Why Visit/Trek Mountain Gorillas

I thought I’d tell you a little bit about these wonderful animals and what it’s like to see them in the wild, up close and personal! One of my coworkers recently completed this trip and swears it was one of the best experiences of his life!

The Mountain Gorilla can be found in three countries. Visitors flock to Uganda and Rwanda, but they can also be found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Permits for gorillas must be purchased in advance; only a limited number are issued each day, and they frequently sell out well in advance during peak season.

There are five Great Ape species in the world, with four of them found on the African continent. Mountain gorillas, lowland gorillas, chimps, and bonobos are the four species.

In 2010, it was estimated that only 790 gorillas remained in the wild. They are critically endangered, and conservation efforts to keep them alive are massive. Because the Mountain Gorilla cannot survive in captivity, you will never see one in a zoo. Gorillas are our closest relatives after Chimpanzees, sharing approximately 97.7% of our DNA. Adult males can weigh up to 180kg (400 pounds) and have arm spans of up to 2 meters (7 feet).

Man is the most serious threat to these animals, posing as poaching, disease, and population pressures. By visiting and enjoying Gorilla Trekking, you are helping to fund conservation and community projects, which helps local communities understand the importance of these Great Apes’ survival.

Read our blog on Monday, May 30th, for Neil’s visit to Rwanda’s Mountain Gorillas.

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