Are there Gorillas in South Africa? South Africa has no Gorillas!
In case you are wondering if there are there Gorillas in South Africa!, the answer No. There are no gorillas in South Africa as well as its immediate and distant neighbors. The only places where to see Gorillas in Africa include Uganda, Rwanda, DR Congo and other countries in Central Africa. Many African countries have safari parks where you will find quiet a variety of wildlife but not gorillas. Gorillas are endangered species whose distribution in Africa are limited to a few countries. Mountain Gorilla trekking in Africa is offered in Bwindi Impenetrable forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in south western Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Other gorilla species and sub species can be trekked in Gabon and Central Africa.
Gorilla Trekking from South Africa
Despite having no gorillas, South Africa is an ideal base for connecting to the countries in Africa with gorillas. There are available airlines that conveniently fly from the country to Uganda, Rwanda and Congo from where tourists can connect well to the gorilla parks for trekking adventures.
Flights to Uganda
Among airlines that fly from South Africa to Entebbe International Airport in Uganda include Kenya Airways and other service providers. South African Airways offers the convenient direct flights to Entebbe Airport which is the main gateway to the capital city, Kampala and the rest of the country including the two gorilla parks in Uganda. Remember, a gorilla permit for trekking gorillas in Uganda is at USD 700 and USD 1500 for those interested in Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi forest.
Upon flying to Uganda, it is then easier by road to connect to the gorilla parks in the two countries. It takes around 10 hours by road from Entebbe to Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for gorilla trekking. The longer road drive gives visitors a real feel of the countryside. However, for those unwilling to sit for longer hours, there are daily scheduled flights from Entebbe Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip landing to either Kihihi Airstrip in Kanungu district or Kisoro Airfield in Kisoro town, Kisoro district. On landing at these airstrips, guests then have road transfers to the lodges near the parks for night stays in preparations for gorilla trekking encounters.
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
From the southern country, there are several airlines that offer flights to Rwanda including South Africa Airways and others. RwandAir also offers the best flights from South Africa to Kigali and anywhere in Africa and the entire globe. On landing in Kigali, the Capital of Rwanda, you may stay for a night in the city of drive straight to the gorilla parks. It takes about 2 hours from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park for visiting gorillas. A gorilla trekking permit for Rwanda is at USD 1500 per person. Under the arrangements of gorilla trekking in Uganda from Rwanda, it takes approximately 3-4 hours from Kigali to Bwindi forest or Mgahinga gorilla national park.
In a nutshell, despite south Africa having no gorillas, it is easier to fly from there to the countries on the African continent with mountain gorillas and other gorilla subspecies. From South Africa, you may also compare gorilla trekking in Uganda versus Rwanda to find out what suits your travel needs.