Tracking the Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda

Gorilla trekking is a unique once-in-a-lifetime experience that you should not miss while in Rwanda. This is one of the best rated adventure activities on TripAdvisor and surprisingly, it can be done safely in Rwanda.

On a Rwanda tour you should not miss visiting the Volcanoes National Park, the oldest park in Africa! The park’s history  dates back to the creation of the Albert National Park that was created by the Belgians in 1925.  This is one of the only four national parks protecting the mountain gorillas.

It is estimated that there are as few as only 900 mountain gorillas left globally. The mountain gorillas are listed as endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).  Did you know that there are only three countries where you can see these endangered species? These great apes are only found in the countries of Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda.

The Volcanoes National Park is part of the Virunga Region, the montane forests of Central Africa protecting the mountain gorillas. The region has two other parks that include Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Mgahinga National Park in Uganda.

For the past two decades, gorilla tourism has been promoted in these countries most especially Uganda and Rwanda. Today there are several habituated gorilla families that can be visited in these countries. However based on easiness, Volcanoes National Park is the best place to track the mountain gorillas in Africa. It is also safe to say that this very special experience is very rewarding and interesting – giving you up to 1 hour to watch and photograph these great apes.

Planning a Gorilla Trek in Rwanda

There are limited gorilla permits available for gorilla tracking in Rwanda. Today there are ten habituated gorilla groups that can be visited by tourists. Each group is allocated only 8 tourists and the number is limited based on guidelines that were set while planning gorilla tourism as a sustainable tourism activity.

Given that there are less permits available, it is advisable to book a gorilla permit early enough most especially if you are looking to gorilla watching in the peak months of June – September and December – February! Gorilla permits can be booked at the ORTPN offices in Kigali, at the Volcanoes National Park headquarters or through a local tour operator based in Rwanda.

Costs for gorilla permits:

• USD $1500 per person for non-nationals

The fees for gorilla permits are inclusive of park entry fees.

Please note that gorilla trekking requires good physical fitness, stamina and a yellow fever certificate. The trek encompasses visiting some of the most beautiful volcanoes, amongst the Virunga mountains, in the world. Four days and 3 nights, all you need for this fulfilling experience (a good add on to a traditional Safari trip to Tanzania).