Rwanda Safaris | Wildlife & Gorilla Tours
Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tours | Rwanda Gorilla safaris take you to discover the gentle giants in Volcanoes National Park. The park is located in the southwestern part of Rwanda.
Apart from gorilla tours, the park offers other awesome safari activities, including golden monkey trekking , Cultural tours at Iby’iwacu Village, hiking the Virunga mountains (Bisoke & Karisimbi), visiting the Twin lakes , nature walks and musanze caves exploration.
Rwanda Gorilla Safaris can be combined with other wildlife safaris in Uganda , Kenya and Tanzania, including 2-day Uganda gorilla trekking from kigali , 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla safari in Volcanoes, to mention but a few.
Whether you’re looking for Budget gorilla tours or Luxury Rwanda Gorilla Safaris, we got you covered. Please feel free to contact us for a complimentary quote.
This article includes where to trek gorillas in Rwanda, the gorilla trekking permit, reasons for trekking gorillas in Rwanda, requirements for the gorilla trekking safari and where to stay during the Rwanda gorilla trekking safari.
Participating in a Gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda is such a fascinating and breathtaking excursion that leaves several travelers, especially primate lovers, begging for more.
Where can one trek gorillas in Rwanda?
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda takes place exclusively in Volcanoes National Park, which is strategically located within the Virunga Massif and shared by three national parks: Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in the DRC, and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda.
Volcanoes national park harbors at least 12 habituated mountain gorilla families available for trekking at any given period of time. This implies that at least 96 gorilla trekking permits are issued out on a daily basis to allow a maximum number of 8 persons per habituated gorilla family.
How much is a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda?
Gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda cost $1500 per person, allowing trekkers to spend just one hour in the presence of endangered mountain gorillas, observing their different manners while in their natural habitats.
Rwanda offers the most expensive gorilla trekking permit in east Africa as compared to other gorilla trekking destinations where the mountain gorillas are found. For instance, a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda goes for $800 per person, allowing travelers to trek gorillas in Mgahinga gorilla national park and Bwindi Impenetrable national park both in the southwestern part of Uganda.
A gorilla trekking permit in DRC is as low as $400 during high season and $200 during low season, allowing travelers to take part in gorilla trekking within Virunga National park. However, travelers have a lot of reasons to trek gorillas in Rwanda even when their permits are expensive.
Reasons for trekking gorillas in Rwanda
Rwanda has become one of the most visited countries for gorilla trekking tours and safaris due to several reasons, as included in this article.
- Easy trails: The terrain in volcanoes national park is easy and passable, making it easy for gorilla trekkers in Rwanda to penetrate through while searching for mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. This makes Volcanoes national park the best park for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and it’s still the best as compared to trekking similar gorillas in Uganda within Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and in Virunga National park. The trails in volcanoes national park are easy and most of the gorilla families are close to the lodge, taking few hours to reach. This has made it easy for different people, even those who are less fit, to be in a position to enjoy similar benefits of taking part in trekking mighty gorillas at ease.
- Availability of habituated families: Volcanoes national park in Rwanda is still the best place to engage in gorilla trekking due to the fact that the park has 12 habituated gorilla families available for trekking on a daily basis. These families include the Susa Family, Sabyinyo, Amahoro, Agashya Family, Umubano family, Hirwa family, Kwitonda family, Karisimbi family, Ugenda family, Bwenge family, and Titus Family.
- Easy access: Trekking mountain gorillas in Rwanda’s volcanoes national park enables travelers to enjoy other activities in other countries, such as Uganda, DRC, Kenya, and Tanzania, and then connect to Rwanda to enjoy the breathtaking and adventurous activity of spending a full hour in the presence of mountain gorillas. Also, it is very easy to have a one-day gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, which is Impossible with Uganda and DRC. This is because the distance from Kigali to the volcanoes national park is short as compared to the distance from Goma to Virunga national park, and from Kampala to Bwindi impenetrable national park or Mgahinga national park to engage in Gorilla trekking tours and safaris.
- Security: trekking mountain gorillas in Rwanda is very safe and all travelers on a gorilla trekking safari in Volcanoes national park are always protected by armed rangers, and even the police patrol around the park at all times. Rwanda last faced instabilities in 1994 when they experienced a bloody genocide but as of now, it is the safest country one could visit for a fascinating gorilla trekking tour and safari.
Requirements for gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Like any other gorilla trekking tours and safaris in Africa, there are particular requirements needed by trekkers in order to enjoy the one hour spent with the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills. These include
A Rwanda gorilla trekking permit: A gorilla trekking permit is an authorized document that is issued out by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to act as a gate pass to get close to the endangered mountain gorillas. A Rwandan gorilla trekking permit costs $1500 per person and it’s valid for one day. The permit is given to a person aged 15 years and above, which is the minimum age limit for gorilla trekking in Rwanda, Uganda & DRC. Below 15 years, you will not be allowed to obtain a Rwandan Gorilla trekking permit and take part in Gorilla trekking.
A backpack: A backpack is also a crucial requirement for almost every traveler on a gorilla trekking safari. A gorilla trekker’s backpack includes a lunchbox, enough drinking water, insect repellent, some snacks, and other small items that are needed for trekking gorillas in Rwanda.
A good gorilla trekking attire: To enjoy gorilla trekking in Rwanda, one needs to obtain the best gorilla trekking attire, which includes waterproof hiking boots, long clothing (both heavy and light), a rain jacket, garden gloves, sunglasses, and a scarf, among other comfortable items suitable for a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda.
Hire a porter before setting off to trek gorillas: Porters are very important in gorilla trekking safaris, as they help in carrying the backpack and offer a push and pull during the hard trails.
A hiking stick is always provided at the head office during meetings. A hiking stick helps trekkers to stay firm during slippery trails and slopes.
Where can one stay during the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda?
Rwanda has the best lodges with the best amenities situated in close vicinity to Volcanoes national park thus travelers on a gorilla trekking tour and safari in Rwanda have a sure deal of staying at some of the best lodges around volcanoes national park home to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys.
These lodges offer budget, midrange and luxury facilities depending on the traveler’s choice of budget and they include Gorillas Nest Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Virunga Safari Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Kinigi Guest House, Hotel La Palme, Hotel Muhabura, and Gorillas Volcanoes Hotel, among others.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda still remains the most Luxurious gorilla trekking safari amongst all gorilla safaris in Africa and thus attracts the most luxurious travelers to spend a full hour in the presence of the endangered mountain gorillas in the wild.
Check out our best Rwanda gorilla trekking tours . Rwanda gorilla trekking safaris & tours can easily be combined with other different activities such as Golden monkey trekking, cultural tours, and Kigali city tours, among others.
