Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla tracking in Parc National des Volcanoes, through the mountainous forest on the slopes of the Virunga range, is a magical experience. Seeing a mountain gorilla in its natural habitat is one of the world's most thrilling wildlife experiences.
Area
Virungas and northern Rwanda
Type
Active
Wildlife & Nature
Grade
Once-in-a-lifetime
Who
Adults
Difficulty
Challenging
Duration
Full Day
Trekking up the steep sides of Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park to stand face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is unforgettable and one of Africa's great wildlife encounters.
You will wake up early in the morning and be driven down from your mountain lodge to the registration area. Please note that this drive can take up to 45 minutes, depending on your lodge. Here, you will be presented with fresh Rwandan coffee and some traditional dancing.
Once you have met your guide and had your full briefing, you will climb back aboard your vehicle, which will drive you to a forest access point as close as possible to your gorilla group. This drive can take around 45 minutes, depending on where your gorilla family has decided to forage that day.
Once you have reached your gorilla family, watch as they lounge in the vegetation, eating bamboo shoots or foraging for stinging nettles with uncannily human movements. Youngsters play chase in a clearing, and babies clamber on their mother's back, providing endless photographic opportunities. The trek to reach the gorillas can take anywhere from an hour to up to five hours, with the duration depending on the time of year and which gorilla group you have been assigned to visit. The lower slopes change from farmland to dense bamboo forest, moving through stinging nettles and lush rainforest vegetation. More often than not, you are not on a set trail, instead following the guide through untouched forest, sometimes clambering over fallen tree trunks, all heightening the sense of adventure and anticipation. You are permitted one precious hour with these fascinating apes, and this time flies by! Soon you'll be returning to your lodge, filled with a lifetime's worth of stories and memories of this incredible experience.
Gorilla permits cost $1500 per person per permit, and specific gorilla groups cannot be pre-booked; rather, the park rangers choose which group you will see on the day. Please chat with your guide about your physical activity level. It is important to note that a more strenuous trek does not mean a better experience with the gorillas.
Your gorilla permit(s) are linked to your passport. Please carry your passport with you for each trek. Upon arrival at park headquarters, your guide will collect your passport(s), secure your permit(s), and assist in choosing a trekking group for your party.
There are strict gorilla tracking rules, which include a maximum number of 8 visitors may visit a group of habituated mountain gorillas in a day. This minimizes behavioural disturbance for the gorillas and the risk of their exposure to human-borne diseases. There is also a minimum age requirement of 15. People are also not allowed to trek with the gorillas if they are sick.
Tours Featuring This Experience
Be inspired by the itineraries below which include this experience and let our travel specialists craft a bespoke luxury holiday for you.
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View TourLimitless Tanzania and Rwanda
Visit the sprawling plains of the Serengeti and come face to face with a curious mountain gorilla, all the while enjoying the full Singita Experience. Singita is never your average safari camp. Well known for impeccable service, exquisite detail and stunning furnishings, this combination is the perfect option for those looking to travel in ultimate luxury.
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View TourUltimate Rwanda and Tanzania
Combine the wildlife thrills of tracking gorillas in Rwanda and watching big game in the Serengeti with the sandy beaches of vibrant Zanzibar. An ideal honeymoon or special celebration trip for true wildlife enthusiasts.
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View TourHighlights of Rwanda
Only in Rwanda can you combine an African safari and experience incredible encounters with two of the world’s great ape species, mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. After a pit stop in the culturally rich Kigali we will take you on an exceptional safari game drive in Akagera before staying in the misty valleys of Volcanoes National Park and watch a gorilla family play amongst the lush green fern, finishing in the lesser known Nyungwe Forest in search of the resident chimpanzee community.
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View TourEpic Africa
This grand tour of Africa takes you to some of the most game rich regions in the south where you can enjoy a range of safari activities, from game drives to walking and boat safaris before you head east to the lush rainforests of Rwanda to find the mountain gorilla.
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View TourHighlights of Rwanda and South Africa
Lose yourself in the very best of magical Rwanda and South Africa’s beautiful Cape Town. Go in search of the mountain gorillas of Rwanda in the well-known Volcanoes National Park and explore the lesser known Nyungwe Forest in search of the resident chimpanzee community before flying onto the buzz of vibrant Cape Town. Here you can indulge in delicious gastronomy, visit the vibrant winelands, climb to the peak of the impressive Table Mountain or visit the resident penguins at boulders beach.
Recommended Hotels Nearby
A selection of luxury hotel options in the area, handpicked and recommended by our travel specialists.
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View AccommodationSingita Kwitonda Lodge
Introducing Singita Kwitonda Lodge, a luxurious Lodge in Rwanda. Combining Singita's high levels of service, attention to detail and their passion for conservation.
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View AccommodationBisate Lodge
Bisate is the newest luxury lodge in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, home to the mountain gorillas. Owned by Wilderness Safaris the lodge offers a new level of luxury and conservation tourism to the country.
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View AccommodationSabyinyo Silverback Lodge
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is situated on the edge of the Parc National des Volcans. This eight room lodge has fabulous views of the Virunga Mountains and is a great base from which to trek into the mountains to hopefully see the mountain gorillas.
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View AccommodationThe Bishop’s House
Bishops House is a luxurious, colonial style boutique hotel with just nine elegant bedrooms, located just a stone’s throw from the wilds of the Volcanoes National Park that is home to Rwanda’s famous mountain gorillas and a myriad of spectacular wildlife.
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View AccommodationMagashi Camp
Wilderness Safaris always deliver the very best safari experiences along side conscientious conservation work. The newest addition to their camp portfolio, Magashi Camp in Akagera National Park is no exception to this.
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View AccommodationOne&Only Gorilla's Nest
One&Only Gorilla's Nest is the new addition to One&Only's impressive luxurious portfolio. This wellness retreat is cushioned in the volcanic range of the Virunga Massive in Rwanda, home to half the population of the worlds mountain gorillas
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View AccommodationVolcanoes Virunga Lodge
Virunga Lodge has ten cottages set in an incredible position with views of the Virunga volcanoes and shimmering lakes Ruhondo and Burera. The lodge is a great base from which to go gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park.
More Experiences in This Area
Discover more things to do in the area and chat to our specialists about crafting these experiences into your tailor-made holiday.
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View ExperienceExperiences and activities in the Virungas
Rwanda's Parc National des Volcans surely must rank at the top of any list for the sheer majesty of its landscapes. It's a land of soaring cloud capped volcanoes, beautiful mountain lakes and warm welcoming people.
Call us on 020 8682 5068 to start planning