Rwanda is home to the impressive Mountain Gorilla. While Mountain Gorillas are clearly the main attraction, Rwanda itself is a fascinating place to visit. It is one of the cleanest and safest countries in the world and one of the friendliest too. The country has a horrific backstory of genocide, but has become a beacon of hope for an inclusive economy in recent years. Gorilla trekking is one of those bucket list, life changing encounters that have to be experienced to be truly understood. The trek to view them in the natural surroundings can be arduous, with steep climbs and dense vegetation, so a minimum level of fitness is required. We suggest adding a 4-5 night Gorilla Trek to a South Africa or Botswana safari itinerary.

The gorilla trekking experience in Uganda is similar to that of Rwanda, and in both countries you’ll be searching for the mountain gorilla through rainforest on terrain that’s often steep and damp. The main difference, however, is that the gorilla trekking permits are less expensive than Rwanda and in Uganda and that the logistics are a bit more complicated.

If this is not adventurous enough for you, you can also trek to see western lowland gorillas in the Congo Basin, in Odzala-Kokoua National Park, in the peaceful republic of Congo. Here we recommend a 7-10 night rainforest immersion.

Recommended length: 4-5 nights or 7-10 nights in the Republic of Congo.