Gorilla Tour Lesio Luna Reserve: Silverbacks & Orphans

Gorillas here are fed twice daily, so you see them during the feeding window when they're most active.

A full-day gorilla tour from Brazzaville to Lesio Luna Sanctuary, where you encounter silverback and orphan gorillas in their habitat, then return by boat through Luna spotting wild gorillas and African wildlife. The sanctuary protects orphaned gorillas until they mature enough to release into the wild, and feeding times are when visitors can observe them. An air-conditioned vehicle picks you up from your residence, a live guide speaks English or French, and the day runs ten hours total.

Step-by-step itinerary

Gorilla encounter and boat ride

• Breakfast at residence
• Drive to Lesio Luna reserve
• Meet ABIO for gorilla encounter
• Observe male solitary gorillas safely
• Visit silverback and orphan gorilla groups
• Enjoy afternoon boat ride on Luna
• Spot African wildlife and wild gorillas
• Return to Brazzaville

The experience

The tour starts before dawn. You're picked up from your residence in Brazzaville and driven to Lesio Luna Sanctuary, the only gorilla viewing site near the capital: everywhere else requires traveling far into national parks. The sanctuary's mission is to protect orphaned gorillas until they're mature enough to release back into the wild, and during that learning period the ecoguards feed them twice daily. That feeding schedule is when the gorillas are most visible and active, so the timing of your visit matters.

Once at the reserve, you move through the groups on foot with your guide, getting as close as safely possible to the silverbacks and orphan gorillas. You see multiple groups during the morning, moving at a pace the guide sets. After the gorilla encounters, the day shifts: you board a boat for an afternoon ride through Luna, where you spot African wildlife and wild gorillas moving through their natural habitat. The boat ride gives you a different angle on the reserve and a chance to see how the gorillas live outside the sanctuary's protected groups.

The return drive to Brazzaville happens in the late afternoon. You'll have been in the reserve for most of the day, ten hours from pickup to drop-off, in an air-conditioned vehicle with bottled water provided throughout. The guide handles all navigation and interpretation. Your job is to watch, photograph and listen.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle with pickup from your Brazzaville residence.
• live guide in English or French.
• all activities and access at Lesio Luna Sanctuary.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:30 and 11:00

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and French

Audio guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 7 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Romaric Tour Guide

Is this one for you?Book this if you're joining a guided group walking the reserve on foot (you'll move with the group's pace and see gorillas when the guide locates them), and you have a full day to spend between driving and trekking.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2).

How close do you actually get to the gorillas at Lesio Luna?

The guide takes you as close as safely possible without putting you or the gorillas at risk. The distance depends on the gorillas' behavior and mood on the day you visit, but proximity is the point of the sanctuary experience.

Why is Lesio Luna better than going to a national park to see gorillas?

Lesio Luna is the only gorilla viewing site within reach of Brazzaville itself. National parks where wild gorillas live are much farther away and require separate, longer trips. This sanctuary lets you see gorillas in a single day from the city.

When during the day do you see the gorillas?

The gorillas are fed twice daily by the ecoguards, and that's when they're most active and visible. The morning departure means you arrive during one of those feeding windows, which is why the early start matters.

What happens on the boat ride through Luna?

After the gorilla groups in the sanctuary, you board a boat for an afternoon ride through Luna, spotting African wildlife and wild gorillas in their natural habitat. It's a different way to see the reserve after the morning's close encounters.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour involves walking through the reserve to reach the gorilla groups, but it's suitable for all physical fitness levels. The guide sets the pace. If you have spinal injuries or cardiovascular concerns, check with the operator before booking.

What's included and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes the air-conditioned vehicle, guide in English or French, all activities at the reserve, bottled water, and all fees and taxes. Breakfast and lunch are not included, so plan to eat before departure or bring food. Bring a camera, sun protection and comfortable walking shoes.