Summer vacation season is just around the corner and many families are planning a trip to the great state of Colorado. The soaring mountain ranges are capped in snow, yet as the elevation level lowers the mountain side is alive with countless wildflowers.

Here the sky seems somehow more pristine. The blue almost hurts your eyes. You feel compelled to get out of the car and experience the power and beauty of the natural surroundings. And when you do, you won’t be alone. Colorado is home to a great variety of wildlife. With careful attention to the rules of the state parks and refuges you can enjoy spending time near these majestic creatures. Just keep in mind at all times that these are wild animals and this is not a zoo. Respect the animals and give them plenty of space – after all, you are visiting their home.

Here is a list of great places to enjoy Colorado wildlife.

Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge -In early spring, just before ice trickles into snowmelt, up to 100 bald eagles can be seen feasting on fish.

Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge – A prime area for viewing Canada geese, mallards, redheads, canvasbacks, green-winged and cinnamon teal, ruddy ducks and common mergansers.

Barr Lake State Park – The lake attracts an array of waterfowl and water birds, including geese, white pelicans, grebes, coots and numerous species of duck.

Bonny Lake State Park – In the spring and summer, the area provides great opportunities for viewing newly hatched wood ducklings.

Estes Valley (Front Range) – Watch for bighorn sheep along Fall River Road between Estes Park and the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Lake Pueblo State Park and State Wildlife Area (Southeast Region) – Mammals, including beavers, muskrats, fox squirrels and red foxes are year-round residents.

A trip to trek the rare mountain and Lowland gorillas in Africa entirely involves a lot on planning, effective preparation and research. Today, about 980 individuals of these critically endangered species are left in the entire world and they are only distributed within the jungles of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). When it comes to this lifetime adventure, various factors have to come to guide you so that you have the most successful safari in East Africa. To be on safer part, we have listed some of the things that are worth knowing as you plan for your gorilla treks in East Africa.

Below are the practical tips for planning a gorilla trekking safari.

1. Plan your gorilla trek in advance

Gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda & DRC are the best tourist activities in Africa and you need to plan it in advance. You need to start planning at least six months in advance; this is because there are many things you need to think if you want to have a successful gorilla safari in Africa.

2. Where to go for gorilla trekking

Mountain gorilla trekking is only conducted in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Uganda, DRC and Rwanda for these lifetime experiences and in Uganda, trekkers only visit Bwindi Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park which are located in southwestern side of the country while in Rwanda, you can visit the Volcanoes National Park in the northwestern part of this spectacular country and DRC in Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park. Every destination features its habituated groups where gorilla treks are conducted everyday. In Rwanda the notable groups include the Susa ‘A’, Susa ‘B’, Hirwa, Sabyinyo, Ugenda, Amahoro, Kwitonda, Umubano and in Uganda, the prime families include Nkuringo, Bitukura, Busingye, Kahungye, Bweza, Mishaya, Nshongi, Nyakagezi, Habinyanja, Oruzogo, Rushegura and Kabirizi Gorilla group and lastly in DRC include; Humba Gorilla Group, Rugendo Gorilla Group, Mapuwa Gorilla Group, Lulengo Gorilla Group among others.

3. Book for your gorilla tracking permit early

When you think of mountain gorilla adventures in East Africa, bear in mind that permits is a must to have to guarantee your spot. Booking your gorilla permits at hand offers about 95 percent chances for you to track a group of gorillas. Each gorilla permit is equal to a spot to one habituated family and only eight (8) trekkers are allowed to track one group per day.

Trekking permits in Uganda are obtainable at A gorilla habituation permit costs USD1500 for foreign nonresidents, USD1000 for residents and 750,000 Uganda Shillings for East African Citizens while a gorilla tracking permit costs USD700 for foreign nonresidents, USD600 for foreign residents and 250,000 Uganda shillings per person per trek and they are obtainable from a trust worthy tour operator on ground or through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). About 12 habituated groups can be tracked in Uganda and they translate into 96 permits for visitors to purchase. In Rwanda, you can purchase a permit at $1500 and this cost cuts across all visitors on gorilla safari in Rwanda. Permits in Rwanda can be booked through ground tour operators or Rwanda Development Board. Only 80 permits are available for visitors to purchase in Rwanda, DRC gorilla permit is at $400 and $500. You are advised to book for your trekking permit in advance at least 3 to 4 hours to avoid any kind of disappointment.

4. The best season for gorilla trekking

If you are planning to travel to East Africa for gorilla tracking, it is important that you know the ideal time for you to perfectly enjoy your primate adventures in Uganda, DRC and Rwanda. Usually, most travellers visit East Africa during the dry spell to catch a glimpse at the rare mountain gorillas while they are in their natural habitat. This season starts from June to August and this is regarded as the longest dry season, and from December to February which is also famous as the peak season in all protected areas. However, this doesn’t mean that trekkers shouldn’t come for this breathtaking adventure. It is also possible for you to track a group of gorillas during the rainy season. During this season, it can rain at any time just like it is a case during the dry season though the amount differs and the sun can come out after sometime and normal treks can continue. The disadvantage with this season is that, the ground can be muddy and slippery making it a big challenge for trekkers to walk through the thick vegetation cover as they search for a group of these rare apes in the wild.

5. The magical hour with the gorillas

Both destinations allow visitors to spend only an hour with a group of habituated gorillas in the wild while exploring their general behaviour. The treks entirely involve hiking through the thick vegetation and steep slopes to look out a group of these dramatic creatures. The experience takes about 30 minutes to 8 hours but this depends on various factors some of which include visitors’ hiking speed, nature of the habitat and location of the habituated gorilla groups that will be assigned to you to track in the course of the day. Once you encounter your group, make sure that you maximize every hour and explore more about these unique species, take as many photos as you can.

6. Your physical wellness matters a lot

Gorilla tracking involves walking via a thick tropical rainforest, bamboo that thrive within the Volcanoes National Park, Virunga National Park, Kahuzi Biega, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park. The adventure takes visitors for about one to eight hours based on your physical fitness and location of the group that will be assigned to you to track. Gorilla treks are conducted at moderate altitude and you are advised to be physically well.

7. Gorilla trekking precautions

Before you set off for the actual trek, you will be briefed by one of the park officials who will take you through the dos and don’ts to be followed while you are with gorillas in the wild. Some of the rules and regulations to be observed while on your trek include, only eight trekkers are assigned to track only one habituated group per day, you will be required to clean your hands prior embarking on the actual trek, your voice should be low at all times but where necessary, ask as many questions as you can, a distance of 7 meters should be kept at all times, keep wastes till you return to the visitor centre where there are dust bins for you to dispose them off, do not drink, eat or smoke in the forest, only persons above 15 years are allowed to go for this lifetime adventure, if you don’t feel well, you won’t be allowed to go for gorilla trekking and many others.

8. What to wear

Interested trekkers are encouraged to come along with long trousers, long sleeved shirts/T-shirts, waterproof hiking boots, insect repellents, enough drinking water and energy giving snacks, sun screen, hat, rain jacket, first aid kit, day pack and others. The other things that are worth knowing for trekkers on gorilla safari to Africa include paying attention to your guide while in the gorilla habitat; carry enough money to take you throughout the vacation, hire a porter to help you with heavy luggage and others.

9. Visas and border crossing

Gorilla trekking often involves crossing borders between Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. If you are planning to do gorilla trekking in Congo, expect to cross the Goma border post at a cost ($100 for the VISA). Those who find the price of gorilla permits in Rwanda too high can choose to track the gorillas in Uganda instead but arrive through Kigali to avoid traveling for 8 hours from Entebbe or Uganda’s capital Kampala. Gorilla trekking from Uganda through Kigali involves paying a VISA fee of $50 at either the Katuna or Cyanika border crossings. The East African tourist visa can also be acquired at a cost of $100 for those who are combing safaris in different countries of East Africa.

10. Yellow Fever vaccination card

This may not seem important but it is a requirement for entering all the three countries. If you read reviews about gorilla trekking, you will learn that yellow fever vaccination cards are one of the key documents asked at the airport and while crossing borders. If you are planning to travel to most African countries, you need to consider the cost of taking the shots.

In conclusion, if you are planning to travel to East Africa for mountain gorilla trekking, you need to be physically well to be able to hike through the thick jungles and the steep slopes to see a group of these unique creatures in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking is generally a breathtaking adventure that comes once in a lifetime.

Whether it’s in a South American cloud forest or a suburban alley, spotting native creatures is a wonderful way to really enter a place: An animal often seems to embody an entire landscape. It’s not easy defining the “greatest” wildlife destinations for the ecotourist. Kamchatka or Kodiak Island, with their gargantuan brown bears? How about the Galapagos, with its unique — and world-shatteringly influential, given Darwin’s investigations — endemic species? Everyone has his own list, but, in terms of diversity and visibility of wildlife, the nature enthusiast could do worse than the following destinations.

Kruger National Park

Africa is home to some of the largest and most famous wildlife preserves in the world, such as the Serengeti, Selous and Okavango Delta. Kruger National Park in eastern South Africa surely belongs in the top ranks. Sprawling more than 7,000 square miles along the Zimbabwe and Mozambique borders, Kruger links with other preserves in those countries to form the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Its varied ecosystems – from mopane woodlands and acacia savannas to open grasslands and riverine forests – support a staggering array of animals: Kruger serves as home for 147 mammals, 507 birds and 114 reptiles. Big game like lions, elephants, painted hunting dogs and buffalo get a lot of the attention, but equally impressive are lone baobab trees, white-winged terns nabbing insects on the fly and a savanna hare at full speed.

Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Encompassing Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks as well as surrounding national forests, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is nearly 30,000 square miles of Northern Rocky Mountain wilderness rich in wildlife. Its roster of animal species compares to any African game park, and the scale of the landscape offers a rare opportunity to witness fully functioning, large-scale ecosystem dynamics. Yellowstone National Park, the world’s oldest, is particularly fertile for wildlife-viewing, given the tolerance most of its creatures display toward people and the openness of the country: rolling sagebrush hills, grassland flats and burned woods are widespread. Grizzly and black bears, gray wolves, pumas, bison, elk, moose, mule deer, wolverine, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain goat are only some of the larger mammal species.

Great Barrier Reef

The world’s most extensive mosaic of coral reefs, the Great Barrier Reef off the northeastern coast of Australia is unquestionably one of the grand wildlife destinations in the world – especially for those willing to strap on snorkel or scuba gear. Consisting of nearly 3,000 individual reefs along with hundreds of islands, cays and sandbars in the Coral Sea, the Great Barrier Reef harbors hundreds of species of corals — not to mention 5,000 to 8,000 kinds of mollusks, over 1,300 species of crustaceans and fish ranging from little wrasse to whale sharks. Up to 1.7 million seabirds nest within the reef’s boundaries. Six species of sea turtles use the reef for foraging and nesting, and estuarine crocodiles roam through on occasion.

Ranthambore National Park

Considering its geographic massiveness and ecological variety, it’s no surprise some of the world’s most critical wildlife reserves lie in Asia. India’s Ranthambore National Park is surely one of the standouts, not least because it’s one of the last places anywhere that you have a decent chance of spotting a wild tiger. Dry forest cloaking rugged hills and ravines of the Aravali and Vindhya highlands shelters stunning Bengal tigers, along with herds of sambar, troops of langur monkeys, prowling jackals and galumphing sloth bears. While on safari here, you’ll also appreciate the ruins of a medieval fort in the rocky woods. The dry season is a good time for wildlife-watching, given the bareness of the deciduous forests.

The Pantanal

One of the world’s largest wetlands, the Pantanal is a vast, fertile conglomerate of seasonally flooded grasslands, savannas, forest groves and marshes occupying a large basin along the Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay borders. Big predators like jaguars, anacondas and caimans crown the food chain, and birdwatchers have the opportunity to spot some superlative species, such as the world’s biggest parrot, the hyacinth macaw, and the massive jabiru stork. Odd-looking but endearing mammals like giant anteaters and maned wolves also roam the country. Four reserves in the region constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Pantanal Conservation Area.