Gorillas share 97%-98% identical DNA with humans. After chimpanzees they are our closest living relative. They are the largest of the great apes and are highly endangered, with most recent counts in the last few years putting their numbers at approximately 800 mountain gorillas left on the planet.

Gorilla trekking allows you to spend time with gorillas in the wild. The gorillas visited on a trek have been watched by researchers for some time as they go about their day to day in the gorilla park in the wilds of the cloud forest of the Virunga Mountains and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. As this is the case they have become habituated to people being around them. Each and every trek is then a totally unique spontaneous wildlife experience allowing you to see the gorillas at quite close quarters as they while the day away. Unlike a zoo visit, it is much more personal, a lot closer, quieter and more intimate.

With so few of these highly endangered animals on the planet it is very important that rules are set to protect them including limiting the exposure the gorillas have to people day to day to avoid the transmission of human borne disease, to avoid stress and behavioural disturbances and endeavour to keep their day to day environment as undisturbed as possible

As this is the case there are only a limited number of permits available in each park for each day's trek. Every visitor must obtain a permit before they can embark on a trek so it is essential to book well in advance. The permits do book out.