It’s with no doubt that Kenya is one of the vibrant bucket list destinations in the East African Region. The Masai land is such a vacation hub for travelers and explorers across the world. Kenya is famously known for its breathtaking Safaris, the Great Migration, and the Big Five safari tours that include lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinos.

But there’s this one question that always draws the attention of travelers and wildlife enthusiasts. Can one see gorillas in Kenya? The most honest answer is no. Kenya is no home for mountain gorillas. Even though this doesn’t mean one can’t experience these incredible giant yet gentle primates as part of their Kenyan adventure. The easiest yet fascinating way to do this is for travelers to combine a Kenyan safari with a trip to neighboring Uganda or Rwanda. In here, explorers shall be able to witness mountain gorillas in their natural habitats.

Why are there no gorillas in Kenya?

Wild gorillas, especially the mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas, survive in specific habitats that are mostly dense with high-altitude montane forests. Unquestionably, Kenya’s geography doesn’t provide this. There are only 3 host countries where all the remaining gorillas in the world find home; these include Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Rwanda’s volcanoes and Congo’s Virunga National Park. All the hosts are part of the Virunga Massif, and Bwindi’s rugged forests sit at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet, offering the cool, misty conditions that gorillas thrive in.

Kenya at large is dominated by savannas, semi-arid landscapes and grasslands; one can think of those in the Masai Mara, or Amboseli National Park. Kenya’s forests such as Kakamega ecologically favors species like colobus monkeys. The closest gorilla population to Kenya is in Uganda’s almost impenetrable forest, Bwindi. There are about 750 kilometers from the Kenyan border to the mighty Bwindi.

Bwindi Forest Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, Uganda.

There is no doubt that Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the leading gorilla trekking destination in Uganda. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is taking the second lead. Both of these vacation hubs are situated in the Southwestern part of Uganda. Bwindi alone hosts almost half of the world’s only remaining 1,080 mountain gorillas.

This spot is King, with over 460 gorillas and more than 25 habituated gorilla group families all available for trekking activities. Mgahinga National Gorilla National Park is one of the smallest national parks in the “Pearl of Africa”. That, however, doesn’t take away the fact that it’s also a vibrant gorilla trekking destination that shelters a one Nyakagezi family habituated gorilla group, and a stunning view of the Virunga volcanoes.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda involves struggling through and hiking dense montane forests and steep slopes. Hikes can sometimes go long, depending on the location of the mountain gorillas, one to six hours can be spent in search of the gorillas’ location. Once they are located, trekkers get one precious hour with the gorilla group while they observe their exciting behaviors like silverbacks jealously guarding their families. Uganda’s gorilla permits cost USD 800 per head, per day for foreign non-residents, a fair bargain compared to that of Rwanda at USD 1500.

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is yet another exciting gorilla destination in Africa. Part of the thanks to Dian Fossey’s legacy. Volcanoes is home to over 12 habituated gorilla families. The vacation hub offers treks through dense bamboo forests and volcanic slopes, while the stunning views of the Virunga Mountains also vibe along. Rwanda’s infrastructure is on a standard level, with well-organized roads and shorter drives from the capital.

Treks vary in difficulty, but some gorilla groups demand longer and more strenuous hikes. Permits in Rwanda cost USD 1,500 per person per day, offering visitors high-end tourism. Through the Rwanda Development Board, with the country’s aim to promote luxury tourism, the land of a thousand hills also offers golden monkey trekking activities.

Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Congo’s Virunga National Park is yet another popular home for mountain gorillas on the African continent, the spot also shelters the rare Eastern lowland gorillas. Gorilla trekking permits in DRC cost exactly USD 400 even during the peak season. Even though the ongoing security concerns and less developed tourism infrastructure inform including roads, hospitals, and more, make it a riskier spot.