Welcome to the adventure of a lifetime—Gorilla Trekking in the enchanting mountains of Uganda and Rwanda! Each year, a privileged few get to enter the mountain forests of Uganda and Rwanda to spend time with these gentle giants. You should be one of them!
Four Mountain Gorilla treks! We crafted this photography tour to maximize your time with gorillas and to provide you with opportunities to be with different gorilla families. As such, rather than just two or three treks like many tours offer, you will have four gorilla treks: two in Rwanda and two in Uganda!
There is nothing like being in the presence of these gentle giants as they forage and interact with each other within their forest home. Spending time with them, gazing into eyes like ours, watching mothers nurse babies, seeing how they touch and interact with each other – you will feel the connection.
Mountain Gorillas are an endangered species that only exist in this specific mountain range shared by Rwanda, Uganda and Congo. It was previously thought that Mountain Gorillas would be extinct by the year 2000 but Uganda and Rwanda took action to restore and protect their mountain habitats. Today, approximately 1,000 individuals live and thrive in this mountain area. We will be going into the heart of this habitat in both countries on four full treks to give you best experiences possible!
One Golden Monkey Trek: Golden Monkeys are another endangered species that we will trek to on this trip. There are just 5,000 left in the world. With their distinctive markings, this is another unique primate that few people get to spend time with. For this trek, we will be going to the area where their largest population exists, ensuring you have the best opportunities possible for stunning photographs and meaningful interactions.
Two Iconic Gorilla trekking locations: In Rwanda, you’ll explore Volcanoes National Park in the stunning Virunga mountain range, the site of Dian Fossey’s groundbreaking research. Meanwhile, in Uganda, you’ll venture into the breathtaking Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, following trails carved by forest elephants. Together, these two locations provide the best of the treks for photography, allowing you to encounter different gorilla families in distinct habitats.
Small Group Size – With a group limited to six clients, you’ll enjoy private gorilla treks and personal encounters with these remarkable primates, maximizing your photographic opportunities while fostering a deeper connection with them.
Level of Difficulty: We Err the Easier Side – You’ve no doubt heard stories about how Gorilla trekking can be quite difficult and indeed it can. But we have a leg up. Our lead guide is a “Silverback”. He is a long-time guide, well respected by the rangers and is good at having us assigned to gorilla families that are easier hikes. With this in mind, most of our hikes are on the easy side. The exception to this is if the gorilla family decides to move. Typically, in the morning when we go, the gorillas are relaxing and its an easy hike in but if they ae hungry and start to move, that can change. Of the 20 treks that we have done to date, we have only had one that was a really tough one.
Experienced Trackers and Guides: For all of our treks, highly trained gorilla trackers will have spent the early morning hours locating the family with which we will spend our morning. They will be in constant contact with our guides ensuring an efficient hike through the jungle.
Luxury, Boutique Lodges: During the trip, you’ll stay at luxury boutique lodges nestled in forest habitats or perched on mountainsides, offering stunning views. Each lodge has been carefully selected for its exceptional service, comfort, and unique character, enhancing your experience and connecting you with the local hospitality. You’ll enjoy a perfect blend of luxury and personal attention, complemented by delicious cuisine, making your journey truly special and enjoyable while you’re far from home.
Two Photography Instructors
Our tour is designed for photographers of all skill levels. You’ll have two instructors, Steve and Nicole, by your side throughout, to advise as you capture images of a lifetime.
Nature Lover’s Trip: While we cannot offer a discount on this trip due to our need to keep the group size small, this is a terrific trip for the non-photographer who loves spending time with wildlife. We actually have a number of non-photographers who love nature join our trips because we are not only fun to travel with but also spend time with wildlife, watching and enjoying the behaviors and activity.
Fitness Level: Moderate/Advanced: A trek to see the Mountain Gorillas can be easy or tough depending on where the Gorillas are. We do our best to have an easy or moderate hike. Generally, a trek takes 1 to 3 hours, with most being easier 1-2 hour hikes and others requiring more effort through vegetation and hilly terrain. In the mornings when we go out, Gorillas are typically resting and interacting at their feeding areas. In situations like this, our hikes are fairly easy. It only gets more difficult when the family decides to move. A good benchmark for your fitness level is being able to maintain a pace of about 1 mile in 20 minutes on a dirt trail. To help you on your trek, you will have the opportunity to hire a local porter to carry your gear to and from the Gorillas for a very small fee ($15). We highly recommend this for everyone. Unburdened by your gear, you will have a more enjoyable walk through the jungle.
