HER SPORT & FITNESS , ADVENTURE SAFARIS
November 2007:

By Jennifer Haupt

Hike among endangered mountain gorillas, raft on the Nile River or bike through jungles full of wildlife on one of these East African adventures.

Safaris aren’t just for riding in jeeps and snapping photos anymore. In Eastern Africa’s Rwanda and Uganda—developing countries becoming 21st-century adventure hotspots—lions, giraffes and water buffalo roam, but they aren’t the regions’ only superstars. Here rare mountain gorillas rule lush, misty mountainsides. Go on a trek to watch these wild kings and queens of the jungle, mix in whitewater rafting on the legendary source of the Nile River—often called one of the world’s best rafting spots—and get ready for the trip of a lifetime.

Gorilla Trekking

Follow in the footsteps of famed scientist Dian Fossey and experience a real life “Gorillas in the Mist.” Only an estimated 650 mountain gorillas remain in the world— all live in the “Mountains of the Moon,” the Ruwenzori and Virunga volcanic ranges along the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In Rwanda’s UNESCOWorld Heritage site Virunga National Park, seven families of these majestic primates, the largest grouping in the world, live wild among dense foliage. Thanks to conservation efforts that succeeded even during times of war, the mountain gorilla population here is one of the world’s “ecotourism success stories,” says National Geographic.

To find the gorillas, you follow a guide as he machetes the way through bamboo and thick vegetation, up and down steep muddy slopes for 45 minutes to as long as six hours.

But you’ll never forget the moment you first see a silverback (an older male) sitting in a tree looking at you with soulful eyes, or a mother carrying her baby on her back. These vegetarian animals are habituated to human contact, making them relatively safe. Following strict regulations, you can follow the gorillas at a distance or sit under a tree and watch them play above you for one hour.

There are many lodging options in and around the park, from the luxurious Virunga Lodge to the budget Kinigi Guesthouse, located across the street from the park’s entrance.

Baobab Expeditions, a partner with the Dian Fossey Gorilla International Fund, offers trips that include a visit to Fossey’s research station.

Baobab Expeditions: six-day Dian Fossey Expedition trip including all meals, lodging, activities and donation to the Dian Fossey Gorilla International Fund, from $3,090, www.baobabexpeditions.com