We have first-hand knowledge of every single destination, lodge and activity we recommend. We spend more than 365 days a year on safari to ensure you get the best, unbiased advice.
We have first-hand knowledge of every single destination, lodge and activity we recommend. We spend more than 365 days a year on safari to ensure you get the best, unbiased advice.
As an African company, we ensure 100% of the money from your safari stays in Africa, supporting local communities and conservation projects, making a difference long after you return home.
Book with us and we’ll be alongside you from our first chat, offering 24/7 assistance and local know-how from the right time zone, whenever you need it.
Your money is safe with us. All our clients are protected by our supplier default insurance and our accreditation bond with the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association.
5/5
5/5
Go2Africa was the perfect choice... We worked with Nicole from beginning to the end and she were so helpful in creating the perfect itinerary for us. From flights, to accommodations, to transfers, and tour guides, everything was perfect...Nicole was able to work within our budget and on all of our
wants/needs.
Honeymoon of a lifetime!
This is our 3rd safari booked with Go2Africa and I'm always amazed at the personal attention to detail that goes into planning. We gave Jessica a general area we wanted to visit and a wildlife wish list of animals we wanted to see…It was unbelievable. Once again, Jessica did such an amazing job with selecting the camps that were perfect for us…
Knocked it out of the park again!
The family had an experience that exceeded our expectations. At each critical change point of the journey (flights, transport, accommodation) the arrangements played out perfectly. The experiences at each location were perfect and we took home so many memories and things to share. Thank you! Job well done.
Perfectly executed
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Also Consider Kenya
Samburu National Reserve
Samburu is an arrestingly beautiful, rocky landscape that heralds Kenya’s vast northern deserts. It’s the traditional homeland of the Samburu people and a haven for the unique Special 5: Beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, long-neck gerenuk and Somali ostrich.
Amboseli National Park
With its perennial wetlands flourishing beneath towering Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli National Park is the best place in East Africa to see massive herds of elephant. If you’re looking for that iconic postcard image of wildlife against a Kili backdrop, this is the place to get the shot.
Laikipia
The high plains of Laikipia are increasingly recognised as one of Kenya’s
best safari regions. It’s home to some of the country’s most encouraging conservation success stories like Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a sanctuary
for black and white rhinos as well as Grevy’s zebra.
Kenya Beaches
Relaxing along Kenya’s dazzling tropical coastline is one of the best ways to crown your safari. From family-friendly resorts to exclusive beach villas, the country’s coastline offers excellent accommodation and superb diving and snorkelling spots.
Here are some of our best packages,
all completely customisable to your requirements and travel wishes:
This bucket-list experience takes you deep into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for an eye-opening encounter with highly endangered mountain gorillas. After landing at the international airport in Entebbe, you will fly to the Kihihi airstrip on the outskirts of Bwindi National Park. Home to roughly 340 mountain gorillas, the park is one of the two remaining protected sites where this subspecies of great ape exists in the wild.
Some of the family groups are habituated to human presence and will allow trekkers to track and observe them from a respectful and mandated distance as they go about their daily lives. Back at your accommodation, which is the tranquil Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, keep an eye open for gorillas strolling right through the camp!
$5,460
This 5-day tour will take you into the heart of area first brought to the world’s attention by pioneering primatologist Dian Fossey and immerse you in the majesty of Africa’s first gazetted national park that dates back to 1925.
It is an exhilarating trek from your home at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge through the dense foliage of Rwanda's emerald jungle. You watch the scout up ahead hack a path with his machete… then, a quiet word from your guide and you see a flash of dark fur against the green. You have found what you are looking for: a troupe of rare mountain gorillas.
$8,235
Browse our Gorilla Trekking resources
Browse our Gorilla Trekking Resources
Everything is about relationships. Fortunately, we've built great ones working with the top names in Africa for more than 20 years.
Everything is about relationships. Fortunately, we've built great ones working with the top names in Africa for more than 20 years.