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Rwanda gorilla trekking safaris allow you to visit Rwanda gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda gorilla tours are a memorable adventure and the topmost highlight of most Rwanda safaris offering you an unforgettable thrilling walking with Gorillas in Africa.
These great apes –gorillas in Rwanda are among the most endangered primates on Earth! They are the biggest primates in the world weighing over 200kg. Globally, these amazing gentle giants can only be spotted in East Africa within; Rwanda Volcanoes Park, Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park as well as Virunga National Park in Congo Virunga Mountains.
During your gorilla safari in Rwanda, expect an amazing encounter with these lovely human-like gentle giants of the forest.
On top of your gorilla trip, it’s ideal you also explore other incredible primate safaris in Rwanda. Among these include; tracking chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park as well as tracking golden monkeys.
Other remarkable adventures worth enjoying on your gorilla tour vacation in Rwanda include wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park where you’ll spot Africa’s Big Five safari animals, (Lions, Leopards, cape Buffaloes, Elephants, and Rhinos). Zebras, Giraffes, Hippos, giant Nile Crocodiles, Antelopes, and beautiful birds wait for you.
Still, never end your gorilla Rwanda safaris without undertaking a Kigali city tour, cultural experiences, exploring Lake Kivu, a visit to the genocide memorial centers, and a hike to Dian Fossey tombs. Dian Fossey was a famous American primatologist who laid a foundation for conserving gorillas. Unfortunately, she was found murdered in her cabin in 1985! She was struck twice on the head and face with a machete!
For a rewarding Rwanda safari experience, you can supplement other safari destinations in East Africa such as Kenya, and Tanzania on your gorilla trip. A Rwanda-Uganda gorilla tour is possible! Furthermore, we can organize you gorilla trips in Congo in national parks like Virunga National Park.
For any inquiries about your gorilla tours in Rwanda, email our responsive team now!
Rwanda is one of the few safari destinations offering standard gorilla tours in East Africa.
The gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda, Africa, specifically take place in the following:
Situated in northwestern Rwanda, Rwanda Volcanoes National Park is home to about 12 habituated Mountain gorilla families. A few others are exclusively used for research purposes.
Please note that Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, holds the highest population of the 604 gorillas living in the Virunga Conservation Area. This mountainous conservancy also spans Uganda’s Mgahinga and Congo Virunga National Parks.
Several gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park are amazing to visit! They have several Silverback gorillas, many females and youngsters, which are lovely to watch as they cuddle at the back of their seniors. A dominant Silverback heads the group.
Gorilla groups in Volcanoes National Park to visit include the following:
| 1. Karisimbi 2. Amahoro 3. Sabyinyo 4. Susa 5. Hirwa 6. Igisha 7. Agashya | 8. Kwitonda 9. Umubano 10. Bwenge 11. Ugyenda and 12. Muhoza. |
Apart from trekking with Mountain gorillas, other key activities in Volcanoes National Park include:
All gorilla tours in Volcanoes National Park, Africa, start with a briefing at 7 a.m. at Kinigi (park headquarters) from a park ranger guide.
He will share with you the dos and don’ts to follow during your gorilla adventure, a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in Volcanoes NP. For instance, never touch or feed the endangered Mountain gorillas, etc. Also, among others, the senior ranger will share with you the park’s history.
Next, you’ll be assigned a gorilla family to trek with. You’re free to ask a girl group of your choice.
Afterward, you’ll enter into the wonderful jungle and the real adventure will start! On spotting these massive apes in their natural habitat, you’ll be limited to watching them for one hour.
Their human-like behaviors will fascinate you! Don’t forget a camera.
Yes, there are Mountain gorillas in Rwanda, found in Volcanoes National Park. Worldwide, you can only spot gorillas in a very few countries, all of which are found in East Africa. These include Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & Mgahinga Park, as well as in Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
There are no Eastern lowland gorillas in Rwanda! You can only spot the eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Lowland gorillas in Congo Kahuzi Biega National Park are bigger than mountain gorillas but have less coarse hair.
We can arrange for you to go on Congo gorilla trekking tours to encounter the lowland gorillas. It’s normally supplemented on a gorilla tour in Virunga National Park.
Most gorilla expeditions in Rwanda take about 2–8 hours; however, it’s possible to spot some gorilla families in just a 30 minutes’ walk. The movement of these amazing, cool giants has an impact on this duration.
The above duration of the gorilla trek also applies in national parks, such as Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Virunga National Park of the Congo.
These guidelines are set to protect the endangered mountain gorillas as well as travelers undertaking primate safaris, or “gorilla treks.”
The following are the key guidelines to follow on your gorilla expeditions in Rwanda:
These rules in Rwanda and Uganda are similar to those of Congo Virunga National Park.
How much does it cost to visit and trek the gorillas in Rwanda? If intending to undertake Rwanda primate safaris, note that the Rwanda Development Board charges gorilla permits differently according to the nationality of travelers.
That’s to say:
| Visitor’s Category | Fees (USD) |
| Foreign Nonresident | $1500 |
| Rwandan Foreign Resident | $500 |
| Citizens of East Africa | $200 |
| Rwandan Citizen | $200 |
| Citizens of Africa | $500 |
We advise you to book your permit in advance since it’s limited in number.
Are you wondering: How much does it cost to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda? or How much does it cost to do gorilla trekking in Rwanda? There are several factors that affect the price of gorilla tours in Rwanda. For instance, consider the accommodation class you wish to use, the means of transport, the duration of your vacation, and the size of your group.
However, note that a 1-day gorilla tour in Rwanda costs over $1700 per person. This rate includes fees for the gorilla permit and transportation service. It might include or not include fees for a private guide and accommodation.
Feel free to inquire about your tour operator.
All year round, you can visit Rwandan gorillas! But the dry months of June to late September and December to February are the best times to see gorillas in Rwanda.
Normally, in these dry months, little rainfall is received in Volcanoes National Park; therefore, the trail for the gorilla trek is drier and hiking is easier.
The dry season is always a peak season in Rwanda; lodges tend to be fully booked and national parks are normally crowded.
Trekking Rwanda gorillas in the rainy season is a blessing in disguise. Gorillas hardly move to higher altitudes; thus, finding them becomes easier. Lodges also give out low discounts to guests.
This is also the best time to visit the Congo gorillas.
Over time, many travelers ask themselves: Is Uganda or Rwanda better for gorilla trekking? or is Uganda or Rwanda better to see gorillas? Well, both gorilla treks in Rwanda and Uganda gorilla safaris & tours offer a memorable safari experience but which one is better?
Below, we have tried to bring out Uganda gorilla trekking vs. . Rwanda:
Your tour operator will guide you to the best destination to go to. Rwanda-Uganda gorilla trips are possible!
For an amazing gorilla Rwanda safari, there are some essential items you should have on your holiday vacation and among these are;-
Travelers visiting Rwanda gorillas should put on environmentally friendly clothes, that is to say; khaki, brown and grey. Red and other bright colors irritate gorillas and can make them charge.
Also, you should put on
1. Long trousers and long-sleeved shirts
These protect your skin while tracking gorillas from biting insects and other body parts.
2. Sturdy hiking boots
Such shoes protect your feet while on the tracking trail and also allow you to walk on fairly challenging, slippery slopes.
3. Garden gloves
Protects your hands from touching thorns as you move in the jungle. Also, they keep you warm.
4. A sunhat
This protects you from direct sunlight, especially in dry months. It’s ideal even during wildlife viewing trips.
5. Sunglasses
It helps protect your eyes from tropical sun rays.
For memorable Rwanda gorilla safari trips, we advise you to choose an ideal tour operator.
The following are some of the trustworthy tour operators with whom you should book your mountain gorilla vacation or wildlife viewing tours in Rwanda:
If you intend to undertake a gorilla safari in Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills, we have brought you some of the best packages. For a rewarding experience, we can tailor a Rwanda Uganda tour for you that features wildlife safaris, chimpanzee tracking, a visit to local communities, etc.
It’s possible to top up a gorilla tour in Rwanda on your Kenya safari or Tanzania safari vacation tour! Remember, we don’t have gorillas in Kenya or Tanzania!
Here are the best gorilla holiday safaris in Rwanda:
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park ranges from budget and mid-range to luxury safari lodges. Therefore, it’s an ideal safari destination in East Africa for every traveler.
The following are:
Best Luxury lodges in Volcanoes National Park
Popular mid-range lodges in Volcanoes Park
Top-budget lodges in Rwanda Volcanoes National Park
However, there are also other accommodation options in Akagera NP and other destinations in the East of Africa where you can stay when you explore Rwanda, Uganda, Congo Virunga National Park, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Apart from gorilla tours in Rwanda, there are other amazing safari activities you shouldn’t miss as you explore Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills.
The top activities include:
Undertaking Rwanda wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park on top of your gorilla trek allows you to explore more wild animals of Rwanda. Among these are Lions, Leopards, Buffalos, Elephants, Rhinos, Giraffes, Zebras, Hippos, several Antelopes, etc.
While on your wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park, you’ll enjoy game drives, boat cruises, etc.
Therefore, don’t only think of Tanzania or Kenya wildlife safaris when it comes to the Big Five.
Tracking Chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park on top of your gorilla trek allows you to explore Rwanda’s Chimpanzees. Chimps are intelligent apes that share over 98–99% of DNA similar to that of humans.
This amazing adventure offers you a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with chimpanzees in their lovely natural habitat.
In Uganda, chimp tracking is best done in Kibale National Park.
Golden monkey tracking is among the amazing adventures you shouldn’t miss on your visit in Rwanda. It allows you to meet endangered Golden Monkeys, one of the most beautiful monkeys on Earth.
Other amazing safari activities in Rwanda include:
Yes, every traveler can visit gorillas in Rwanda! However, note that only persons aged 15 years and older are allowed to visit these cool, gentle giants in Rwanda Volcanoes National Park. This is the same case with Virunga National Park in the Congo.
In Uganda, travelers below 15 years old can track gorillas in Bwindi, as its terrain is easier to hike. Therefore, for a rewarding experience, you can undertake Rwanda Uganda safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Undeniably, gorilla adventures in Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills, are worth it! Although expensive compared to other safari activities in Africa, including wildlife safaris and primate safaris such as chimpanzee and golden monkey tracking, this thrill is worth undertaking.
Money collected from travelers who visit these wonderful places is used for gorilla conservation. For instance, in paying the salaries of park rangers who monitor them in the jungle,.
Therefore, as you enjoy gorilla tours in Rwanda, you indirectly contribute to gorilla conservation. This is the same case in Virunga National Park as well as Bwindi.
We can arrange for you a Rwanda-Uganda gorilla trip!
It’s got to get a discounted gorilla permit in Rwanda. If you’re a budget traveler, we advise you to do the Rwanda-Uganda gorilla trip, since a trekking permit to see these great apes in Uganda costs $600 during the low season and $800 in the peak season, while that in Rwanda is $1500.
Therefore, undertaking a Rwanda-Uganda gorilla adventure allows you to save $800 just on a gorilla permit.
Normally, most travelers book their permits in Rwanda through tour operators. However, it is possible to obtain your permit directly from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), which is something that few tourists do.
Anyone with a minimum level of fitness can go on a gorilla trek in Rwanda. But it can be a bit strenuous for some travelers. For a wonderful experience on your gorilla Rwanda safari, it’s ideal for you to do some bodyweight physical exercise to raise your fitness level.
The gorilla hike takes you through the misty rainforest, valleys, and challenging terrain along hillsides, as well as slippery points along the trail.
Though this adventure is fairly challenging, it’s one of the most memorable wildlife experiences in the world.
All gorilla tours in Rwanda are safe! Armed park rangers, who are responsible for your safety, will accompany you on your gorilla expedition. More still, gorilla treks are done on fully habituated gorilla families, which are used to people.
Most travelers undertaking gorilla trips in Rwanda are always very expectant. This is because this adventure offers you a golden opportunity to encounter the biggest primates on Earth in their natural environment.
Upon spotting these incredible giant primates, you’ll be amazed by their sheer size! Their broad chest and large, humanlike hands will amaze you as well.
More importantly, you get to learn about the fascinating behaviors of gorillas.
In summary, gorilla tours in Rwanda offer you an exceptional encounter with the rare and endangered mountain gorillas. This is one of the most thrilling adventures in Africa that most travelers crave.
For a notable gorilla safari experience in Rwanda, you should supplement wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park, chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park, a Kigali city tour, and visiting Dian Fossey Tombs, to mention but a few. Among others, never miss exploring Rwandan genocide memorial centers.
If interested, you can decide to undertake Rwanda and Uganda safari tours.
INQUIRE NOW TO EXPLORE RWANDA TOURS!
Cate
Samuel
Situated in the heart of East Africa, Uganda is a land of staggering contrasts. From the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains to the vast, wildlife-rich plains of the Great Rift Valley, the biodiversity here is unmatched.
As you browse our safaris to Uganda and Africa at large, our dedicated team is here to handle every logistical detail—from securing your gorilla tracking permits and arranging comfortable safari lodge accommodations to providing rugged 4x4 transport. Contact our expert planners today to begin designing your 2026 or 2027 East African adventure.
