photo taken by Craig R. Sholley Throughout history, Africa's wild animals have drawn adventurers seeking the wonder of their majesty. However, no single animal has drawn as much attention as the Mountain Gorilla. Decimated by poachers, this member of the ape family is the largest of the living primates but tragically only a mere 630 are known to exist in the wild. Join Endangered Encounters for an African safari with a purpose as we track and help in the effort to save one of the world's most amazing creatures. The adventure begins amid bottomless crater lakes, rainforest lodges and winds it way down through a chain of eight volcanoes, known as the Virunga Mountains, which run through a western section of the Rift Valley. As we travel deeper into the African wilds your days will be filled with wild game tracking with overnights in luxurious rainforest lodges and tent camps. Besides the Gorilla, highlighted game for the expedition include the river hippo, river birds such as the Shoebill, rainforest chimpanzee, elephant, oribi, giraffe, waterbuck, hartebeest, topi, buffalo, sitatunga, bushbuck, warthog, bush pig, lion, leopard, mongoose, genet, hyena, jackal, and bat-eared fox.