Uganda and Rwanda Gorilla Safari for Healthcare Professionals

I have had the pleasure of tracking gorillas and chimps in both Rwanda and Uganda three times before. During those trips, I have seen nine species of primates. This is one of the few areas in the world where this is possible.The chance to stand next to our closest relative, the chimpanzee, in the wild is unforgettable. Spending time with a family of the highly endangered mountain gorillas is an experience not to be missed.

Why is this trip so special?

As you know, because of my international health work, I have had the chance to do most of the great animal viewing trips that our planet offers. I have seen the Serengeti Migration over 15 times and the great game parks of Tanzania and Botswana. I have visited Antarctica three times and the Galapagos six times.

And yet… the gorilla and chimpanzee safaris stand apart. I think that there is no question that it is the emotional reaction of standing next to a wild silverback or a mature chimpanzee and looking them in the eye that makes the experience so special. In one glance, one suddenly realizes your kinship to them and to the whole animal kingdom. This is something that no college zoology course or wildlife documentary can ever give you. 

On the MedTreks Uganda &  Rwanda CME Safari:

you will do your chimpanzee trekking in the best location in world to view chimps: Kibale Forest National Park in Uganda. The park has the highest density of primates in any area on earth. Although their bigger cousins the mountain gorillas get most of the press, the chimpanzees are just as interesting and more closely related to us. We share over 99% of our genes with them.

You will then cross into Rwanda heading for Volcanoes National Park in the Virunga Mountains. This is probably the most beautiful single day drive that I have ever done in Africa as the scenery is spectacular. The park sits on the borders of the Congo, Uganda and Rwanda.

It is here that we have the chance to do one or two days of mountain gorilla trekking. Besides the gorillas, the park offers stunning views of nine jungle clad volcanoes. This is where Dian Fossey wrote her book “Gorillas in the Mist”, a classic and a must read if you decide to do this trip. The feature film of the same name starring Sigourney Weaver was also filmed here. It is definitely worth seeing.

More on the Mountain Gorillas:

This peaceful, highly social, herbivorous giant—the mountain gorilla—is now listed as critically endangered, with a population estimated at just over 900 individuals left in the wild. Found only in the dense montane forests of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, these gorillas live in tight-knit family groups led by a dominant silverback.

Their gentle nature and intricate social behaviors—grooming one another, playing, even showing signs of empathy—remind us just how closely connected we are. Yet despite decades of conservation work, they remain the most endangered of all the world’s large mammals. Their survival is threatened by habitat loss, human conflict, and disease, many of which are directly tied to human encroachment.

Uganda and Rwanda Gorilla Safari for Healthcare Professionals

While conservation efforts have made remarkable progress—thanks in part to responsible tourism and the work of organizations like the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund—the future of these magnificent animals remains uncertain. Visiting them in the wild is a profound and humbling experience, but also a reminder of the fragile balance we must protect. Each permit, each visit, contributes directly to the preservation of their habitat. Also for the livelihoods of the local communities working tirelessly to ensure their survival. In many ways, simply bearing witness is an act of conservation in itself.

In many ways it is a privilege to be able to visit them in the wild and in their own habitat but the privilege comes at a price. We hope you can join us in 2026 on the Uganda & Rwanda CME Safari.

About Dr. Phil Rasori

Dr. Phil Rasori is a seasoned educator, physician, and global health consultant with over four decades of experience in international travel and medical education. For 17 years, he served as a faculty member at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. There, he taught global health and travel medicine. His professional journey has taken him to some of the world’s most remote and culturally rich corners. This has sparked a deep passion for photographing endangered cultures and wildlife along the way.

Last But Not Least

Phil began leading international tours more than 40 years ago! He served as the Medical Director for Mountain Travel Sobek from 1988 to 2001. During this time, he designed and led fully accredited continuing medical education (CME) programs for healthcare professionals across all seven continents. Many of the global connections he made during those years continue to inform and inspire his work today. For the past 25 years, Dr. Rasori has been the co-founder and medical director of a large community health program in rural Kenya: Village HopeCore International.