Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest protects approximately half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas — about 459 individuals — outperforming #5 in primate conservation density. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, established in 1991, requires permits that cost $800 per person and sell out months in advance, a rate 50% higher than the average gorilla trekking permit. Its ancient Afromontane forest offers a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with habituated troops, providing an intimate wildlife experience lighter on travel time than any other East African safari.