Conservation TeamContributor
An inside look at what it takes to trek the Virunga Mountains and spend an hour with the majestic mountain gorillas.
There are few wildlife encounters on earth as profoundly moving as locking eyes with a wild mountain gorilla. With fewer than 1,100 left in the wild, this is a rare privilege.
The Trek
Trekking can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours depending on where the gorilla family is located. The terrain is steep, muddy, and covered in dense vegetation—hence the name "Bwindi Impenetrable Forest" in Uganda.
The Encounter
Once your guides locate the family, you have exactly one hour to observe them. You will be amazed by their human-like mannerisms, the playful antics of the infants, and the sheer, quiet power of the dominant silverback.
