Ten Best Places To See Gorillas in Africa

Are you the one who wants to experience extreme wildness? Have you ever thought of finding a gorilla? After bonobos and chimpanzees, gorillas are the largest great apes and share the closest genetic features with humans. Gorillas are facing the threat of extinction, and only 900 mountain gorillas are left on earth. Luckily, the number of Gorillas is increasing due to conservation, the censuses show that there are more than 1,000 gorillas from 250 when conservation efforts began around 50 years ago. Trekking into their native forests is the only way to see these giant primates. While tracking down the best place for gorilla safari, your eyes will fall on Africa. Going deep into Africa’s rainforests will help you to fulfill your wild craving. This may be your one life chance of seeing them. Ecotourism is the only way which you can visit gorillas by ensuring their protection. The financial assistance provided to locals for safeguarding the gorillas comes from the revenue of these national parks. The real task is to find out which place in Africa you should choose. We are here to help you out. Here are the ten best places to see gorillas in Africa. In this article, we’ll read about the top ten places to see gorillas in Africa.

TIP – You need to take a permit before visiting gorilla parks. The permit for each place is mentioned below in Dollars.

10 best places to see gorillas in Africa

Rwanda

Land of a Thousand Hills, Rwanda, is the best place in Africa to see gorillas and for getting the best mountain gorilla safari. You will be able to find half of the world’s remaining gorillas in the mountains of Rwanda especially volcanoes national park. It is situated in the northwest direction of Rwanda and covers 160 square kilometers, which consists of 8 volcanoes and several rain forests. The treks provided by Rwanda are customizable with the length and difficulty level. The best time to visit gorillas in Rwanda is during the dry seasons, from June to September. The time taking for gorillas seeing in Rwanda is 5 hours. And this depends on various factors like weather, the fitness capabilities of the visitors, and the distance to the gorilla families.

Where you can see gorillas – In Rwanda you can see gorillas in Volcanoes national park.

How to reach the location  – There are two ways to reach the Virunga mountains. One is from Congo, using Goma airport. This will take an hour’s drive. Otherwise, visitors can fly into Kigali airport of Rwanda and cross the Goma border by driving through Gisenyi town. 

Gorilla permit in Rwanda – Gorilla permit price in Rwanda is 1500 dollars, this is the fixed price for whole year. A gorilla permit also includes admission to the national park, the ranger guides who will be with you, an hour-long gorilla adventure, taxes, and a certificate for gorilla trekking.

Accommodations nearby: There are many accommodation options nearby Virunga Mountains. Some include Fravan eco resort by apogee, Virunga homestays, and wilderness bite. 

Type of Gorilla – In Rwanda, you will be able to see mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas are a subspecies of the eastern gorillas. These gorillas differ from western and eastern lowland gorillas that they have long hair and shorter limbs, in addition to having muscular arms, a large chest, and broad hands and feet.

Number of gorillas – There are 12 gorilla families that is more than 600 species is present in Rwanda.

Uganda

Gorillas are comfortable in their natural environment only. In Uganda, you can encounter them in their natural habitat. There are two places in Uganda you can find gorillas:-

1. Bwindi forest national park  

2. Mgahinga national park 

Bwindi forest national park has 1 group of gorillas. And Mgahinga national park has 17 groups. The treks in Uganda are constructed to ensure the safety and health of gorillas. Gorillas in Bwindi prefer to live in lower terrain, while those in Mgahinga prefer to stay in high landscapes. With their high number, gorillas in Uganda are relatively wild than in Rwanda. In Uganda, you can participate in the Gorilla habituation experience. Uganda will offer you the best gorilla safari. For gorilla trekking in Uganda, you can choose anytime; visitors usually prefer two dry seasons: January to February and June to September. Even in Uganda, the time taken for a gorilla trek is same as Rwanda that is 5 hours. And this depends on various factors like weather, the fitness capabilities of the visitors, and the distance to the gorilla families.

Where you can see the Gorilla – Bwindi forest national park and Mgahinga national park are the two places you can have the best gorilla safari in Uganda.

How to reach the location – Entebbe International Airport is the nearest airport to both locations.  

Gorilla permit in Uganda – Both Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park charge USD 700 for foreign non-residents, USD 600 for international residents, and UGX 250,000 for East African nationals for a gorilla trekking permit.

Accommodations nearby: There are several game lodge options near these parks. Some of them are Mount Gahinga Rest Camp, Mount Gahinga Lodge, and Community Campground. 

Type of Gorilla – The mountain gorilla – The only gorilla species present in Uganda is the mountain gorilla, which faces the most threat of extinction. On the slopes of the Virunga Mountains in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi National Park, you can see the world’s half of the mountain gorilla population.

Number of gorillas – There are 14 habituated gorilla families and around 320 gorillas in Uganda.

The Democratic Republic of Congo

The democratic republic of congo has both mountain and lowland gorillas. Congo is the best place to see mountain gorillas. Because of its long civil war and internal conflicts, most people didn’t prefer the DRC for a gorilla safari. There are four different habitual groups of gorillas in DRC. You can also access the Virunga mountains from here. The virungas or volcanoes are the rainforests covered across the borders of Rwanda, Uganda, and the democratic republic of congo. In this area, you will find several mountain gorillas. The best time for congo is the dry season, from June to September or December to February. DRC also have the same trekking time as Uganda and Rwanda that is upto 5 hours and this depends on various factors like weather, the fitness capabilities of the visitors, and the distance to the gorilla families.

Where you can see the Gorilla – Kahuzi Beiga National Park in DRC will be the best place in Congo to see different types of gorillas.

How to reach the location – The most convenient way to get to Kahuzi Beiga National Park is taking a flight to Kigali Airport and driving 7 hours through Nyungwe Forest national park. 

Gorilla permit in DRC – Gorilla permit in Congo is starting from 400 dollars. Anyone who is 15 years or older can get a gorilla trekking permit. This legal permit allows you to spend an hour with a gorilla group. With this, you can also do mountain trekking to see gorillas in any national park.

Accommodations nearby: Various accommodation options like luxury, budget, etc. Some possibilities are Coco Lodge Bukavu, Hotel Begonais Bukavu, Panorama hotel, etc. are available.

Type of Gorilla – Western lowland, Eastern lowland, and Mountain gorillas – Only in DRC you can find Grauer’s or eastern lowland gorillas. Kahuzi-Biega National Park is home to about 250 Grauer’s gorillas, is the perfect place to see them.You can also see western lowland gorillas and mountain gorillas in DRC.

Number of gorillas – There are 4 habitual groups around 300 gorillas in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Congo Brazzaville or Republic of Congo

The Republic of Congo lies between Cameroon, Gabon, Central Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Republic of Congo is a peaceful place offering the best gorilla safaris with western lowland gorillas. The best place to see gorillas in Congo is Odzala kodoua national park, and you will find two habitual gorillas here. The climate here is generally hot and muggy. There are several untouched areas also. Apart from gorilla viewing, you can explore rain forest trails, kayaking, boating, and game driving across savannahs to boating, etc. June is the dry month in the Republic of Congo, and it is the best time to visit for a gorilla trek.

Where you can see the Gorilla – Odzala kodoua national park offers you the best gorilla viewing opportunity in Republic of Congo.

How to reach the location – Take a flight from Maya Maya airport in Brazzaville to go northwest of the republic of congo, odzala. 

Gorilla permit in Republic of Congo – The gorilla permit in republic of Congo will be 335 dollars for an hour.

Accommodations nearby include Mboko camp- Odzala Discovery Camp, Ngaga, and Lango camp. 

Type of Gorilla – Western lowland gorillas – The western lowland gorillas differ from other gorilla types with their smaller size, brown grey coats and reddish chest. Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park is the place in Republic of Congo you can see Western Lowland Gorillas.

Number of gorillas – There are 8 Habitual groups and around 16,000 western lowland gorillas in Congo.

Central African Republic

The Central African Republic is an incredible home to the world’s most significant number of western lowland gorillas and wild elephants, offering you the best wildlife experience. You will see most of the wild animals in the Dzangha-Sangha Reserve. This tropical rainforest lies around Cameroon and Congo, situated in the UNESCO world heritage site sangha tri-national reserve. There are three habitual western lowland gorilla groups living here. WWF ( World Wildlife Fund ) built a gorilla research and habituation program, which remarkably contributed to the habitation program in Dzanga Ndoki National Park. December to March is the best time to visit Dzangha Sangha Reserve to see gorillas.

Where you can see the Gorilla – Dzangha-Sangha Reserve is the best place in Central African Republic for you.

How to reach the location – The nearest airport to Dzangha sangha reserve is Bangui. 

Accommodations nearby: The accommodation options are Sanga lodge and doli lodge.

Type of Gorilla – Western lowland gorilla – The western lowland gorilla is one of the most cognitive primates. To help them gather food, they can make tools out of any material and even measure the depth of a river before crossing it.

Number of gorillas – Three habitual gorilla groups are there in Central African Republic.

Cameroon

If you choose west Africa, Cameroon is the best place for you. Western gorillas and cross-river gorillas are primarily seen in Cameroon. The cross river gorillas are critically endangered species mostly visible in Nigeria. But in Cameroon, there is no habitual group. Thus, visitors can’t see cross-river gorillas from here. Mefou National Park is the best option for seeing rescued orphaned gorillas in Cameroon. The best times to visit are January, February, June, and September, the best months for visiting the Gorillas in Cameroon

Where you can see the Gorilla – There are more than one option in Cameroon for gorilla trekking such as Ndzanga Sangha National Park safari, Lobeke National Park Safari, and North Cameroon Safari. 

How to reach the location – A flight to Douala is the easiest way to get to Cameroon. 

Gorilla permit in Cameroon – The permit for seeing gorilla in Cameroon is 1000 dollars.

Accommodations: You will find Djembe Camp and Kombo camp as nearby to Lobeke National Park Safari

Type of Gorilla – Cross River Gorillas – There are only 200-300 cross river gorillas are left in the world. They are a subspecies of western gorillas.

Number of gorillas – There are 11 habitual groups inside the country.

Nigeria

If you want a unique experience in Gorilla seeing with some wildness, consider cross-river gorillas in Nigeria. They are different from mountain gorillas because of their aggressive nature. They are not friendly and don’t blend with humans like other types. The cross river gorillas in Nigeria are scattered across the country in 2900 square kilometers, including the regions of Mbe mountains, Afi mountains, and Cross River National Park. Their number is relatively low compared to other types of gorillas. January, February, June, and early September are Africa’s best months for gorilla trekking. 

Where you can see the Gorilla – Places you can see gorilla in Nigeria include Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, the Mbe Mountains, and the Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park.

How to reach the location – Jos airport is the nearest airport to these gorilla safaris. 

Gorilla trekking permit – The gorilla trekking permit is 400 dollars per person in Nigeria.

Accommodations nearby – Accommodation options nearby include Afi Mountain wildlife sanctuary include Obudu mountain resort, Jorany Hotel Resort Ikom, Hotel De Genesy, and Gardens.  

Type of Gorilla – cross river gorilla – The Cross River gorilla contributes significantly to the survival and well-being of forests. They were given their cross-river gorilla because they reside in the mountainous region on the border between Nigeria and Cameroon.

Number of gorillas – There are around 100 cross river gorillas are left in Nigeria.

Gabon

Africa’s Last Living Eden, Gabon, gives you the best wild safaris. With 12 national parks, Gabon can be your ultimate wild destination. The native Gabon gorillas are The western lowland gorilla population, which is native to Gabon, thriving, and Loango National Park is home to the main habituated troop. But gorilla trekking has yet to be developed in Gabon. The uniqueness of Gabon is the large number of primates it has. Western lowland gorillas thrive at Loango National Park, a great environment. Loango National Park stretches to the Atlantic Ocean with a rich biodiversity. Visitors can witness dolphins, whales, and hippos along the ocean shoreline or venture into the forest to observe chimpanzees, forest elephants, and gorillas. It offers a combination of forest and sea life. Apart from gorilla safaris, Gabon provides several other wildlife experiences, such as Rainforest Exploration and marine life. May to September is the best time to visit Loango National Park for gorilla trekking.

Where you can see the Gorilla – If you are choosing Gabon for you gorilla safari, then Loango National Park is your place of choice.

How to reach the location – Libreville Airport is the nearest airport to Loango National Park. 

Gorilla trekking permit – The gorilla trekking permit in Gabon is 1500 dollars.

Accommodations nearby: The available options include Loango Lodge and Gavilo Lodge. 

Type of Gorilla – western lowland gorillas – Two great ape subspecies, the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and central chimpanzee reside in the woods of Gabon. These western lowland gorillas are considered critically endangered.

The number of gorillas: There is only one fully habitual group of gorillas are there in Gabon.

Equatorial Guinea

You can spot western lowland gorillas in Monte alen national park in Equatorial guinea. Even though gorilla trekking and related tourism are a little developed, you can go Gorilla trekking with the help of locals. They are regarded as severely endangered because there are fewer than 316,0OO gorillas left in the world. During the dry season, that is, December to February is the best time for a gorilla safari.

Where you can see the Gorilla – In Monte Alen National Park there are western low land gorillas.

How to reach the location – Malabo International Airport is the nearest airport to Monte Alen National Park. 

Accommodations nearby – Accommodation options nearby include Hotel Monte Alen, Hotel Ilatchi, and Colinas Hotel. 

Type of Gorilla – Western lowland gorillas – The number of western lowland gorillas have decreased by more than 60% due to diseases and poaching in the past 20 to 25 year. Scientists estimate that it would take 75 years for western lowland gorillas to recover even if all dangers were eliminated.

Number of gorillas – Total 2,000 gorillas were lived in this area.  

Angola

In Angola, we can find western lowland gorillas in the northern part of the country. Mainly in Cabinda enclave near the River Congo. This is the only place you will find gorillas in Angola. The gorilla safari is not so developed in Angola, and the chances of seeing a gorilla are also low. The best time to visit Angola for gorilla trekking is June to October.

Where you can see the Gorilla – There are gorillas in the Cabinda enclave area of Angola.

How to reach the location – The nearest airport to reach Cabinda enclave is Cabinda Airport which is around 5 km away. 

Accommodations nearby – There are many options available. Executive Paraiso hotel, spit hotel, Hotel por dol sol are some of the options available. 

Type of Gorilla – Western lowland gorilla are primarily seen in Angola.

Gorillas destinations in Africa: FAQs

Is gorilla trekking difficult?

Gorilla trekking difficulty is entirely based on your fitness. But gorilla trekking differs from other treks and needs more patience and strength. 

How close can we get to the gorilla? 

Formally visitors are required to keep a distance of 7 meters from the gorilla. Many people try to go close and take photos with them. Touching gorillas is strictly prohibited. 

Are gorillas dangerous? 

Mountain gorillas are known for their friendliness and interaction with human beings. But cross-river gorillas can be dangerous and aggressive. Making a distraction or provoking them can invite danger. Don’t forget the fact that they are wild animals. 

What is the best time to go gorilla trekking?

The best time to go gorilla trekking is the dry season. You can choose between December to February or June to September. 

What are the essentials I should carry for a gorilla trek? 

Try to wear something comfortable  while trekking, like long-sleeved shirts and long trousers. This will help you with scratches and cuts. Other essentials include:- 

• sweaters or jackets
• boots or hiking shoes 
• Rain jacket
• Sunglasses
• Water and packed food