Wildlife guide
The perfect introduction to getting your head around the extraordinary life on earth, and where to go to find it.
Other wildlife while on a gorilla safari
Chimpanzees
Chimpanzee tracking is not only fascinating but a lot of fun. Kyambura Gorge in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park is a leading habitat, along with the Kibale Forest, and you will feel like a child on an adventure again chasing these chaps. You can spend up to an hour in their presence, and permits cost US $50 to $150, depending on where you track them. You can also take a chimp safari in DRC's Virunga National Park.
Don't feel that seeing chimpanzees will be a let-down after gorillas. They are super speedy, so you need to give it welly to keep up with them, but that is part of the fun.![]()
Golden Monkeys
Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda are great spots for these primates, named after the golden patch on their backs. This is because of the prolific highland bamboo forest in these regions, which is the staple diet of the golden monkeys. They are particularly prolific in the rainy season, as they enjoy eating the young fresh bamboo that erupts during this time. They sleep surrounded by their food, at the top of bamboo plants, which they weave together to create a bed. It is important to support the conservation of these animals as they are on the IUCN Red List for endangered animals, caused by illegal deforestation of the bamboo forest, much of which is linked to the recent war in DRC, home to part of the Virunga volcanic range.Our top trip
Uganda wildlife and conservation tour
Discover the wonders of Uganda & its extraordinary wildlife
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Small group travel:
2026: 2 Feb, 29 Jun, 13 Jul, 27 Jul, 10 Aug
2027: 1 Feb, 28 Jun, 12 Jul, 26 Jul, 9 Aug
2026: 2 Feb, 29 Jun, 13 Jul, 27 Jul, 10 Aug
2027: 1 Feb, 28 Jun, 12 Jul, 26 Jul, 9 Aug
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Tree climbing lions
The Ishasha plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda are very well known for their tree climbing lions, which are particularly fond of Ishasha’s fig trees. Curiously, there are only two populations of lions that do this as part of their daily activity; the other one is found in Lake Manyara National Park in southern Tanzania.
There are lots of theories about why these lions hang out in trees. But maybe it's just because they're lions. They are kings. They can do what they like.![]()
Gorillas
Most gorilla safaris will take you to see mountain gorillas, found in two locations: the Virunga Mountains, a range of extinct volcanoes that border the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda; and Bwindi Forest, in Uganda.
There are, however, four species of gorilla. The eastern lowland gorilla is the largest of all, but with desperately dwindling populations. They reside in the tropical rainforests of the Congo Basin, but years of civil unrest have reduced their habitats drastically. Calmer times bode well for tourism but it is still early days; you can track habituated groups in DRC's Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
The denser and more remote the better, in terms of rainforest habitat for the western lowland gorilla, with widespread populations across the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, DRC and Cameroon, although their numbers are also in serious decline. Finally, the Cross River gorilla is indigenous to Cameroon and Nigeria, where deforestation has been a major threat to their populations.
There are, however, four species of gorilla. The eastern lowland gorilla is the largest of all, but with desperately dwindling populations. They reside in the tropical rainforests of the Congo Basin, but years of civil unrest have reduced their habitats drastically. Calmer times bode well for tourism but it is still early days; you can track habituated groups in DRC's Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
The denser and more remote the better, in terms of rainforest habitat for the western lowland gorilla, with widespread populations across the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, DRC and Cameroon, although their numbers are also in serious decline. Finally, the Cross River gorilla is indigenous to Cameroon and Nigeria, where deforestation has been a major threat to their populations.
More Gorilla safari articles
This guide attempts to capture why this is considered by many to be one of the most magnificent wildlife safaris in the world.
The quick answer is: Rwanda, Uganda, Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic and DR Congo.
You can go trekking to find gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Virunga Mountains.
Uganda's mountain gorillas, found in its dense forested mountains, enchanted David Attenborough.
Track gorillas in CAR with indigenous Ba'aka guides in the Dzangha-Sangha Reserve.
Enter the habitat of the critically endangered western lowland gorilla.
The only place you can see both mountain and lowland gorillas.
All you need to know about seeing chimps in Uganda, from permits to packing tips.
Travel to East Africa and you can squeeze the maximum wildlife watching from a single holiday.
Take a walk on the wild side with man's closest cousin on gorilla photography holidays.
Common colds can be lethal to gorillas – so how can we go gorilla trekking when Covid-19 exists?
Our guide to gorilla safari fitness lays out what to expect in Rwanda and Uganda.
Tips from some of the world's foremost gorilla safari experts, who have done these trips countless times.
Gorilla conservation is dependent on the support of local people, but tourism can help a lot, too.
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