Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda’s most unforgettable experience. Travelers consistently describe one striking moment: sitting in a cold forest and staring into a mountain gorilla’s eyes. These animals share 98% of our DNA, and that connection feels deeply personal.
Thousands of years ago, mountain gorillas roamed freely across eastern and central Africa. However, human development gradually pushed them into higher grounds, reducing their numbers close to extinction.
Today, fewer than 1,000 mountain gorillas survive. Fortunately, governments, NGOs, tour companies, and individuals actively work to raise those numbers. Gorilla trekking directly funds these conservation efforts, making real progress possible.
Rwanda leads this conservation mission. Volcanoes National Park hosts twelve habituated gorilla groups, drawing thousands of trekkers every year. The park strictly manages visits to protect the gorillas while delivering an extraordinary experience.
Use this guide to plan your Rwanda gorilla trekking adventure confidently.
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What To Expect On The Gorilla Trekking Experience
Volcanoes National Park protects Rwanda’s side of the Virunga Volcanoes chain straddling Uganda, DRC, and Rwanda’s borders in Rwanda’s northwestern region. About half of the world’s mountain gorilla population roams the Virunga mountain slopes between the three countries. The other half is entirely within the Ugandan side in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Jetting into the country through Kigali International Airport, expect to drive on the 100-kilometer well-surfaced road for two hours to reach the base town, Kiningi, where you’ll spend the night before your gorilla trekking adventure up the slopes of Volcanoes National Park the following morning.
The morning of your gorilla trekking experience, your driver will take you to the park headquarters briefing point, which is usually within a radius of a 45-minute drive of your lodge at the base of the park. There, you’ll get a briefing on what the trek expects of you, what you should expect, and which gorilla group you will encounter. After the briefing, you’ll be split into small restricted groups with a local expert tracker guide and two armed rangers (for security against jungle uncertainties) and transported to the trailhead into the jungle.
Rwanda gorillas live up the steep slopes, so expect to hike up uneven terrain into the thick, misty jungle with unmarked trails to find the gorillas. Your physical fitness should be at least moderate to pull off this adventure; otherwise, we recommend that you hit the gym a few weeks before your trip.
More About Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes
Hire a local porter for about $20 to help navigate the steep terrain. Porters come from nearby villages and depend on tourism for income, so hiring directly supports them.
Finding the gorilla family takes 30 minutes to four hours. However, rangers track the gorillas daily, guiding your team efficiently.
Once you find them, spend one hour watching them eat, groom, and socialize. Stay present and limit photography.
Finally, follow the key rules: keep 10 meters away, wear a face mask, avoid contact, and skip flash photography. Follow your guide and the experience will be unforgettable.
The Cost of Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes
The cost of gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes is still the highest in the region, primarily determined by the gorilla permit price. More so, Rwanda’s gorilla permit costs $1,500 per person per trek, yet you must consider other gorilla safari elements like accommodation, meals, and transfers.
The Rwanda Development Board sells gorilla permits. However, there’s a limited number of fewer than 100 permits available in Rwanda per day, making them scarce and in high demand. Still, a licensed local safari operator like Anthill Safaris can purchase one on your behalf at the most challenging times. However, you should endeavor to book yours in advance, at least three months earlier.
Because of the high cost of the gorilla permit, almost all safari lodges around Volcanoes National Park do not include the permit in their all-inclusive offers. When you book lodging, expect to pay for the permit separately, but the lodge will offer beds, meals, lodge activities, and sometimes transfers to the gorilla point.
An all-inclusive room per night may cost less than $300 for budget, $300-$450 for midrange, and above $700 for an exclusive luxury lodge. Depending on the provider, transfers may cost about $80 – $300 per day, including the driver and gas/fuel.
Rwanda has positioned itself as a high-end destination; therefore, the cost of gorilla trekking is triple that of Uganda and the DRC. However, our consultants can help you determine an accurate price for your trip within the shortest possible time. Request a quote at info@anthillgorillasafaris.com
Best Time to Go
Volcanoes National Park is elevated at 2,500 meters, surrounded by tropical weather and vegetation. However, it can rain anytime, and heavier rains can disrupt your gorilla trekking experience. Avoid visiting Volcanoes during the heavy rains of March to April when roads are impassable, and trails become slippery.
The best time for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes is during the dry season between June and September. During the dry seasons, there’s less rain to disrupt the trek. Roads are navigable, and it’s easier to walk under the forest canopy; you can include other activities on your itinerary, like nature hiking, birding, and a walk to the grave of the legendary Diane Fossey.
Although the dry season is the peak travel season in the country, the park doesn’t feel overcrowded because the number of trekkers is highly restricted. However, if you want to take advantage of the low-season pricing, book your trip for the wet season. During the rains, most lodges offer high discounts to harvest on the low number of travelers.
What To Pack For The Gorilla Trek
It’s cold and damp out there in the mountains, and you have to keep warm and dry during your stay. Besides, your packing list should include a lightweight rain jacket, a sweater for the evenings at the lodge, a pair of warm socks, and maybe a scarf.
For trekking, you should pack a pair of lightweight, waterproof hiking shoes, gaiters, trousers, and a long-sleeve shirt to avoid prickly plants pocking your skin, a waterproof backpack to keep your gadgets dry, and maybe a hat to protect your head. These should all be lightweight; otherwise, you’ll be sweating with the challenging hike up the slopes.
Find this link for a detailed packing list.
How to Get To Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda welcomes most visitors through Kigali International Airport (KGL), about 10km/6 mi from the capital, Kigali. Volcanoes National Park is about 100 kilometers and 2 hours away on the surfaced road. There are no scheduled domestic flights to the park. You’ll most probably use a 4×4 car to transfer across the country from the Airport.
The gorilla trekking activity in Volcanoes starts before 08:00, and all trekkers must report to the park headquarters in Kinigi by 07:00.
Where To Stay
After booking your gorilla permit, where to stay looms high on planning your gorilla safari in Rwanda. Fortunately, accommodation in the Volcanoes National Park does not reflect the high price of the permit. Accommodation near Volcanoes National Park suits every taste and budget. Options range from exclusive safari lodges to comfortable boutique hotels. Here are our top picks for the best gorilla trekking stays in Rwanda.
Luxury, high-end ($700 over)
- Bisate Lodge
- Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
- One&Only Gorilla’s Nest Lodge
- Virunga Lodge
- Singita Kwitonda Lodge
Comfortable, mid-range ($300 – $700)
- Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
- Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Budget (less $300)
- Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
- Villa Gorilla
- Gorillas Volcanoes Hotel
- Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
- Ruzizi Tented Camp
Planning Your Gorilla Trekking Safari in Volcanoes, Rwanda
Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Planning a gorilla trekking safari in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda’s premier attraction, should not be likened to planning a big city tour; neither should any East African safari. On the other hand, the challenging African travel logistics of getting gorilla permits, finding suitable accommodation with meals, and booking your transfers require a knowledgeable local operator.
A local operator handles every detail of your trip. They plan everything around your preferences and budget, so you travel with complete peace of mind.
Plan your Rwanda gorilla safari with Anthill Safaris. We’re local and have a sizeable sustainable travel footprint you can trust. Send us an email at info@anthillgorillasafaris.com.
