Ask the expert

Emma joined Mercury Holidays seven years ago, because she saw it as the perfect opportunity to combine her passion for travel with her family-run business. Here Emma recounts the highlights of her recent trip to visit the gorillas of Uganda. Why did you choose to visit the gorillas in

Uganda? The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to half of the world’s remaining 800 mountain gorilla population. For a chance to see gorilla families in their natural habitat, up close yet in a way that is respectful, Uganda cannot be beaten. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has habituated three gorilla families so they are accustomed to humans. The park sells only 24 permits a day (eight permits per gorilla family) and visitors can spend a maximum of one hour with the gorillas. This ensures a gorilla spotting, notoriously difficult, and keeps the experience intimate and eco-conscious. In 2016, fewer than 200 tourists visited Uganda from the UK, so not many people can say they’ve had this travel experience. Tell us about your experience with the

silverbacks. The gorilla encounter was the highlight of my trip. An unforgettable moment was when a silverback looked directly at me, sized me up, then calmly walked past with females and babies in tow. Their intelligence and curiosity was so evident. What’s your secret tip for Uganda? Go on an escorted tour. Uganda can be difficult to navigate alone and the expertise of my tour guides went a long way to making sure I got the most out of my trip. mercuryholidays.co.uk

The gorillas’ curiosity was so evident