It is an exhilarating trek from your home at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge through the dense foliage of Rwanda's emerald jungle. You observe the scout clearing a path in front of you with his machete. Following a soft remark from your guide, you notice a flash of dark fur against the background of green. You've discovered a group of rare mountain gorillas. The mothers congregate for a friendly chat, the kids run around and play, irking their teenage babysitters, all under the watchful eye of the giant silverback patriarch. They are so much like humans in so many ways. Your hour spent in silence with this extended family must rank among the most profound wildlife encounters in Africa, if not the entire globe.
Put down your camera and sit awhile, just observing their social rituals, the keenness of their relationships, and the depth and range of their emotions. There are only a few hundred of these gentle giants left, and watching them at the brink of potential extinction is, for many, a transformative moment.
This 5-day tour will take you into the heart of the area first brought to the world’s attention by pioneering primatologist Dian Fossey and immerse you in the majesty of Africa’s first gazetted national park that dates back to 1925.