IShowSpeed Plans to Visit Rwanda’s Mountain Gorillas

American social media star IShowSpeed has announced plans to visit Rwanda’s mountain gorillas during his ongoing tour of Africa. He said the visit will take place in the Virunga region, home to one of the world’s most protected wildlife populations.

The 20-year-old YouTuber and Twitch streamer shared the plans after travelling through South Africa, where he launched his Africa tour. In videos circulating online, he noted that South Africa does not have mountain gorillas.

“There are no gorillas here,” he said. “We’ll visit the gorillas in Rwanda. We won’t do a livestream because of the trees, but I’ll make a video.”

A Global Conservation Success

Rwanda’s mountain gorillas remain one of the country’s most celebrated conservation achievements. Once critically endangered, their population has grown to more than 1,000 individuals. Notably, they are the only great ape population increasing worldwide.

Community-based tourism has driven this recovery. Revenue from gorilla trekking supports conservation efforts and benefits local communities. As a result, residents actively protect the gorillas from threats such as poaching and habitat loss.

Africa Tour Draws Global Attention

IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr, launched his 28-day “Speed Does Africa Tour” on December 21, 2025. During the tour, he plans to visit several African countries, create video content and interact with fans.

So far, the influencer has attracted large crowds wherever he has travelled. He received a particularly enthusiastic welcome in South Africa, the first stop on his tour.

In earlier videos shared on X, he said the tour will include stops in Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Rwanda, among others.

Previous Global Tours

Before the Africa tour, IShowSpeed completed the “Speed Does America Tour.” During that trip, he visited 25 US states over 35 days.

According to public tracking data, he has also toured parts of South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

Visit Date Yet to Be Confirmed

Although he confirmed plans to see Rwanda’s gorillas, IShowSpeed has not announced the exact date of his visit. Tourism officials have also not issued an official statement.

Nevertheless, the planned visit is expected to boost international attention on Rwanda’s conservation success and eco-tourism offerings.