Absolute nature adventure on Gorilla trekking Rwanda

Gorilla trekking Rwanda; Nature's story worth a tourist's journey

Gorilla trekking Rwanda engage you into tracking experiences in search for mountain gorillas, a unique endangered primates species in the montane tropical forests of the Virunga massif northwest of Rwanda. While hiking on gorilla trekking, you will also enjoy birdwatching viewing unique bird species, nature walks, butterfly watching, primates, reptiles and amazing sceneries of the volcano mountains and their unique features. Volcanoes national park has more than 15 gorilla families making it an efficient destination for gorilla trekking activities.

Where to go gorilla trekking Rwanda;

Volcanoes national park; Gorilla tracking Rwanda is done at Volcanoes national park in the Virunga volcanoes massif in the Northwestern part of the country. The Volcanoes national park has more than 40% of the world’s remaining population of the mountain gorillas species. Also in the Volcanoes national park, you will be able to engage in birdwatching at more than 200 bird species that are unique residents to the tropical montane forests of the Virunga massif. Volcanoes national park also hosts other primates such as colobus monkeys, golden monkeys and others.

Cost of gorilla trekking Rwanda

Permits for gorilla trekking Rwanda cost $1,500 per person with permits purchased & confirmed in advance rolled out on the first come first serve basis. You can purchase your gorilla permits through our experts trip planners to book your gorilla tracking safari along with other wildlife activities such as Africa’s big 5 game dives, golden monkey tracking, birdwatching, boat cruises, air balloon tours, city tours among others.

Packages for Gorilla trekking Rwanda

1 day safari on gorilla trekking Rwanda

1 day mountain gorilla trekking Rwanda starting from Kigali and requires to find you in the capital. From the capital, you'll set off very early in the morning on a 2.30 hours drive to catch up with the pre-trek briefing at the Volcanoes national park headquarters and get ready to track you assigned gorilla family/ group. To avoid last minute panic, you could arrive on the previous day's evening and have a night at one of the lodge sin the Volcanoes vicinity and finally depart after the gorilla trek. While trekking in the tropical forest, you have scenes of reptiles, birds, butterflies, enjoy photography & numerous volcanic features sceneries.

A female gorilla of the Umubano group in Rwanda’s Parc National des Volcanos, feeding on wild celery

2 day Rwanda gorilla trekking safari

This more relaxing focused 2 day mountain Gorilla tracking Rwanda safari gives you a rest on arrival and a Kigali city tour when time allows and wind up the day with a transfer to the vicinity of Volcanoes national park on the next day. During the trek in the tropical forest, you enjoy sceneries of unique bird species, reptiles, colobus monkeys, butterflies, Volcanic peaks, crater lakes and other features. Along hiking, you also engage in filming & photography. On Kigali city tours, you visit museums, genocide memorial, local markets, coffee shops & local dishes, art & crafts shops etc.

3 days Gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda

3 day gorilla trekking Rwanda trip is an amazing safari experience that offers a great time in the Volcanoes national park/ Virunga massif ecosystem. Day 1 sees you tour Kigali city's museum, coffee shops, genocide memorial site, local markets, art & crafts shops etc. followed with a transfer to the Volcanoes national park vicinity. Day 2 will engage you trekking activities on the tropical forest trail of the Virunga massif for example gorilla trekking, birding, butterfly watching, Batwa culture visit etc. Before departure on day 3, you'll visit Ellen DeGeneres campus of the Dian Fossey fund museum which is also a center for mountain gorillas and environmental conservation efforts.

A rare view of the golden monkey in its natural habitat. His face and hands are visible, with its long fingers and nails clearly in view. Its eyes are a beautiful golden color. The animal is in a bamboo forest eating fresh, green vegetation.

4 days gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda

4 day primate trekking Rwanda safari in the Virunga massif's Volcanoes national park which is home to the endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. On transfer from Kigali on day 1, you also enjoy a city tour at local markets, coffee shops, museums etc. Day 2 sees you track mountain gorilla family assigned to you and a Batwa community & culture visit. On the 3 day you head back in the Virunga massif for golden monkey tracking in the bamboo forests of the mountains. After golden monkey tracking, you'll also visit the Ellen DeGeneres campus of the Dian Fossey Fund before heading back to Kigali. On the last day, you chill at your hotel/ or do some shopping as you wait for your departure flight.

A pride of 10 Lions warming themselves in the early morning hours.

5 days Rwanda gorilla tracking & wildlife safari

A focused 5 day gorilla trekking & Africa's big 5 Rwanda safari is another combined wildlife experience worth taking on Africa travel. Volcanoes national park hosts you for mountain gorilla trekking experience which is has almost 50% of the world's remaining endangered mountain gorilla species. Thereafter, you head to Akagera national park for wilderness game drives with Africa's big 5 (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes) a top highlight in the park. Akagera national park has much more exciting wildlife for example cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, hippos, Nile crocodiles, warthogs, bird species, antelopes, water bucks, hyenas, jackals, hyenas etc. Other activities you could engage in on this safari include; hot air balloon tours, boat cruises, photography & filming, nature walks.

8 days Rwanda- Uganda gorilla trekking safari

A mid range but yet exciting multi national safari that includes Bwindi impenetrable national park gorilla trekking from Rwanda. 8 day Rwanda - Uganda gorilla trekking & wildlife safari starts from Kigali city into the Akagera national park for game drives after where you cross to Uganda's Bwindi for gorilla trekking. From the Bwindi, you continue into Queen Elizabeth N.P which is nestled with numerous wonders for example 52 crater lakes, tree climbing lions, world's highest hippo pods at the Kazinga channel, Equator landmark, mtn. Rwenzori snow caps scenes, the great rift valley etc. Another amazing tour on this itinerary is the walking safari in the lake Mburo N.P.

10 day Rwanda- Uganda wildlife safari

10 day primate trekking & wildlife Rwanda- Uganda tour offers the best complete savanna plains safari. Starting from Rwanda's Akagera game park which is home to Africa's big 5 (lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, rhinos) and later cross into Uganda to prepare for the next day's gorilla trekking Bwindi's Rushaga sector. Queen Elizabeth N.P host for day 4 & 5 for wilderness game drives where you enjoy several sightings. A walking safari some times accompanied with horse back riding tour in lake Mburo N.P is another special activity to spice up the Africa adventure. A visit to the source of the Nile in Jinja is also a special exciting tour in this itinerary.

12 days Rwanda- Uganda gorillas & wildlife safari

12 day gorilla tracking & wildlife Rwanda- Uganda safari experience is a focused combined primate trekking and wildlife experience. The multinational itinerary engages you in primate trekking and wildlife game drives in both countries. After gorilla trekking and game drive sin Queen Elizabeth national park, you will continue to Kibale N.P for chimpanzee tracking, a destination with the world's highest chimp concentration. Following Kibale chimpanzee tracking, you'll head out to visit the world's strongest water falls, the Murchison water falls on the river Nile course. After Murchison, you track and have close encounters of rhinos at Ziwa sanctuary on a walking safari.

15 days Rwanda- Uganda wildlife safari

For slow and long Africa travel lovers find this 2 weeks/ 15 day primate trekking & wildlife Rwanda- Uganda safari top adventure gem. Along gorilla trekking, the itinerary has golden monkey tracking and a double chimpanzee tracking experience in both Rwanda and Uganda. Double chimp trekking is done in Nyungwe forest and Kibale forest national parks. Volcanoes national park hosts you for golden monkey tracking while gorilla trekking is done in Uganda's Bwindi impenetrable national park. Wildlife game drives are done in Akagera, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison falls national parks. This 15 day Rwanda- Uganda itinerary winds up with a source of the Nile river visit that has amazing adventure for example bungee jumping, water rafting, kayaking etc.

Best time for gorilla trekking Rwanda

Gorilla trekking Rwanda is done throughout the year. During the dry seasons from June- August and December- February guarantee easier trekking experiences as the tracks are dry and not slippery. Rainy/ Wet seasons from March- May and September- November will demand additional requirements such as rain coats, sticks/ rods for support during hiking and gumboots/ studded hiking boots that help you to remain comfortable while hiking on the slippery slopes. You will hike Volcanoes national park with expert guides/ rangers and get to near experiences with the mountain gorillas and have a story on your unique lifetime experience. The wet season months are also great bird watching experiences as they are breeding time for resident bird species. Moreover, Rwanda’s tropical forests host palearctic European and north Africa immigrant species from September- April.

How is gorilla trekking Rwanda done?

After gearing up for the tracking experience at Volcanoes national park headquarters, you will be given guidelines on how to behave while in the presence of the mountain gorillas families. Thereafter, you will set off with professional rangers/ guides that will lead you to your assigned gorilla family. You will come across rivers, waterfalls, bird species, butterflies, reptiles, monkeys and much more as you are hiking. On coming in the vicinity of the mountain gorillas, you will be allowed to spend 1 hour with the gorilla family, taking photos, filming and observing unique behavior of these unique gentle giants. Gorilla tracking requires physical fitness to manage the hiking up to 2,500 meters above sea level into the montane tropical forests of the Virunga massif.

Who can go for gorilla trekking Rwanda?

Gorilla trekking Rwanda is allowed for anyone with the age of 15 years and above. Therefore gorilla trekking will include college students, business people, corporates, influencers, photographers, film makers, holiday makers and world travelers. There are also special preparations for older people and disabled people that can be supported by porters to reach out to gorilla families and have the best moment of a travel time.

Is gorilla trekking in Rwanda worth $1,500?

Mountain gorilla trekking Rwanda is expensive but worth it because of the high costs of conservation measures and community support campaigns. Part of the reasons to support the communities is help them settle and engage in other activities without encroaching & focusing on poaching mountain gorillas for economic gains. Through this support, the mountain gorilla population has been seen increasing over a couple of decades. Mountain gorillas are also a unique and special primates species that is only found in the Virunga massif guarantying a rare and privileged travel experience.