Mountain Gorillas & Lowland Gorillas

Undeniably the most unique primate that survives in the forgotten forests of Africa is the gorilla, both the mountain gorilla and the lowland gorilla.

In contrast to the six billion human beings living on our crowded planet, there are only some seven hundred Mountain Gorillas left on the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.

Seeing the mountain gorillas is an awesome experience.
Volcanoes organizes tracking in Bwindi and Mgahinga in Uganda or in Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda, staying at our own unique eco-lodges at these parks – which no other company in the world can offer. Shortly we hope to offer tracking in Djomba in the DRC as well.

Tracking the mountain gorilla

Tracking the mountain gorilla through the misty forests requires patience and stamina, often walking for hours in the mud and the wet. Finally meeting them in the undergrowth is an inspiring moment. Quietly chewing away at their vegetarian delicacies, they seem like a marooned human family. The tender grooming and firm disciplining of their offspring seems all too familiar. The gorilla family cast a wary glance at the sudden human intrusion into their private world, but are comforted by the clucking made by the trackers. When provoked, the noisy but harmless silverback grunts, screeches, bares his fangs and beats his chest, before slithering off with attendant females, offspring and other mature males.

Volcanoes Partnership Projects

Man poses a serious threat to the precarious populations of Great Apes through poaching, disease and population pressure. Visiting gorillas and chimpanzees helps fund conservation and community projects - schools, roads, clinics, community centres - and helps the local people understand the value of their continued survival.

Volcanoes believes that long-term partnerships between ecotourism companies, local communities, conservation organisations, governments and donors are essential for the survival of primates. In post-conflict Rwanda the Volcanoes Safaris BLCF Project, backed by the British government, has helped improve hotel infrastructure, train local people in hospitality and guiding, increase income and develop new skills. The project will bring over 1.5 million US dollars to the Rwandese economy. In Uganda we will be setting up a partnership project near the Kyambura Gorge chimpanzee sanctuary.

The mountain gorilla's lowland cousins live in the equatorial forests of central Africa. While the eastern lowland gorilla is found only in the DRC, the western lowland gorilla lives in Congo, Gabon, the Central African Republic and Cameroon.

Although the lowland gorillas still number many thousands, they are under severe threat from poaching and conflict. Unlike the mountain gorilla, the lowland gorilla is virtually un-habituated and viewing is more difficult, except at bais - swamp clearings - where they gather with other forest wildlife. Journeys to see the lowland gorilla are only for the tough adventurer but the experience is worth it!