PHOTO: You'll get to see mountain gorillas like these on your Valentine's Day safari. (photo by David Cogswell)

With Valentine’s Day now on the horizon, Volcanoes Safaris is offering a romantic package that pushes the boundaries of romantic travel.

Encountering the rare mountain gorilla may not be everyone’s idea of a romantic vacation, but young couples today are increasingly opting out of the expensive factory weddings in favor of investing the money into an adventurous shared experience instead.

Volcanoes Safaris is a specialist in expeditions to track and encounter the rare mountain gorillas, only a few hundred of which survive, all in one mountain rainforest area that crosses the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

According to Amy Muise, Ph.D, writing in Psychology Today, “Self-expansion theory suggests that we are more fulfilled in our relationships to the extent that our partners provide us with opportunities for growth.”

When relationships are new, according to this theory, they are intensely passionate because there is much to learn about the other partner and opportunities for self-expansion are high. But in time, the newness fades and unfortunately so does the passion. Exciting travel, becoming suddenly submerged in new environments, situations and experiences, can reignite the passion.

“According to self-expansion theory, one way to maintain a more satisfying relationship is to engage in novel, exciting activities with your long-term partner,” says Muise. “Couples who engage in activities that both partners consider exciting (and therefore self-expanding), experience increases in relationship satisfaction.”

Volcanoes Safaris operates four lodges, such as the Virunga Safari Lodge, 7,000 feet high at the top of a mountain that is part of a chain of volcanic mountains that define the Virunga Massif, a giant natural reserve that is parceled off between Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

It is the only place in the world where the mountain gorillas can still be seen. There are only a few hundred of them left. And as this video shows, they often like to make their presence clear.

The Virunga Safari Lodge has eight bandas, or cottages, and a central lodge at the top of the hill. The lodge looks over misty mountains, values and twin lakes at the foot of the mountain. The bandas are private, rustic in construction, cozy, exotic to the max and … well, romantic.

Safari takers with Volcanoes Safaris join gorilla trackers who lead them through the thick vegetation of the mountain rainforest to seek encounters with the families of the gorillas, who travel around the area, living nomadically and camping in a new spot every night.

Finding the gorillas necessitates hiking for hours through dense, wet jungle, but the resulting encounters with the giant gorillas are electrifying.

For Valentines Day, in February Volcanoes Safaris is offering a 20 percent overall discount on any safari in Uganda and a 10 percent discount plus a special deluxe hamper carrying some special Valentine’s Day surprises for safaris in Rwanda.

Follow me on Twitter @CogswellTravelP.