What happens if I don’t see gorillas on the day of trekking in Rwanda?

What happens if I don’t see gorillas on the day of trekking in Rwanda? The chances of seeing Mountain gorillas in Rwanda are 99% and this means that one can't trek and not see gorillas in the country. The exercise is carried out in Volcanoes National Park located in northeastern Rwanda in the Virunga region. Volcanoes National Park is home to over 600 Mountain gorillas, and 12 habituated gorilla families open for tracking, with more families still undergoing habituation. Gorilla trekking is the main tourist activity in Rwanda and the most organized and cared for by the government of Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park is a 2 to 3 hour’s drive from Kigali and driving is the best way of getting to the national park for gorilla trekking. Rwanda is known to be a luxurious destination for gorilla trekking receiving thousands of tourists per year to trek gorillas in their natural habitat. Although it is a luxury destination, Rwanda accommodates all types of tourists travelling on different types of budgets and all you have to do is book and plan early.

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What happens if I don’t see gorillas?

This is a main question and concern for tourists traveling to Rwanda for gorilla trekking and although this is rare and has never been heard of, in case tourists fail to see gorillas in Rwanda and they are already in the forest, the Rwanda Development Board can improvise and provide an extra day for you to see the gorillas. It is, however, impossible to miss the gorillas because there is a 99% chance of seeing gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. In cases where you hike and fail to see the mountain gorillas due to physical fitness inabilities, a closer and more accessible habituated gorilla family will be available for you to trek. This is why tourists are advised to speak up during the briefing in case they have any inabilities when it comes to fitness before the allocation of the gorilla families to be trekked.

Gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda

Tracking gorillas in Rwanda starts with a briefing about what to expect when one goes for a trek and the rules to follow when trekking gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Groups of 8 are also given a habituated gorilla family to trek during the briefing and after the briefing, the trek through Volcanoes National Park begins. Note that no trekking will be carried out if there are experienced guides and trackers. As trekkers attend the briefing, trackers are sent out early in the morning to find out the location of the gorillas, and these are always in close contact with guides to ease the trekking exercise.

Trekking gorillas in Rwanda can take 1 to 6 hours depending on several factors like the location of the gorilla family you have been assigned, physical fitness and the weather conditions of the day. After finding the habituated gorilla family assigned, tourists have an hour with the gorillas studying their behaviours and also learning more about them in their natural habitat.

After trekking gorillas and spending an hour with them, you trek back to the park headquarters to prepare for other safari activities or rest. During your trek, you will also be able to see other wildlife species including golden monkeys, baboons, red-tailed monkeys and over 200 bird species. Contact us for more information.

How to get the gorilla trekking permit

Purchasing and booking gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda has been made easy and they can easily be bought online through a trusted tour operator like Encounter safaris. First, you need to get in touch with us with personal details, including your full name, a copy of your passport and the trek dates. We then search to see if the dates chosen for trekking are available, and after confirming their availability, we get back to you. This is when you are to make payments for the gorilla permits and make sure that the payments are made on a company account and not personal. When we confirm that the payment has been made, we proceed and purchase the permit on your behalf. We shall then send a copy of the purchased permit for record keeping purposes. Note that permits have to be purchased in advance for proper planning.

Cost of the Rwanda gorilla trek permit

A gorilla permit is a document that is issued by the Rwanda Development Board on behalf of the Rwanda government to tourists who are 15 years and above to be able to trek gorillas in Rwanda. The cost of the gorilla permit as of 2024 is $1500 for foreign non-residents, $500 for African citizens, $500 for foreign residents and $250 for East African residents

Rwanda has the most expensive gorilla trekking permit as compared to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and this is because it has a lot of inclusion, which include park entrance fees, security during the trek, a certificate of participation, part of the cost is used for conservation of the gorillas and their natural habitat. Purchasing a gorilla permit and participating in the exercise is a way of conserving the natural habitat of the gorillas and other wildlife species.

The cost of gorilla trekking in Rwanda

The cost of gorilla trekking in Rwanda depends on several factors, and these include the season of travel, size of the group, cost of the trek permit, personal purchases and other safari activities. The size of the travel group determines whether you are going to have a budget-friendly or luxury trip in a way that travelling in a group ensures that the costs are shared as compared to when travelling solo.

Season of travel also affects the cost of the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda. The peak season from June to September is an expensive time to travel, with service providers increasing their prices because of the large crowds of tourists during this period, and the low/rainy season is a better season to travel if you are on a budget because the price on most services especially accommodation is on the low.

The presence of other activities that are on the itinerary will also determine the cost of the gorilla tracking safari. Many of the extra activities are paid for independently consequently increasing the cost of the safari as compared to when you have few extra activities.

Personal purchases like the packing list, travel insurance and purchase of souvenirs increase the cost of the safari.

Accommodation also plays a big part when it comes to the cost of the gorilla safari. Accommodation is in the form of budget, mid-range and luxury accommodation facilities and the choice that you make will determine whether you have a luxury or a budget-friendly gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda.

Gorilla trekking regulations in Rwanda

Mountain gorillas are endangered species that need to be protected at all times and this is why there are rules that are in place to govern gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. The Rwanda Development Board has ensured that all the rules and regulations are followed and these include the following:

• The age limit for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is 15 years and anyone below 15 cannot trek gorillas
• Trekkers have only an hour with the gorillas after locating them
• A maximum of 8 people is allowed to trek a single gorilla family per day to avoid large crowds and over stimulating the Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
• You need to keep a distance of 7 to 20 meters from the gorillas after finding them
• Noise making is prohibited and if you need to communicate, do so in low tones and whispers
• Sick people especially those with communicable diseases like cough and flu are prohibited from trekking gorillas in Rwanda
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing especially when with the gorillas
• Turn off the flashlight when taking photos of the gorillas. Mountain gorillas are not used to the camera flash which might scare them away if there is one reason why it should be turned off.
• Touching gorillas has been prohibited
• Feeding is not allowed. Mountain gorillas are wild animals even after habituation and have to fend for themselves that is why feeding is limited and it is also a way of avoiding poison to the already endangered Mountain gorillas.
• You will only be allowed to eat and drink if you are 300 meters away from the gorillas
• When there is a need to use the toilet, dig a hole away from the gorillas and the rest of the group to do your business and cover the hole to avoid infecting the gorillas.

What to bring for your gorilla safari to Rwanda

For a successful gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, you need to pack the right essentials for your safari and below is a list of those items that we believe you need.

• Neutral coloured clothes including lightweight trousers and long-sleeved shirts
• Hike boots that are knee-length and waterproof. They should also be comfortable and well-fitting
• Garden gloves: trekking through the forest is not for the fainthearted but with the garden gloves, you have the best chance of protecting your hands from scratches and blisters while holding onto trees and branches.
• Socks: socks keep you warm during the cold weather and to avoid insects from crawling up your pants during the trek, you have to tuck your trousers into the socks.
• Waterproof rain jacket: Rain in Rwanda is received all year round even during the dry season but with a waterproof jacket, you have a chance to continue with your trek through the rain without getting wet.
• Sweaters and ponchos: the weather in Volcanoes National Park is unpredictable and can tend to be cold, especially during the night and morning hours therefore you need to carry some warm gear to keep warm like sweaters and ponchos.
• Waterproof backpack: this is used to carry all the items that are needed for the day-to-day items including insect repellent, sunscreen, water bottles, and other personal items.
• Gaiters: these keep your trousers safe from the dust and mud and if possible, get the adjustable type for better use.
• A camera and a pair of binoculars. A camera brought for a safari should come with extra memory cards, lenses and batteries.
• Bottled drinking water and snacks: snacks and bottled water are a must because you do not know how long you are going to be trekking and we advise that you carry a refillable water bottle because it is better.
• Insect repellent: Volcanoes National Park has different types of bugs that are always there during the dry and wet season like mosquitoes and tsetse flies and any insect repellent you prefer to use will work. Ensure that you carry the insect repellent at all times in case there is a need to reapply.
• Sunscreen: this protects your skin from the sun and it’s better to buy sunscreen that you have used before.
• Sunglasses and a sun hat: to be used to avoid the sun but note that you are not allowed to wear sunglasses when with the gorillas.

When to go for gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is carried out all year round however the best time is during the dry season from June to October. The dry months have thinned out vegetation which can make it better to trek through the already thick forests in Volcanoes National Park and to see Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. It is easy to trek through the forest with dry and clear trek routes and you also avoid getting wet during the trek in the drier months.

The rainy season in Rwanda is from October to November and March to May and the pros about visiting during this period are that there is a discount when it comes to accommodation reducing the cost of the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda.

Get in touch with us to plan your gorilla trekking safari to Rwanda by contacting one of our travel guides to provide all the information you need about gorilla tracking.