If mountain gorillas are at the top of your must-see-wildlife list, the forests in Uganda and Rwanda provide a stunning setting to see the impressive animals. An endangered species, there are reportedly just over 1,000 mountain gorillas in the wild today, due to habitat loss, disease and poaching. These majestic mammals live at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet, stand 4 to 5-and-a-half feet when standing and weigh up to 440 pounds.
Gorilla trekking is a physically demanding activity that requires professional guides, and fewer than 100 tracking permits are granted per day. Typically, this allows visitors to observe a family of gorillas for one hour in silence — often described as a magical, unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience.
