What Is it Like To Trek Mountain Gorillas In Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is generally steeper because of the several highlands that make part of the topography of the Virunga area. Volcanoes National Park is the only home of the few endangered mountain gorillas there is in the world. Five of the known six Virunga volcanoes make part of the topography of Volcanoes national Park.

Most Popular Safaris

2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari through Kigali

4 Day Rwanda gorilla trekking & wildlife viewing safari

5 Day Gorilla Trekking Rwanda

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tracking Safari

4 day gorilla trekking & Dian Fossey tomb visit

4 Day Uganda Safari via Kigali

14 Day Uganda Safari via Kigali

3 Day Akagera National Park Safari

3 Day Bwindi Double trek via Kigali

Every tourist must present a gorilla permit and other related documents for verification. Attending briefing before the gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park is compulsory and this starts early morning from the ranger station at the ORTPN.  Each tourists is allocated a gorilla family to trek and it is at this point that one can hire a porter.

From the starting point of the gorilla trek tourists follow the trail leading where the gorilla family allocated to you was last seen. Along the way, the trails are often soggy and boggy from the regular rains that fall with less sunlight filtering through thick layers of leaves to reduce on the amount precipitation.

Other than the mountain gorillas, during gorilla trekking in Rwanda, you may get the chance to see several other primates, an array of birds, different natural tree species, forest elephants and others. for more information, contact our team

 Requirements For Booking   Gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda

Book the gorilla permit

The booking the gorilla permit is the utmost gorilla safari requirements in Rwanda. The gorilla permits of Rwanda are limited to maximum 8 per gorilla family as a measure used to minimize effects of mass tourism. With this limited number of gorilla permits yet demand is over the top, late bookers may find no availability or vie for the few left.

Currently Rwanda has about 12 gorilla families open to the public including Karisimbi, Amahoro, Umubano, Susa, Hirwa and others.

Reserve accommodation to Use During Rwanda Gorilla Safari

Accommodation to use on during Rwanda gorilla safari are categorized into Luxury, mid-range and basic. There are accommodations within Volcanoes National park and more options in Kigali city which is about 3 hours drive away.

Some accommodations to use during gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda include Sabyinyo silverback Lodge, hotel Muhavura, Lebambou hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Kinigi guest house and others. Cross check for inclusions and exclusions in the cost of accommodation to use during gorilla safari in Rwanda so that you can plan in advance.

Book Transport To use During Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Road transport is the main means used to get to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda but the it is convenient to book a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle preferably a jeep in great condition. The roads are winding and may get messy sometimes.

Inclusions in the transport cost

• Gas/ fuel
• Vehicle hire
• Driver guide fees
• Vehicle maintenance

Keep the body fit before the gorilla trek in Rwanda

Having some level of fitness before the gorilla trekking safari is very important to help you explore Volcanoes National Park which is a highly mountainous dense rain forest. To get around the forest in search of the mountain gorillas, tourists need to bear some level of patience.

At times the mountain gorillas spend time on the slopes or deep in the valleys so you are required to hike to where they are which is quite strenuous.

For those with health issues but wish to do gorilla trekking in Rwanda can use sedan chair or basket stretcher services to get to the mountain gorillas.

Pack the appropriate gorilla trekking gears

When packing to travel for a gorilla trek in Rwanda, ensure to pack the right gears. Some of the items to include as gorilla safari gears include safari boots, camera, rain coat or poncho, warmers like fleece or sweater and more.

Even though there are chances of shopping when on ground in Rwanda, you may not have ample time to find all that is necessary for gorillas trekking. In case your gorilla safari in Rwanda is starting on arrival, it is best to have every thing necessary already with you. You can get in touch with us

What happens on Gorilla Trekking Day in Rwanda

• Tourists report to the ranger station early morning because gorilla trekking in Rwanda starts at 0700 hours. Document verification is the first step where you present the issued gorilla permit and personal identification documents.
• While at the briefing point (ORTPN) you may find other tourists or none depending on the season. Listen to the detailed briefing about gorilla trekking from the ranger guides and ask questions where you need more clarification. At this point hire a porter incase you need help.
• After allocating you the gorilla family to trek with other tourists using a criteria that is not easy to determine. The ranger guide leads the way using the path created by regular tourists and maintained by the park authorities.    
• Along the way, the ground is often wet from the untimely rains that fall around the Virunga area and dense net work of rivers and streams that crisscross the forest. At times these overflow leaving the ground socked and boggy. The walk to find the mountain gorillas may seem tough by you get marinated in the natural aromas of the jungle and stunning views of blossoming flowers.
• Other primates may show up like black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, olive baboon and more. Keen birders have the double opportunity of identifying a variety of bird species as Volcanoes forest hosts over 200 bird species. Botanists have so much to see during gorilla trekking as the jungle has a longlist of naturally thriving plants.
• When you finally locate the mountain gorillas, you may hear them murmur before facing them. Note that for first time gorilla trekkers, at a glance, the mountain gorillas may create a mixture of feelings because of the unbelievable size and outlook of these primates.
• Enjoy every moment with the mountain gorillas, take photos, try to maintain the distance away from them and incase they reach out do not show signs of being frightened. Only one hours is accepted with the mountain gorillas when you locate them. The presence of humans interrupts the day life of the mountain gorillas that have to consume over 40 kilograms of celery.

What is the Return Time From Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda

Return time during gorilla trekking in Rwanda varies as this is influenced by some factors including:

• Food Location
• Weather conditions of the day
• Pace of follow tourists
• Mood of the gorilla family
• Level of fitness and more

From the starting pint of the gorilla trek, the ranger guide leads tourists using the trail leading where the gorilla family was last seen the previous. Sometimes the mountain gorillas may relocate even though they may not move far from here.

Mountain gorillas may relocate because:

• They are seeking new feeding grounds
• In case of an attack from another gorilla family or territorial fights
• Death of a family member
• Dominant silverback is adventurous
• Gorilla family is semi-habituated and more.

No matter the reason for the gorilla family relocating, finding these primates is guaranteed because:

The gorilla family is first habituated before opening them to the public a process that helps these primates to get used to human presence without altering their traits. This is why you can stay with the mountain gorillas for atleast one hour.

Each day a team of early trackers patrols the forest to find where the gorilla families nested and possible direction of their feeding spot. The clues they provide are what ranger guides with trekker use to try finding the gorillas

Tourists are requested to participate in finding the mountain gorillas using the clues they leave behind including fresh foot prints, listen to their murmurs, freshly chewed foliage and more.

Gorillas have bulky bodies that do not favor fast movement yet the topography of Volcanoes forest is mainly jagged. This is how you are able to find the mountain gorillas.

Why Is The Gorilla Trekking Permit For Rwanda Expensive

The cost of the Rwanda gorilla trekking safari is currently $1500 for foreign nonresidents however, this cost is worth this African safari adventure. The time you spend with the mountain gorillas may walk you into history of human evolution and you get to compare the life of humans to these primates.

When you pay for a gorilla permit, you get to enjoy the presence of the few leftover mountain gorillas in the world. The mountain gorillas are still on the list of the highly endangered primates in the world and so more conservation is funds are still required.

By purchasing the gorilla permit, you get to contribute to the sustainable existence of the mountain gorillas. By 1980s, the population of the mountain gorillas was about 250 gorillas but with the conservation efforts applied currently more than 1000 mountain gorillas are living in the world.

Beyond the mountain gorillas, Volcanoes forest is home to other primate species including golden monkeys, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys and more. A multitude of natural trees species and rare medicinal plants are available in the forest for botanists to identify. Keen birders have the double opportunity of spotting a number of birds.

A portion of the money collected from the sell of gorilla permits is shares with the community around Volcanoes forest to support the running of their programs. Community sensitization is still required as one of the measures to help conserve the mountain gorillas and their habitants. Its from these funds that community sensitization is supported.

What is the best time to do Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Any day is gorilla trekking day in Rwanda but the dry season is favorite time. The dry season that is normally December to January and June to September is characterized with better environment to do a gorilla trek in Rwanda.

Even though the Volcanoes forest is a rain forest which receives untimely rains, the dry season is generally a better season to explore the wilderness. More sunrays sip through the thick layers of leaves to the ground minimizing on the amount of humidity in the forest.

The rivers, and streams are generally within normal flow and waters fall have clearer and sparkling water.

The mountain gorillas spend most of there day closer to the ground where there is less competition for food. The ground is cooler than the tree canopy so these huge giants enjoy time closer to the ground. This provides better moments to do the gorilla trek and take photos.

More tourists visit Volcanoes National Park in the dry season so expect company and high competition for the gorilla permits.

The wet season should not scare you from booking the Rwanda gorillas trek that is march To May and November. More rain falls around Virunga areas in this season but seeing the mountain gorillas in this season is guaranteed.

Competition for the mountain gorillas is less with better chances of finding last minute permits. Keen birder have better chances of spotting more birds in Volcanoes forest at the start of the wet season.

What is the age limit for gorilla trekking in Rwanda

15 years and beyond is the age limit for doing gorilla safaris in Rwanda. The nature of the topography of Volcanoes forest is quite steep which necessitates hiking and children of this age may be in position to maneuver terrain challenges.

At a glance, the mountain gorillas may stimulate your adrenaline but every tourist is requested to stay calm. Children below this age may be incapable of withstanding such a look and react in a manner that may look suspicious to the gorillas.

Finding the mountain gorillas may take sometime which children below 15 years may be incapable of withstanding the long hours of the search.

What are the guidelines for gorilla trek safari in Rwanda

• No feeding the mountain gorillas when you locate them
• Dumping garbage is forbidden as it alters the nature of the environment where these primates thrive.
• Only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas
• Keep a distance of 8 meters away from the mountain gorillas when you locate them.
• No staring in the eyes of the mountain gorillas.
• In case you catch a communicable infection, volunteer to stay behind because the mountain gorillas are highly susceptible to human infections.

For more information, you can contact our team