Knowing where to see mountain gorillas in Africa is the very first step to planning a gorilla trip. There are only a few mountain gorilla locations in Africa that you can visit.
Discovering mountain gorilla habitats means visiting the best places for gorilla trekking in Africa.
Mountain gorillas are a type of eastern gorilla and are the largest primates in the world. In the 19th century, they were almost extinct. But thanks to the work of primatologists like Dian Fossey, who spent her life studying and protecting them, their numbers have increased.
Today, mountain gorillas can only be found in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They live mainly in the tropical rainforests of the eight Virunga volcanoes and in Uganda’s Bwindi National Park, which holds about half of the world’s population.
African Countries with Mountain Gorillas
Below are the countries where you can see mountain gorillas:
Mountain Gorillas of Uganda
In Uganda, mountain gorillas live in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the southwest and in Mgahinga National Park, which is near the borders with Rwanda and Congo.
Bwindi has 12 habituated gorilla families that are spread across four sectors of the park.
If you plan to trek in Uganda, you should book your permit early and try to stay in the same sector where your permit is valid.
A gorilla permit in Uganda costs $800 per person.
Bwindi is also the only park where you can take part in gorilla habituation. This activity lets you join researchers to help make gorillas get used to humans.
Only four people are allowed for this experience, and you get to spend four hours with the gorillas instead of one.
Mgahinga National Park is home to the Nyakagezi family. Only eight permits are available each day.
This park also has three Virunga volcanoes that can be climbed. You can also go golden monkey trekking as an extra activity.
Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda
In Rwanda, mountain gorillas live on the slopes of Volcanoes National Park in the northwest. It is only a 2-hour drive from Kigali.
The park is home to five of the Virunga volcanoes and the Karisoke Research Center, started by Dian Fossey.
Her work helped protect the gorillas, but sadly, she was killed in Rwanda in 1986.
A gorilla permit in Rwanda costs $1,500 per person.
You can also hike the volcanoes or go golden monkey trekking during your visit.
Volcanoes National Park is just 3 hours away by road from Kigali.
Mountain Gorillas of the Democratic Republic of Congo
In Congo, mountain gorillas live in Virunga National Park.
This park is one of the most wildlife-rich areas in the world. It was the first national park in Africa, created in 1925.
It is near Mount Rwenzori and has two of the world’s most active volcanoes—Mount Nyiragongo and Mount Nyamuragira.
The park also has the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage, where rescued gorillas are cared for.
Since mountain gorillas live in high, cold areas, you should be well-prepared.
Bring hiking boots, garden gloves, a raincoat, warm clothes, drinking water, energy snacks, insect repellent, and other useful items for your trek.
