Home » Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safaris, Rwanda Gorilla Tours and Trips
Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safaris, Rwanda Gorilla Tours and Trips
With over 13 years of experience in arranging Rwanda gorilla trekking tours in Africa, we offer one of the best Rwanda gorilla tours and trips in Volcanoes National Park.
Though there are other destinations for gorilla safaris in East Africa (including Uganda & Congo), Rwanda gorilla tours rank as the best. Rwanda Volcanoes National Park holds the highest Mountain gorilla population living in the Virunga Conservation Area and this park is easily accessible and safe. Thus, mountain gorilla tours in Rwanda should be a priority for time-bad travelers undertaking wildlife viewing tours in Africa!
For great memories on the Rwanda safari holiday, tourists increment chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park and game drives in Akagera National Park on their Rwanda gorilla safaris. Among other activities in Rwanda to do on your gorilla trip are the Kigali city tour, cultural encounters, and a tour to Rwanda Genocide Memorial Centers, sites gazetted to commemorate victims in the 1994 Rwanda genocide war.
Gorilla treks in Rwanda are best done in the dry season but this adventure remains possible year-round.
Below is a guide for gorilla safaris in Rwanda!
Site for Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda: Where to See Gorillas in Rwanda?
Rwanda only has one Gorilla destination, and we discuss it below.
Volcanoes National Park
Within East Africa, Volcanoes National Park is one of the few national parks where you can track the endangered Mountain gorillas. The other national parks include Virunga National Park in Congo as well as Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park and Mgahinga Park in Uganda.
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park in the misty Virunga Mountains is home to over 14 habituated Mountain gorilla families. The group size of gorilla families differs but, on average, each endangered Mountain gorilla family holds 10 individuals and some go up to 40 members.
In Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, travelers have over 95% chance to see gorillas, and on record, no visitor has ever missed them. Gorilla treks in Volcanoes park take roughly 2–8 hours, depending on the movements of the gorillas.
The rich montane ecosystem in Volcanoes National Park holds other vibrant animal species, including forest Elephants, Buffalos, and Antelope species, but the endangered Golden monkeys are much more popular Gorillas.
Gorilla Trekking Rules in Rwanda Volcanoes National Park to Follow
The guidelines for visitors tracking Mountain gorillas in this country are discussed below:
- Only people above 15 can track Mountain gorillas
- Each gorilla group can only have a maximum group of 8 visitors each day
- Wash your hands before starting the exercise.
- Visitors must follow the ranger’s instructions during the gorilla trek
- It’s illegal to litter the park while on the gorilla trekking trail. Keep your trash and only put it in designated dust bins.
- Do not participate in a gorilla trek if you have an infectious disease
- You must keep a safe distance of over 7 meters from mountain gorillas upon spotting them. These cool giants remain wild animals, however much they are habituated.
- Eating in the presence of Mountain gorillas is illegal
- Smoking is forbidden around gorillas in this country
- Tourists are limited to one hour with gorillas
- When photographing gorillas, avoid using flash! This worries gorillas and can make them aggressive
- While on a gorilla trek, keep in a group upon spotting these mighty giants
Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Cost: Rwanda Gorilla Permit Cost
The cost of gorilla permits in Rwanda is $1500 for non-foreign residents. Foreign residents have to pay $500 and $200 for East African Residents. Booking a gorilla permit in Rwanda is easy; you can buy it directly from the Rwanda Development Board or get it through your tour operator.
In most cases, travelers coming for Rwanda safari tours book gorilla permits through tour operators and we advise you to book in advance, around 3–4 months before you start your Rwanda gorilla tour.
Best Time to Visit Gorillas in Rwanda: Best Time to See Gorillas in Rwanda
Rwanda gorilla trekking tours are best done in dry months but trekking gorillas in Rwanda remains possible year-round. The dry months of June to early September, as well as December to February, offer the best gorilla trekking experience since the trail can be dry, and free from mud and there are few rainfall inconveniences in the park.
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, usually receives heavy rainfall from March to May. In these months, Gorillas hardly move deep into the woods as food can be scarce in the jungle; therefore, the gorilla treks in these months don’t take long.
This is also the best time to track Gorillas in Uganda and Congo, plus game-viewing expeditions in Tanzania & Kenya.
Gorilla Trekking Packing List in Rwanda, Africa: What to Pack for Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda?
For the best Rwanda gorilla tours, you should park appropriately and we strongly emphasize moving light. You should have the following:
- Insect repellents
- A gorilla permit
- Camera
- Rain jacket
- A warm jumper
- Garden gloves
- Sunscreens
The Best Rwanda Gorilla Trekking What to Wear
Travelers going for Rwanda gorilla treks should put on:
- Environmental-friendly clothes in khaki, brown & grey colors. Such colors blend easily in nature and don’t stress Gorillas like bright colors (white and red) do.
- Put on jungle boots
- Wear a sunhat
- Long-sleeved shirts and trousers protect your skin from bug bites & stinging nettles in the jungle
The above applies also during wildlife safaris in this country.
Other Tourist Activities in Rwanda to Do During Your Rwanda Gorilla Safari
Rwanda safari tours go beyond gorilla tracking safaris in Volcanoes National Park! There are other adventure expeditions you can enjoy on your trip, for instance, trekking chimpanzees, endangered golden monkey tracking, wildlife viewing, bird watching, and cultural encounters.
Below are some amazing activities in Rwanda you can do on top of your Rwanda gorilla vacation:
Tracking Chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda
Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest is a wonderful and amazing adventure for travelers interested in primate tracking safaris in Rwanda. Watching chimpanzees in their natural habitat is one of the most memorable wildlife encounters in Rwanda. They are usually spotted in small groups but chimpanzees can live in a community of over 15–150 members.
On the chimp trek in Nyungwe park, expect to encounter numerous bird species as well as vibrant primates. The popular primates normally spotted in this jungle are Black and white colobus monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys, and Blue Monkeys.
Tracking chimpanzees in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest costs $250.
Wildlife Viewing in Akagera National Park
During game drives in Akagera National Park, you’ll search for wild animals in a safari vehicle with a rooftop. Our knowledgeable tour guide will be there to aid you in spotting game animals like Lions, Leopards, big Elephant herds, Zebras, Elands, Hartebeests, Zebras, Uganda Kobs, Hyenas, Rhinos, and Cheetahs, among others.
Amazing primates like Olive baboons are usually encountered during wildlife viewing expeditions. You can choose to take a morning game drive, an afternoon game drive, or even an evening game drive and most of them take 2-4 hours.
Visiting the Grave of Dian Fossey
A Rwanda safari trip to Volcanoes National Park is incomplete without a tour to explore Dian Fossey tomb. Dian Fossey was a famous American primatologist- a pioneer of gorilla tourism.
Unfortunately, this great woman, Dian Fossey, was tragically murdered with machetes from her cabin in 1985. Allegedly, they were traffickers of Gorillas. She was heartlessly cut twice in the head! Various graves of Mountain gorillas that were slain by poachers are located in the vicinity of his grave.
Don’t miss out on exploring her research center- Karisoke Research Center, and if possible, you can give aid to Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
Cultural Encounters
Cultural encounters can’t be missed on most Rwanda safari tours and packages. During these expeditions, you’ll mingle with natives in Rwanda as you learn about their fascinating traditions, beliefs, and ways of life.
A visit to the Ibyiwacu Cultural Center offers the best cultural experiences in Rwanda; however, guided walks in other amazing authentic African villages & local communities are possible.
Kigali City Tour
Nowadays, several gorilla safaris in Rwanda feature Kigali city tours. The intention is to allow travelers on Rwanda safari trips to explore Kigali City, a brilliant city ranking among the most beautiful and cleanest cities on the African continent.
Guests undertaking Kigali city tours mostly visit Rwandan local markets, craft centers, scenic streets, and the Kigali Genocide Memorial Site.
More charming things to do in Rwanda on your gorilla tracking Rwanda tour:
- Tracking golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park. This is also a rewarding primary tracking adventure in this country!
- Volcano hiking
- Forest canopy walking in Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Canoeing on Lake Kivu
- Taking a boat cruise on Lake Ihema
- Bird watching. Bird watching in Rwanda offers you a chance to spot most Albertine birds
Lodges in Rwanda to Use While on Rwanda Gorilla Trip
The accommodation for tourists on Mountain gorilla Rwanda safari tours can be either luxury, mid-range, or budget. You have a right to choose with our guide!
The following are the popular lodges for tourists trekking gorillas in Rwanda:
- Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
- Bisate Lodge
- Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
- Hotel Muhabura
- Karenga Bush Camp
- Kinigi Guesthouse
- Amakoro Songa Lodge
- Ruzizi Tented Camp
It’s easy to connect from the above lodges to the park headquarters and all the mentioned facilities offer great views of the Virunga Mountains and world-class services.
Other Areas for Gorilla Tours in Africa
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Over half of the Mountain gorilla population in the world lives in Uganda. Uganda gorilla trekking safaris are done in 2 national parks: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest & Mgahinga Park.
Only Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has 22 habituated gorilla groups. This makes it the best area for gorilla tours in the world.
The Uganda gorilla tracking permit is $800.
Gorilla Trekking in the Congo
Congo gorilla trekking safaris offer the best gorilla tracking experience in Africa. Tourists on Congo safari tours can visit both the Eastern lowland gorillas and even Mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo live on the bamboo-covered slopes of Virunga National Park, while Eastern Lowland gorillas are spotted in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
The permit for tracking gorillas in Congo costs $400. It’s the cheapest among the destinations for gorilla safaris in the East African region: Uganda Rwanda & Congo.
Gorilla Trekking: Rwanda Vs Uganda and Congo Which One Is Better for Gorilla Safaris in Africa?
Since Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo are all wonderful sites for gorilla tours in Africa, you might be confused about which place to visit.
However, below are the guidelines you can look at before choosing a place to go for a gorilla safari in Africa:
- The gorilla trek in Rwanda costs $1500. It’s $800 in Uganda & $400 in the Democratic Republic of Congo
- Congo is the only country in East Africa to track Eastern lowland gorillas
- Both countries offer wonderful accommodations but Rwanda holds the most amazing luxury lodge facilities
- Gorilla treks in Rwanda are the best option for travelers having a short time for safari
- Though Congo offers the best gorilla trekking experience, it can be politically insecure sometimes
- Uganda is the only country to go for gorilla habituation experience
It’s possible to combine safari in the above countries with both Tanzanian and Kenyan wildlife trips.
FAQs About Gorilla Tours in Rwanda
How hard is gorilla trekking in Rwanda?
The gorilla trek in Rwanda can be done by any person with a reasonable body fitness level. However, you should be ready for some challenging hikes under the canopy of a misty montane forest as well as hikes along hilly slopes. There are porters to help you in case you need a push along the gorilla trek.
What Is Rwanda Gorilla Tours Cost?: How Much Does a Gorilla Safari Cost?
The cost of a gorilla tour in Rwanda varies with the duration of your vacation and even accommodation, transportation means, and even activities you plan to do on your safari. Roughly, a gorilla safari in Rwanda (1-day trip) costs $1700. This rate is inclusive of the gorilla permit & transportation.
Is Gorilla Trekking Worth It in Rwanda? Is Gorilla Trekking Worth the Money?
The cost of trekking gorillas in Rwanda is worth it. A huge percentage of the revenue collected as tourists track gorillas is channeled into the conservation of these critically endangered species of primates—the gorillas. Today, the gorilla population is growing on a promising scale!
Therefore, as you track gorillas in Rwanda, you’ll be indirectly contributing to gorilla conservation.
Is It Safe to Go Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda?
Trekking with gorillas in this country is very safe. Travelers on this adventure will be escorted into the jungle by armed park rangers who are knowledgeable about the jungle and gorilla behaviors. Additionally, there’re guidelines to follow while on this adventure, for instance, keeping a 7-meter distance from gorillas.
How many days are there for gorilla trekking in Rwanda?
A relaxed gorilla safari in Rwanda Volcanoes Park National Park should at least take 3 days, but a 1-day gorilla trek in Rwanda is possible.
Trekking gorillas in Rwanda should be a must-do adventure for every traveler coming for Rwanda safari tours. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime game-viewing encounter with mountain gorillas (cool giants of the forest) in their misty natural habitat. Several gorilla trekking Rwanda safaris feature Nyungwe chimpanzee trekking expeditions, golden monkey trekking, game drives in Akagera, cultural encounters, and Kigali city tours.
Travelers on long East African wildlife safaris, for instance in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, can visit Rwanda for gorilla trekking experiences.
Our Rwanda safari expert is waiting for your inquiries about gorilla trekking tours!
