Wilderness Safaris Bisate Lodge

Kenya is known for its lions and big cats, while Botswana and South Africa are no-brainers for elephants. For gorillas, however, travelers can head to Rwanda, where the 35-year-old company Wilderness Safaris opened Bisate Lodge in June 2017. Comprising just six villas perched high above Volcanoes National Park, the lodge invites guests on daily treks where a face-to-face encounter with families of ambling primates is all but guaranteed—baby gorillas are known to reach out to touch visiting humans. While stays aren’t cheap—they run from $1,150 to $1,650 per person per night—part of the rate goes to reforestation and conservation efforts, and the Rwandan government reserves 10% of wildlife permit fees, which are separate from the lodge fees, for contributions that go back to local villages. —Kaitlin Menza