Gorilla trekking in Rwanda in 2024
In 2024, gorilla trekking will be the most popular tourist activity in Rwanda. To go gorilla trekking, you have to walk through the tropical jungle in search of mountain gorillas and spend an hour with them in their native environment. One place in Rwanda where you can go gorilla hiking is Volcanoes National Park, which is in the northwest, in the village of Musanze. Ten familiar gorilla families live in the national park. You can go hiking with Susa, Amahoro, Agashya, Sabinyo, Umubano, Hirwa, Kwitonda, Karisimbi, Bwenge, and Muhoza every day. For gorilla hiking, you can also visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Beiga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Trekking with gorillas in Rwanda
At 7:00 a.m., gorilla walking in Volcanoes National Park starts with a lesson at Kinigi park offices about the rules, regulations, and what to expect. As soon as the training is over, you will be split into eight-person groups and given a familiar gorilla family to walk with along with an experienced park guide. It takes between 2 and 6 hours to track mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, based on where they are. This is because they like to move around search for food. During the trek, you will have the chance to see other animals. Once you find the gorillas, you will be able to spend an hour with them in their natural habitat. This is your chance to learn about their habits and behaviors, as well as to watch them eat, breastfeed, play, rest, groom their young, and take pictures and videos to show your family back home.
The best time to go on a walk with gorillas in Rwanda in 2024
You can go gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, at any time of the year, but the best time is during the dry season, which is June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. This is when the park gets the least amount of rain, so the gorilla trekking trails are dry and easy to walk on.
You can also go gorilla hiking in Rwanda during the rainy seasons, from March to May and October to November. This is because some camps offer deals during these times to attract tourists, which is good for people on a budget.
How much it costs to go on a gorilla trek in Rwanda in 2024
Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda charges 1,500 USD per person for foreigners who don’t live in the country, 500 USD per person for foreigners who do live in Rwanda, 500 USD per person for African citizens or foreigners who live in Africa, and 200 USD per person for Rwandan and East African citizens.
How to get Rwandan licenses to go on a gorilla trek
You can book gorilla climbing permits in Volcanoes National Park directly through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). To do this, you will need to email or call the park’s offices in Kigali.5 Days Primates Safari in Congo and Rwanda (Virunga Gorilla and Volcanoes Golden Monkey Trekking Safari)
You can also book gorilla hiking permits in Volcanoes National Park through Maseke Adventure Co.Ltd, a reputable tour company in Kampala, Uganda. Just email or WhatsApp our tour experts with the date, month, and year you want to see the mountain gorillas. Once you reach us, we’ll check with RDB to see if the date you want is open for a gorilla pass. If it is, you will be asked to make a deposit for the permit. We will be able to buy the gorilla hiking pass for you and send you a scanned copy of the bill as proof once the payment is received.
But to gorilla hiking in Volcanoes National Park, you need to book your permit three to six months before your trip. This is because the permits are competitive and sell out quickly, especially from June to September and from December to February, which are the busiest months.
What to bring on a Rwandan gorilla hiking trip
When you go on a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, you should bring a lot of things with you. These include hiking shoes, a long-sleeved shirt and pants, a waterproof rain jacket, bug spray, energy snacks and water, a warm sweater, garden gloves, a hat and sunglasses, face masks, long socks, a camera and extra batteries, a walking stick, a backpack, and more.
A guide to where to stay in Rwanda while on a gorilla walking tour
Volcanoes National Park has a lot of different places to stay that you can choose from during your gorilla walking trip. There are cheap, moderate, and high-end places to stay, such as the Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Kataza House, Gorillas Nest Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Virunga Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Wilderness Sabyinyo, Fravan Eco Resort, Eagle View Lodge, My Hill Eco Lodge, Hotel Muhabura, Kinigi Guesthouse, Villa Gorilla, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Ingagi Park View Lodge, Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge, and Virunga Inn Resort and Spa, among others.
