There are less than 1000 mountain gorilla left in the world. Finding a mountain gorilla is not as easy as it used to be. Seeing a mountain gorilla in its natural habitat is a thrilling experience. It would be nearly impossible for you to take off in the jungle and find one on your own. Lucky for you, we know where to find them and will do more than just point you in the right direction.

Rwanda - Since there are so few mountain gorillas left it is both easy and hard to find yourself face to face with one. A great place to start your search is Rwanda. Rwanda is home to one fourth of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Seven families of gorillas are regularly visited by gorilla trekkers. These families can have as few as seven family members or as many as thirty-five members.

Uganda - Winston Churchill wrote; “Uganda is a fairy tale. You climb up a railway instead of a beanstalk, and at the end is a wonderful new world.” There is a lot to see in Uganda. The Nile River starts in Uganda. Uganda’s Runwenzori Mountain range is the highest mountain range in Africa. There are two parks with in Uganda, the Mgahinga Gorilla Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, that are famous gorilla trekking locations.

1. Mgahinga is a small park covering around 28 square miles. You can find gorillas, leopards, buffalo, bush buck and golden monkeys.
2. Bwindi is home to about half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. The park covers about 200 square miles and the park is an extremely dense rain forest.
   

Even if you go to the right places there is no guarantee that you will see a gorilla because finding a gorilla is difficult. We do not throw around the word trek casually. You have to go through dense forests, up mountains, and through the rugged African landscape to find this endangered species. Gorillas move habitually. The gorillas that you will visit are habituated to humans allowing you to get closer than you’d expect.

You will need an official permit to see the gorillas. It can take several months to obtain a permit, but EXPLORE Africa will get you one and arrange everything for you.

Here are some basic tips to remember when tracking gorillas:

• Do not point at the gorillas
  
  
• Do not touch the gorillas (even if they decide to touch you)
  
  
• Do not eat and drink near the gorillas
  
  
• No flash photography
  
  

It is common to create a bucket list. A bucket list is a list of things that you want to do before you die. The things on the lists will vary for everyone, but one of the most common things that are included in the bucket list is taking a trip to Africa. There is something about Africa that makes people want to visit at least once in their life. Whether they want to see the pyramids in Egypt or wild animals on a luxury safari, a trip to Africa allows people to see things that they cannot see anywhere else.

While traveling to Africa can be a great experience, there are also several things that a traveler needs to be aware of before they go, while they are there, and when they return. It is a good idea to have a list of precautions and safe measures to use before you travel to Africa.

• Getting Shots - There are some diseases that can be contracted in Africa that require people to get inoculations against. They will vary depending what country you are visiting and where you are going, but the most common inoculations are for malaria and yellow fever. It is a good idea to talk to a health professional to find out what shots you need to get and when you need to get them.
• Keep an Energy Bar and Water with You - There are some places in Africa where access to food or water is not as easy. An energy bar is small and easy to carry and water is essential for all travelers.
• Carry Your Money Wisely - If you do not want to be a target of scam artists or thieves, do not show them how much money you have. Keep it stored in different places and only pull out what you need.
• Keep Your Passport on You and Current - before you leave, make sure to have all of your paperwork in order. You do not want to be detained because of a mistake that could have been prevented.

It would surprise many people to find that traveling to Africa requires the same precautions as traveling almost anywhere in the world. While there are some remote areas in Africa, there are also many modern places that are no different than any other places that people visit around the world. Travelers need to make sure they stay in safe areas and they are aware of their surroundings if they want to enjoy their trip and check something off their bucket list.