The western lowland gorilla is the most widespread of the gorillas although nobody knows how many currently survive in the wild. The common figure quoted is between 90,000 and 110,000 although no surveys have been carried out recently, but evidence suggests that increased hunting has reduced populations. In contrast, the other subspecies of Western gorilla, the Cross River Gorilla, found on the Nigeria-Cameroon border, has a remaining population which may be as little as 150 to 200.

The main threats to watching gorillas

Having endured decades of civil war in Central and East Africa, gorillas are now confronted by the devastating consequences of increased habitat loss, poaching for the bushmeat trade and the spread of dangerous diseases like Ebola.

For years, the world's last mountain gorillas foraged for nettles, bamboo shoots, fruits and wild celery on the thickly forested slopes of the Virungas, a chain of mostly dormant volcanoes in the heart of Africa. By drawing well-heeled tourists mostly

Westerners, they became a hot commodity for the cash-strapped governments of Uganda, Zaire and Rwanda. Strict policing, education, training and other conservation measures protected the apes from poaching, agriculture and other human activities.
All that changed dramatically last year, when the war in Rwanda pitted them against almost half a million Rwandan refugees in a struggle for survival.

Refugees, gorilla watching and destruction of habitat

Fearing for their lives, the refugees fled to neighboring Zaire. Under the impact of feet, hooves, carts and motorized vehicles, small forest trails became broad thoroughfares. Roving militias scattered land mines at will. Random battles became commonplace in
the southern fringes of the Virungas. The gorillas, prevented from pursuing their nomadic ways, fled northeast to an area known to humans as Uganda.

Today, an estimated 250,000 refugees live within sight of Mt. Mikeno and Mt. Karisimbi, the southernmost of the Virunga volcanoes. An eight-kilometer trek takes them to the edge of the protected area, where they gather food and firewood. Thus far, the refugees have only penetrated the fringes of the forest. But once they reach the base of the volcano, they will destroy some of the last remaining habitat of the mountain gorilla.

Watching gorillas, ecotourism and gorilla watching holidays

Gorillas like to spend their days at home with the family. They live in close-knit groups of five to 30 gorillas led by a patriarch - the large,dominant male called a silverback because of the distinctive grey saddle pattern that grows in at maturity. Even when they wander, gorillas rarely venture far - usually staying within a range of roughly 15 square miles in search of the shoots and berries they live on.

Their only natural enemy are people and human actions are placing gorillas in grave danger of becoming extinct. Conflict, poaching and logging are forcing gorillas off their land and threatening their survival.

Gorilla watching tips

Please be very aware of all of the above as visits to certain parts of the world are highly sensitive, highly political and can be very dangerous. Visiting dangerous countries may not be worth your own life. These are real situations. Please take care.

The following are examples of gorilla watching safaris (prices at October 2007)

Congo | Gabon | Kenya | Rwanda | Uganda
Track the endangered mountain gorilla watching in Uganda from £1400 (7 days) ex flights

Mountain Gorilla watching safari in Uganda & Rwanda
With primatologist, from £4795 - £4895 (13 days) inc UK flights

Gorilla watching tour in Uganda
In search of the primates of Uganda from £2995 (13 days) inc UK flights

Gorilla Watching Safari & the Masai Mara
A superb safari and trip to see gorillas, from £1199 (15 days) inc UK flights

Gorilla Watching safari in Rwanda and Uganda
Track endangered mountain gorillas from £2500 (12 days) ex flights

Chimpanzee & Gorilla watching safari in Uganda
Inside the world of chimpanzees, from £3395 (12 days) inc UK flights

Gorilla & Chimp watching safari in Uganda
An action-packed trip to view gorilla from £1512 - £1882 (10 days) inc UK flights

Gorilla watching safaris in Rwanda
Look for mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and colobus monkeys from £1585 (7 days) ex flights

Gorilla watching safari in Uganda
Trekking in the richest forest in Uganda, from £850 (5 days) ex flights

Gorilla watching holidays in Uganda
Track the elusive mountain gorilla, from £1699 (11 days) inc UK flights

Gorilla watching safari in Rwanda
Tracking the mountain gorilla, from £2395 (7 days) inc UK flights

Gorilla watching safari and game parks, Uganda
*Late availability* 6 Aug departure, from £765 (14 days) ex flights

Mountain Gorilla Watching Safaris
See these gentle primates in their habitat, from £825 (8 days) ex flights

Gorilla trekking vacation Rwanda
Track these gentle giants from US $4999 (10 days) ex flights

Mountain biking & Gorilla watching safari in Uganda
Adventure biking & optional Gorilla visit, from €1550 - €1690(11 days) ex flights

Uganda gorilla watching safari & volunteer project
Volunteer and see the Gorillas of Uganda, from £1850 - £2400 (14 days) inc UK flights

Lowland gorilla watching safari in Gabon
The most beautiful national parks in Central Africa from £3500 (15 days) ex flights

Mountain gorilla watching safari in Rwanda
In search of Mountain Gorillas, from £2995 (16 days) ex flights

Gorilla & game park safari to Kenya & Rwanda
Primate watching in Rwanda & Kenya safari from £2695 (15 days) ex flights

Gorilla watching safari & community project
See mountain gorilla and help the local community £2450 (14 days) ex flights

Lowland Gorilla watching safari
One of the world’s best kept wildlife secrets, from £3995 (15 days) ex flights

Gorilla and chimp watching safari in Uganda
Mountain gorillas and wild chimpanzees, from £1255 - £1390 (8 days) ex flights

The trade in Bushmeat causes conflicts and dangers - recent visiting gorilla watching ecotourists were abducted in Uganda !!

The trade in bushmeat is now one of the greatest threats to the gorilla especies survival in Africa. In some areas, local extinctions of particularly vulnerable species have already occurred. The trade also has a serious impact on the well-being of traditional forest dwelling people who have always relied on forest meat for food. But now commercial trade has overtaken subsistence hunting. Up to five million tons of bushmeat is estimated to be sold each year in the Congo Basin alone. Tourists should take care not to eat meat which may be from endangered species. If you do see meat on sale in restaurants, shops or market which you believe may be illegal bushmeat, (raise your concern with the owner, the local authorities or your tour company) - better still REFUSE TO EAT IT.

Be a responsible ecotourist and be careful

World wildlife site on watching gorillas

Gorilla watching gorillas