Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safaris, Tours & Safari Holidays

Best time to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Gorilla trekking is an outdoor activity that allows tourists to hike through the tropical rainforests to spot mountain gorillas in their natural habitats .

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda occurs in Volcanoes National Park . The activity starts in  the morning at the park headquarters with a briefing by park rangers and then tourists are grouped in  groups of 8 people which are allowed to visit a particular gorilla family per day by Rwanda Development board

Gorilla trekking can take up to  2 to 6 hours as tourists search for gorillas but once a gorilla family is allocated tourists are allowed to spend with it only one hour .

Gorilla trekking depends on many factors like Terrain , physical fitness of an individual and gorilla family available to trek .

About Volcanoes National park

Volcanoes national park is located in n north western Rwanda . The park covers an area of 160 sq km and is surrounded by 5 of the eight Virunga mountains which are mountain Karisimbi , Mountain Bisoke , Mountain Muhabura , mountain Gahinga and mountain Sabyinyo.

Volcanoes National Park is a home to the endangered mountain gorillas and it was gazetted in 1925

Volcanoes National park was a research centre for an American primatologist Dian fossey who worked effortlessly to conserve the mountain gorillas.

The park vegetation includes montane forest , Bamboo forest , Hagenia hypericum forest and Neoboutonia forest among others.

The park also has other different wild animals apart from mountain gorillas which are mammals like golden monkeys , black fronted duikers , African buffalo , spotted hyena and harnesses bush back .

The park also has over 200 bird species which are lagdens bush shrinke , red faced woodland warblers , Rwenzori apalis , Rwenzori batis , Rwenzori double collared sun bird , Rwenzori turaco , scarlet  tufted sun bird .

Gorilla families in Volcanoes National park

Susa A group , Karisimbi group , Amahoro group , umubano group , Sabyinyo group , Agashya group , Kwitonda group , hirwa group , ugenda group , Bwenge group among others.

Best time to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Gorilla trekking can be done through out the year however the best time to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda is during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February . This is because during these months the skies are clear , trails are dry and thus making it easy to trek gorillas and explore the national park .

Cost of gorilla permits in Rwanda

A gorilla permit costs USD 1500 for foreign non residents

USD 500 for citizens of other African countries

USD 200 for Rwanda citizens and East African citizens .

Gorilla permits are secured at the Rwanda Development Board

Accommodation

Singits Kwitonda lodge

One & only gorillas nest

Sabyinyo silverback lodge

Five volcanoes boutique hotel

Ingagi park view lodge

Da vinci gorilla lodge

Le Bambou gorilla lodge

Go lux lodge

Hotel Muhabura

In conclusion , Visiting Rwanda for gorilla trekking in Rwanda in the dry season makes it easier to hike the steep slopes because their dry and not muddy thus offering a wonderful experience.

Gorilla photography in Rwanda

Gorilla Photography is an activity that involves taking pictures of mountain gorillas in their natural habitats

Gorilla photography takes place in Volcanoes National park located in north western part of Rwanda a home of the endangered mountain gorillas .

Gorilla photography is a fascinating experience that enables tourists to capture and keep pictures of creatures that share 98% DNA with human beings .

Rwanda offers the most unique and best gorilla photography experience more than Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo because the Volcanoes National park has bamboo forests and it is easier to come one on one with mountain gorillas .

Volcanoes National park also has no steep landscape like that of Uganda and this is why it easy to hike through the park and take pictures of gorillas .

Tourists interest in Gorilla photography will seek permission and secure their gorilla filming permits through the Rwanda development Board .

The cost of gorilla filming permits is USD 5000 per person per day .

Best time to visit Rwanda for gorilla photography

Gorilla photography is best done in the drier months of the year although it can as well be carried out all year round .

The drier months of the year are June to September and December to February and they are preferred because there is little rainfall making hiking much easier.

How to get to Volcanoes National park

By Road

Tourists from Kigali will travel to the north western part of Rwnafs by car . The journey takes about 2 to 3 hours thus making Volcanoes the easiest National park to access.

By Air

Travellers will land at Kigali international airport and after travel by car to the north western region of Rwanda . The drive takes about 2 to 3 hours to Volcanoes.

What to carry

Insect repellent

Rain jacket

Waterproof Hiking shoes

Camera with no flashlight

Sun glasses

A hat

Gar gloves

Long sleeved clothes

Long trousers

Accommodation

Sabyinyo silverback lodge

Busate lodge

Virungs Volcanoes lodge

Mountain gorillas nest lodge

Davic lodge

Mountain gorillas view lodge

Le bambou gorilla lodge

Faraji hotel

Kinigi lodge

La Palma

By and large , gorilla photography enables tourists to keep memories for the mountain gorillas .