Meet the Relatives

If you’ll let us take you to the Virunga Mountains in either Uganda or Rwanda, we’ll lead your family through dense rainforests on the side of a huge volcano for an unforgettable encounter with these hairy relatives. You’ll spend an hour watching babies rolling around playing tag under the watchful eyes of some bamboo chewing mums. Then your adrenaline will kick in as the huge silverback gets up and strides towards you to take a closer look.

As of 2018, there are now over 1,000 mountain gorillas in central Africa’s Virunga Mountains; their growing population is the true testament to the value of the vital conservation that is funded by the treks to see them. Depending on your fitness levels, you will be allocated a family near the bottom of the volcano (about 90 minutes trek) or, for the more adventurous souls, a remote family sitting five hours trek away on the top.

Your guided group is limited to just eight people, giving you and the gorilla privacy when you visit. Should you want an even more exclusive experience, a private trek can be arranged or if you’d like a second trek, choose to spend a day with researchers working to habituate new gorilla families. You also don’t miss the rare golden monkeys which skitter around playfully in the bamboo forests.

While staying in Uganda or Rwanda, the forested setting of your lodge will give you with excellent chances to spot other wildlife when you’re not on your trek. Avid bird watchers will love walking into the jungle around the lodge, spotting the prismatic avian life that flourishes in the emerald canopy.