Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes national park Rwanda
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda takes place exclusively in Volcanoes National Park, the country’s only protected area offering visitors this once-in-a-lifetime experience. The park is home to 15 habituated mountain gorilla families, with 10 of them available for tourists to track. This unforgettable wildlife encounter has become one of the highlights of travel in Rwanda.
For those planning the adventure, several travel & hotel packages are available—ranging from budget to luxury—ensuring a comfortable stay and seamless access to the park. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast or an eco-tourist, gorilla trekking combined with curated hotel stays creates the perfect blend of nature and comfort.
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Volcanoes National Park is considered one of the oldest protected areas in Africa, having been established in 1925. This iconic park is a treasure trove of biodiversity, home to a rich variety of bird species, plant life, mammals, primates, and butterflies. Most notably, it is one of the few remaining habitats for the endangered Mountain Gorilla, making it a top destination for conservation-focused travel experiences.
In addition to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, other national parks that protect these remarkable primates include Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. For eco-tourists and wildlife lovers, visiting these destinations offers a rare chance to engage in responsible travel while supporting vital conservation efforts.
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Volcanoes national park occupies an area of about 160 kilometers squared, Volcanoes national park is famous due to the rich biodiversity such as the five chained volcanoes out of the nine chained Virunga mountains, endangered mountain gorillas, vegetation zones, golden monkeys, and animal species such as forest elephants, forest buffaloes, giant forest hogs, bushbucks, and over 178 bird species among others. Volcanoes national park alone offers 178 bird species and of which the 13-bird species and 16 sub bird species are endemic to the Virunga Conservation Area and can also be located in the Rwenzori Mountains respectively.
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Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
Gorilla trekking is a prime activity carried out in the Volcanoes national park in Rwanda. Gorilla trekking experience is an exciting tourism activity where travelers who are 15 years of age and above move on foot into the forest searching for mountain gorillas and once they are located travelers are only allowed to spend an hour with these giant apes in their natural environment. The gorilla trekking experience starts with a morning briefing at the parks’ headquarters in Kinigi, the briefing is about the expectations from these mountain gorillas and the rules to follow while tracking mountain gorillas in the jungle. After the morning briefing travelers are grouped into 8 people per group depending on their interests and physical fitness of the traveler, you will be given a park guide and then your trekking begins. Gorilla trekking experience takes approximately 1- 7 hours depending on where these mountain gorillas are located because gorillas move from place to place searching for food.
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Volcanoes national park accommodates over 15 habituated mountain gorilla families of which one mountain gorilla family called Hirwa relocated to Mgahinga Gorilla national park in Uganda by October 2019 leaving Volcanoes national park with only 14 mountain Gorilla families. Gorilla trekking safari in Volcanoes national park allows a maximumly 8 people to trek a habituated mountain gorilla family and once they are located tourists are only allowed to spend an hour with these mountain gorillas observing their behaviors, feeding, playing, and taking photos with these mountain gorillas among others which makes your mountain gorilla trekking experience extraordinary adventure activity memorable in a lifetime.
Rwanda’s cost for a Gorilla Trekking Permit in Volcanoes National Park.
Rwanda’s mountain Gorilla trekking permit for Volcanoes national park costs $1500 per person for all nationalities, Rwanda gorilla trekking permits is the most expensive compared to other three national parks offering mountain gorilla trekking experience example Bwindi impenetrable forest national park of Uganda and Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda offers gorilla trekking permit at $700 for Non-Foreign Residents and $600 for Foreign Residents while Virunga national park in Congo gorilla trekking permit costs $400 per person for Foreign Non-Residents. Mountain gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda is worth a tourists’ money because it allows tourists to spend an hour with these giant apes in their natural environment and the permit is valid for one day just like any of the other mountain gorilla destinations which give tourists the best mountain gorilla trekking experience on your adventure safari in Rwanda.
Accommodation facilities are available in Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes national park is lucky to have numerous lodges offering the best services to tourists visiting Volcanoes national park these facilities range from budget lodges, mid-range lodges, and luxury lodges which include Virunga Lodge, sabyingo silverback lodge, Bisate Lodge, Kinigi guest house, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, mountain gorillas nest lodge, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, and Muhabura Hotel among others. Volcanoes national park lodges offer comfortable shelter, great sceneries of Volcanoes national park, these lodges all prepare both international and local dishes for guests, their other services range from the sauna, free internet, massage, swimming pool, and library among others which enlighten your mountain gorilla trekking experience safari in Rwanda.
Best Time to go for a mountain gorilla trekking safari in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Volcanoes national park can be explored throughout the year however, the best time to visit is in the dry months of June to September and from December to February when there are fewer or no rainfalls in the forest, the grass is shorter which makes it easy for tourists to view mountain gorillas, the trekking trails are dry among others. Although mountain Gorillas can also be visited during the wet months between March, April, and May and from October to November however there is always heavy rainfall in the above months which makes trekking trails difficult due to the wet, slippery, and muddy grounds.
How to access Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Volcanoes national park can be reached by road from Kigali city or Gisenyi town. All nature safaris to Volcanoes national park start from Kigali International Airport. travelers then enjoy their two hours’ drive to Kinigi the park’s headquarters. Volcanoes National Park is close to Kigali City which makes it the most convenient tourist destination for short tours.
Other activities to do in Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes national park doesn’t only offer mountain gorilla trekking safari but offers other activities such as golden monkey tracking, hiking Mount Bisoke, hiking Mount Karisimbi, hiking to Dian Fossey tomb, bird watching safaris, guided nature walks, and local community cultural tours like the visit to the Iby’ iwacu Community Village.
Tourists always prefer to combine their gorilla trekking safari in volcanoes national park with chimpanzee trekking safari in Nyungwe Forest national park and a guided canopy walk on the bridge of Nyungwe forest national park.