The Gorilla Encounter in Rwanda
Gorilla encounter in Rwanda is a life-changing activity that you can experience while in Volcanoes National Park. Witnessing the Rwanda gorillas in their natural habitat is an incredible privilege and one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters you’ll ever experience.
Just over half of the world’s 1,054 remaining mountain gorillas live in the Virunga Mountains of central Africa – Volcano National Park in northwest Rwanda about 105 kilometers from Kigali and is a two-hour drive from the airport. Book Now
There are currently 12 habituated mountain gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park. Trekking groups are allocated a specific gorilla family to track and the number of people in each group is strictly limited to 8, which means that only 96 permits are available per day.
What to expect on a gorilla encounter in Rwanda.
Your gorilla trekking adventure starts the early morning after a briefing from one of the park rangers. You’ll begin your search for a gorilla family around 8:30 am, and are required to return to the campground by mid-day or evening to the hard groups. You don’t have to be super-fit, however, it does help if you have a reasonable level of fitness, if only to enhance your overall enjoyment of the experience.
The trek is fairly challenging and you may find it tough as you pass through the dense undergrowth. The high altitude and the steep, slippery trails can make the trek exhausting, but it’s definitely worth the effort to spend time with mountain gorillas in the wild. When you meet the gorillas you’ll have the chance to spend one hour quietly observing them in their natural habitat. However, this never feels long enough and we recommend that you consider doing two treks. No two gorilla experiences are ever the same and a second trek offers the opportunity to track a different family in a different area of the park.
Photography in the midst of gorillas.
Taking photographs of gorillas is challenging, due to the light conditions and the fact that the distance between you and the gorillas is unpredictable.
Your time with them is limited, therefore you should ensure that you’re as prepared as possible to get the best photos. A 70-200mm lens and 2.8 are ideal the light in the forest can be very poor at times.
Flash photography is not allowed so make sure that you disable the flash on your camera or mobile phone before you get to your group of gorillas.
Gorilla Permits in Rwanda.
Visiting mountain gorillas in Rwanda are strictly managed to protect these critically endangered animals in their natural habitat and increase their chance of survival.
A permit is required to trek with gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. As there are only 12 habituated gorilla families available to see, and only 8 people who can visit each gorilla family each day, the gorilla permits are strictly limited to 96 per day.
Rwanda gorilla permits sell out months in advance, so you’ll need to obtain your permit early to secure your preferred dates, especially during the busy months-dry season.
On the actual day of the trek, you will be allocated a gorilla family to track, based on your age, fitness level, and a number of pre-booked treks. Some gorilla families in Rwanda are harder to track and require a high level of fitness, while other families require shorter trekking times.
Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Prices.
The permits currently cost US$1500 per person. The price includes park entrance, expert guides and trackers, the security of a tourism police force in the parks, and one precious hour of time with the gorillas. It is your time to be part of the gorilla encounter in Rwanda.
Tipping on a gorilla trek.
Tipping your guides and trackers on your gorilla trek is optional, but not necessary, and is entirely at the discretion of the traveler.
Age Restrictions for Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda.
Due to safety reasons, you must be at least 15 years of age to track gorillas in Rwanda.
Where to stay in Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes National Park is one of the few popular up-market destinations in Africa offering options for unwinding and comfort during your visit. Some of the up-market places to stay during your visit are Virunga Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Gorilla’s Nest, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Kwitonda Lodge, The Bishops House, and Tiloreza Eco-Lodge among others.
Best time to visit Rwanda
You can track gorillas in Rwanda throughout the year. The best time tends to be during the dry period from June to September as the jungle is less muddy and the paths are less slippery, although you should bear in mind that it can rain any time of year.
The wettest months are April and May, bringing tricky muddy trails, however, you can still track gorillas at this time. The gorillas often climb higher up the mountain during the dry season and descend during the rains.
This is also an excellent time for tracking chimpanzees in Nyungwe as the fruit ripens and this brings the chimps down to the lower reaches of the forest canopy.
