Tracking Western Lowland Gorillas

Wild, remote, and untouched, the Odzala-Kokoua National Park, located in the Congo basin, is home to the largest population of western lowland gorillas in a national park in Africa. The dense tropical rainforest features a flourishing ecosystem where wildlife thrives, and the chance to see the gorillas attracts visitors from all over the world.

This isn’t a ‘classic’ safari by any stretch of the imagination and is best suited to experienced safari-goers or those who are truly invested in the relatively hard work needed to see these critically endangered creatures.

Limited to four guests per excursion, the emphasis is on a respectful and authentic observation of the local lowland gorilla families. Tracking usually starts before dawn and ranges in distance from 1 to 8 kilometres, depending on where the gorillas are located that day.

The undergrowth is thick, and the ground can be uneven, although there are cleared paths that the guides use. The terrain is mostly flat, and the physical effort involved isn’t quite as intense as what’s required when tracking mountain gorillas, but you should still expect to exert yourself. The real challenge can be dealing with the humidity and the insects. The walk takes place in dense forests where the air is thick, making for a sweaty undertaking, and you can expect lots of buzzy friends to join you along the way.

Fortunately, finding the gorilla families is worth the hard work! Our experts say that tracking the western lowland gorillas feels like a wilder experience than mountain gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda, as the Odzala-Kokoua gorillas are not as habituated. They can be full of energy and movement, actively observing their human visitors, moving through the shadows, and climbing trees to get a better vantage point. Similarly, however, to seeing the mountain gorillas, the awe and respect felt when viewing the western lowland gorillas makes for a transformative, raw, and rewarding wildlife experience.