Africa is the second largest continent in the world after Asia, covering an area of about 30.3 million square kilometers. Among all the continents, Africa is the only place where you can find the most amazing and interesting primate apes known as gorillas. Gorillas are simply defined as great primate apes with huge and developed brains but no tails.
Not only can gorillas be found in Africa, but also other memorable and interesting creatures such as chimpanzees, baboons, monkeys, and other wild animals like giant elephants, topis, lions, cheetahs, and many more. Africa is also endowed with rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and many other fascinating features that cannot all be covered in one article.
Many people wonder where they can find gorillas in Africa. By reading this article, you will learn everything you need to know. Africa consists of many countries where gorillas can be seen, but there are three popular countries that harbor these primates.
Among these countries, Rwanda stands out with its Volcanoes National Park, Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, protects them in two national parks: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which together harbor 459 gorillas, almost half the world’s gorilla population.
The Democratic Republic of Congo also has two national parks: Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
In addition, these gorillas are divided into two species: mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas. Mountain gorillas are found in all three countries, whereas eastern lowland gorillas are found only in Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite being different species, they share similar social behaviors and ways of living.
For example, they are all led by an alpha male called a silverback, and they occasionally engage in territorial and food-related disputes, although gorillas are generally known as peaceful primates that avoid conflict.
Each of these countries has different costs for gorilla permits. To see gorillas in Uganda, one must pay USD 700, in the Democratic Republic of Congo it costs $400 per person, and in Rwanda, which has the most expensive gorilla permits, it costs $1500 per person.
Other places in East and Central Africa where gorillas can be found include Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, and Gabon. However, most people prefer Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo for gorilla safaris.
For a memorable gorilla safari experience in Africa, remember to bring your camera to capture photos for memories, binoculars for viewing distant objects, rain gear like jackets and umbrellas due to Africa’s unpredictable weather, energy-giving snacks such as biscuits and cookies for hiking, good hiking shoes, and a waterproof backpack for carrying all your essentials.
Africa experiences two main seasons: dry and wet, each further divided into long and short periods. The short dry season runs from December to February, while the long dry season is from June to August. The long wet season lasts from March to May, with a short wet season from September to November.
During the dry seasons, most trails are easily passable, making it ideal to plan your safari in Rwanda for the best experience.
