How to Book a Gorilla Safari in Rwanda. Rwanda is one of the best places in the world to see mountain gorillas, and booking a gorilla safari here is a straightforward process when you follow the right steps. Volcanoes National Park is the only destination in Rwanda where gorilla trekking takes place. The park is home to 15 gorilla families open to public booking, including Karisimbi, Agashya, Umubano, Amahoro, Kwitonda, and Hirwa, among others. Beyond gorillas, the park also shelters golden monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, and grey-cheeked mangabeys, making it a rich destination for primate lovers.
Permits are limited to a maximum of eight visitors per gorilla family per day. Because demand is consistently high, booking early is essential. The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is 15 years. Before your trip, build a reasonable level of physical fitness, as the terrain around Volcanoes National Park is steep and rugged due to past volcanic activity.
Step 1: Secure Your Gorilla Trekking Permit
Booking your gorilla permit is the most important step of the entire planning process. Without a permit, you cannot enter Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking. Permits sell out quickly at any time of year, so checking availability as early as possible is strongly advised.
When you contact Anthill Safaris, our safari consultants check permit availability directly from the Rwanda Development Board. As soon as we confirm availability, we advise you to purchase immediately. Permit availability can change at any time without notice, and payment is required to secure any booking. Once payment is made, you provide us with your full name as it appears on your passport, your date of birth, nationality, and passport expiry date. We use this information for identification and permit registration.
A Rwanda gorilla trekking permit costs USD 1,500 per person for international non-residents, USD 500 for foreign residents, and USD 250 for East African citizens. The permit covers park entrance fees, ranger guide fees, gorilla conservation, one hour with the mountain gorillas, local community support, and government tax. The price does not include porter hire, accommodation, or personal expenses.
During the low season, which runs from March to May and November, the Rwanda Development Board sometimes offers discounted permits at USD 1,050 per person. However, this discount applies only to visitors who book at least two nights in both Akagera National Park and Nyungwe National Park as part of their itinerary.
Step 2: Book Your Accommodation
After confirming your permit, the next step is booking accommodation near Volcanoes National Park. Gorilla trekking begins early in the morning, and all visitors must arrive at the park’s ranger station before the briefing starts. Although Volcanoes National Park is about three hours from Kigali, spending the night close to the park removes the risk of arriving late.
Accommodation options near Volcanoes National Park include Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Hotel Muhavura, La Palme Hotel, Hotel Le Bambou, Gorilla Nest Lodge, Kinigi Guest House, and Virunga Volcanoes Lodge. These range from budget to luxury options. During the peak season from June to September and December to February, accommodation fills up quickly. Booking well in advance guarantees your spot and keeps your safari running smoothly.
Step 3: Arrange Your Transport
Booking reliable transport is the third important step. Rwanda’s upcountry roads leading to Volcanoes National Park can be rough and uneven, especially after rain. A four-wheel-drive vehicle in good condition handles these roads comfortably. Book your driver guide in advance, particularly during the peak season when experienced guides are in high demand. Plan your fuel expenses ahead of time and ensure the vehicle has a full tank before leaving the city, as refueling options in the countryside are limited.
Charter flight services from Kigali Airport to Volcanoes National Park are also available. These must be booked in advance to allow time for all necessary arrangements. At Anthill Safaris, we handle all transport logistics on your behalf, from airport pickups to park transfers, so you can relax and focus on the experience.
Step 4: Add Other Rwanda Safari Activities
Rwanda offers many other activities that combine well with gorilla trekking. Planning these ensures your itinerary flows smoothly without any backtracking.
Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park allows visitors to spend one hour with these rare and energetic primates. Golden monkeys are an endangered species that live only in the Virunga area. They are lively and constantly hop between trees, making them fun to watch. You must obtain a separate permit from the Rwanda Development Board.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park is another excellent addition. Nyungwe also offers a remarkable canopy walk on a 160-meter-high suspension bridge, one of the few of its kind in East Africa. The views of the forest canopy from this bridge are breathtaking.
Game drives in Akagera National Park give visitors the chance to spot zebras, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, cape buffaloes, waterbucks, and bushbucks. The park has recovered impressively from the damage of the 1994 genocide, thanks to strong government and conservation partnerships.
Rwanda’s cultural experiences are also worth exploring. Visitors can discover traditional pottery, wood carving, basketry, and the unique Imigingo cow dung painting in Nyakarambi. Attending the Intore traditional dance performance, accompanied by the deep rhythms of long drums, is a memorable highlight of any Rwanda visit. Rwanda also hosts over 700 bird species across Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest, and Akagera National Park, making it a rewarding birding destination.
Best Time to Visit
The dry season from June to September and December to January offers the best trekking conditions. Trails are drier, gorillas feed closer to the ground and are easier to spot, and sunlight penetrates the forest more clearly. The wet season from March to May and November sees fewer tourists, quieter trails, and lower accommodation prices. During this period, some visitors enjoy a near-private gorilla trekking experience with very few other tourists around.
Gorilla Trekking Rules
All visitors must wear a clean face mask near the gorillas and sanitize their boots before entering the park. Visitors must stay in a tight group, maintain a distance of at least eight meters from the gorillas, and never surround them. Flash photography is strictly forbidden. Visitors must not spit on vegetation, litter in the forest, or eat within 200 meters of the gorillas. Any toilet use in the forest requires digging a hole at least 30 centimeters deep and covering it completely. Only visitors aged 15 and above may participate, and anyone who is sick must stay behind to protect the gorillas.
What to Wear and Pack
How to Book a Gorilla Safari in Rwanda. Wear long-sleeved shirts, lightweight waterproof trekking trousers, sturdy waterproof hiking boots, thick socks, gardening gloves, waterproof adjustable gaiters, and a waterproof rain jacket. Pack a warm sweater, a lightweight backpack, a hat, insect repellent, sunscreen, a water bottle, energy snacks, a camera without flash, binoculars, and a first-aid kit. Keep everything as lightweight as possible to manage the steep and demanding slopes comfortably.
