Gorilla Trekking is one of the most popular adventure activities to do in Rwanda. This is the most popular adventure that pulls thousands of travelers to Rwanda. Carried out in Parc Nationale des Volcans (PNV) tracking the endangered gorillas is the most memorable activity that you can engage in during your safari to Rwanda.
Parc Nationale des Volcans is located in the Northern part of Rwanda, a 3 hour drive from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. The park is part of The Virunga Mountains that straddle the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo that are home to around 880 mountain gorillas.
Within the Volcanoes National Park, there are ten gorilla groups that are now habituated for gorilla safaris, and each gorilla group is open to only 8 tourists every day.
Look into the eyes of a large silverback gorilla on a Rwanda gorilla trek and he’ll look back with a thinking, intelligent gaze, mindful that you’re another individual. Any apprehensions or nerves you might have had during your trek will melt away the minute you see your gorilla family. Gorilla trekking safaris offer a magical encounter that transcends any other ‘wildlife’ experience we know.
Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda
Today there are approximately 360 mountain gorillas left in the world. These gorillas live in the Virunga National Park, shared-border forests that extend into Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Rwanda hosts about 400 mountain gorillas living in the Volcanoes National Park, one of the three gazetted national parks in the country.
When to go gorilla trekking
Would you like to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park? It is possible to go gorilla trekking all year round either independently or on a pre-planned Rwanda safari crafted by a local tour operator. However you should be aware that the high season is June-September and December-February when most travelers have their holidays and gorilla permits are sold out very first during this season. Gorilla trekking tours always become a bit pricier and more in demand during these times and it is advised to book a tour at least 4 months to the travel dates.
Gorilla trekking permits cost at US$1500 per person and can be booked at the Rwanda Development Board offices or through a local tour operator. The maximum number of visitors per day is 8 people per group and if you are to plan a group tour you should be aware of splitting large groups to track different gorilla families.
