They say that gazing into the soulful eyes of a mountain gorilla is one of the most humbling experiences one can undergo. Add to that a trek through the wooded slopes, entwined vines and thick, steamy bush and bamboo of an impenetrable forest, and you will have lived the stuff of legends.

There are approximately 786 mountain gorillas left in the wild, spread across Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. Only a few lucky people are able to interact with them, and that now includes travellers stalwart enough to make the journey and respect a delicate habituation process that has gradually brought the gorillas to tolerate the presence of humans.

The mere thought of a gorilla safari is exhilarating enough, yet few things can prepare you for the first heart-pounding moment when you see their colossal frames emerging from the forest. Your audience with these gentle giants lasts for one hour and during this time, individuals munching on bamboo will sometimes saunter right through your group – close enough to touch… The low rumble of a huge and hairy Silverback is enough to send shivers down your spine and the sight of fluffy infants tumbling in the undergrowth and beating their tiny chests mixes madness with magic.

Bwindi’s Beasts

In Uganda, your gorilla safari starts in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park – a trek that may take anything from ten minutes to ten hours, depending on the gorillas’ location. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the only forest in Africa which has chimpanzees and mountain gorillas co-existing. The seven habituated gorilla families share their home with a wide variety of mammals, butterflies, some astonishing birdlife and even an elusive herd of forest elephant.

Following in the Footsteps of Fossey

Seven gorilla families have also been habituated in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, including the original group studied by Dian Fossey (the ‘Susa’ Group). Each family is nestled amongst the various slopes of the misty Virunga Mountains. The largest Silverback in the park leads the Sabyinyo Group, though his harem is not as big as the Agashya Group, which contains a remarkable 26 members. Perhaps size doesn’t matter after all…

Ape Escape

Though gorillas are considered the ‘great apes’, they are not – by any means – the only monkey business you will encounter on a gorilla safari. Both Uganda and Rwanda pack a real punch when it comes to primates. Nyungwe Forest in Rwanda is home to one of the largest arboreal troupes of black-and-white colobus monkeys and Uganda contains the highest concentration of chimpanzees anywhere in Africa. Visitors can also be assured of the spectacle of the rare golden monkey, big-eyed bush babies and of course, an abundance of baboons.