Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking

Trekking to see mountain gorillas or chimpanzees in their forest home is one of Africa's most profound wildlife experiences, an hour spent in the company of our closest relatives. It involves a permit, an early start and a hike that can be steep, muddy and unpredictable through dense forest, all in the care of expert trackers. The effort is real, but so is the reward — few encounters in nature are as moving or as intimate.

Key things to know

• ➜Permits are strictly limited and must be booked well in advance.
• ➜Treks can involve steep, muddy and demanding forest hiking of variable length.
• ➜Time with the animals is usually limited to one hour to protect them.
• ➜A reasonable level of fitness makes the trek far more enjoyable.
• ➜Follow all rules on distance, hygiene and behaviour to keep the animals safe.
• ➜Hire a porter and wear sturdy boots, gaiters and rain gear for comfort.

Tracking great apes and more

Trekking safaris take you on foot into forest and mountain to find primates and other elusive wildlife — most famously mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, but also golden monkeys and forest specialities. Guided by expert trackers, you follow signs through dense vegetation until you reach a habituated group, then spend a strictly limited, unforgettable time in their company.

It is a very different experience from the open savanna: intimate, immersive and often emotional. Standing metres from a gorilla family or a troop of chimps in their forest home ranks among the most powerful encounters in all of African travel.

• ➜On-foot tracking of gorillas, chimps and forest species
• ➜Led by expert trackers through dense forest
• ➜Time with the animals is strictly limited (often one hour)
• ➜Requires a permit, booked well in advance

Permits, fitness and the rules

Trekking requires a permit, which can be expensive and must be booked well ahead, as numbers are strictly capped to protect the animals. The trek itself can be demanding — steep, muddy, high-altitude terrain and hours of hiking are common — so a reasonable level of fitness, sturdy boots, rain gear and a walking stick all help.

Strict health rules protect these vulnerable, human-like animals: keep the required distance, wear a mask where mandated, never trek if you are unwell, and follow the guide's instructions at all times. The payoff for the effort and expense is an encounter that most travellers describe as the highlight of their lives.

• ➜Book permits far in advance; numbers are strictly limited
• ➜Be ready for steep, muddy, sometimes high-altitude hiking
• ➜Keep your distance and wear a mask where required
• ➜Do not trek if you are ill — it endangers the animals

References & further reading

1. Sinclair, A. R. E., et al. (Eds.) (2015). Serengeti IV. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
2. Estes, R. D. (2012). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals. Berkeley: University of California Press.
3. Kingdon, J. (2015). The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals (2nd ed.). London: Bloomsbury.
4. IUCN (2024). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Version 2024-1. www.iucnredlist.org.