Rwanda Gorilla Trekking

Are you interested in scheduling a gorilla trek in Rwanda? Monumental Expeditions and Safaris has put together a well-researched guide to gorilla trekking in Rwanda, which is one of the best resources for organizing and scheduling a successful gorilla trek. We are happy to help you plan your safari in Africa. One of the once-in-a-lifetime activities that many tourists choose to partake in while in Africa is gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

Seeing gorillas in their native habitat in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo is one of the best wildlife experiences any traveler can have on a safari, despite the high costs, time commitment, and pain involved in making the reservation and hiking through the forest to look for these endangered creatures. Gorilla trekking is a strenuous sport that necessitates physical fitness at the time of the journey. It entails hiking or walking through the forest, sometimes through dense vegetation, crossing rivers, and through swamps in search of gorillas.

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda offers you the chance to spend an hour in Volcanoes National Park with and observe gorillas in their natural environment. The Gorilla Habituation experience, which offers four hours of interactions with the gorillas, is an option for tourists who would like to spend more time with the gorillas in their natural environment.

In Africa, where can one go gorilla trekking?

The only remaining mountain gorillas may be found in four national parks in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where gorilla trekking is practiced. These include Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Congo’s Virunga National Park, and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. You may also view the Lowland gorillas in Congo, which are located in Kahuzi Beiga National Park.

A gorilla permit is necessary in order to access any of the aforementioned national parks for gorilla trekking. As soon as you have your gorilla trekking dates set, we advise you to begin making reservations right away because permits and services fill up quickly, especially if you want to go during the busiest months of June through September. It is always preferable to make reservations at least five months before your trip. Reservations for gorilla trekking at the aforementioned parks can be made directly or via a reputable tour operator.

Where in Rwanda Can You Go Gorilla Trekking?

In Rwanda, gorilla trekking is limited to Volcanoes National Park. The endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, as well as numerous bird species, monkeys, trees, forest hogs, bushbucks, and other primates, can be found in Volcanoes National Park, one of the oldest parks in Africa and one of the largest in Rwanda and East Africa. The park also boasts a distinctive culture. The Virunga Conservation Area includes Volcanoes National Park, which is home to five extinct volcanoes: Mount Muhabura, Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Gahinga, Mount Karisimbi, and Mount Bisoke.

The Rwandan government gazetted the park in order to safeguard the mountain gorillas, who were in danger of going extinct due to poaching, primates, and other forest inhabitants. Since these primates have historically crossed the tropical forest that borders the Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, conservation efforts by these three nations to save the endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys have been strengthened.

Favorite activities in Volcanoes National Park

Tracking gorillas in Volcanoes National Park

Do you long to get a close-up look at the mountain gorillas in the wild? Gorilla trekking is a must-do activity in Volcanoes National Park, where the gorillas are a well-known attraction. Seeing habituated endangered mountain gorillas in their native habitat and observing how they eat, move, sleep, and coexist peacefully is known as gorilla trekking.

Only eight people are permitted to trek with each of the more than ten habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park each day. With the help of trackers, guides, and park officials, your chances of spotting the mountain gorillas are 99%. Every day at 7:00 am, gorilla trekking begins in Kinigi with a briefing on rules to follow. Although the gorillas share 99% of their DNA with humans, they are still considered wild, thus it is advised that you abide by the dos and don’ts given by the guides. Depending on the gorillas’ movements and whereabouts in the jungle, the gorilla journey may take anywhere from thirty minutes to several hours.

A Rwanda gorilla permit for a specific day must be obtained from the Rwanda Development Board in order to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. All citizens must pay USD 1500 for a gorilla permit, which grants you one hour to see and take pictures of the gorillas. A gorilla trek to Volcanoes National Park is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cross something off your bucket list. Monumental Expeditions and Safaris can assist you in planning an unforgettable and reasonably priced gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda.

tracking of golden monkeys

Tracking golden monkeys is one of the activities available in Volcanoes National Park. Seeing the uncommon and stunning golden monkeys in their native habitat is known as “golden monkey tracking.” Two habituated golden monkey communities in Volcanoes National Park are open for daily trekking; each community has roughly 80 members, and there is no cap on the number of tourists. To see the endangered golden monkeys, you must purchase a trekking permission from the Rwanda Development Board, which costs USD 100 for all citizens. The park wardens give you a briefing on dos and don’ts at the park headquarters at 7:00 am. The park guides and rangers then lead you into the forest to locate the golden monkeys, where you can walk for 30 minutes to hours, depending on their whereabouts and movements. Once you locate them, you are only permitted to see and spend an hour with them before you return.

Visit and Trek to the Tomb of Dian Fossey

One of the most well-known things tourists do in Volcanoes National Park is take a tour of the Dain Fossey tomb. The hike from Karisoke Research Camp to the tomb takes an hour. The Dian Fossey Memorial Hike is named after the well-known American primatologist and zoologist Dian Fossey, who dedicated her life to preserving the endangered gorillas and raising awareness of their plight in the mountains. The suspected poachers killed her, and a memorial was constructed and she was buried in the park. She is also well-known for her role in the movie “Gorillas in the Mist.” The 2,500–3,000 m climb leads to the tomb of the late Dian, who battled to save the endangered mountain gorillas and raised awareness of conservation issues to encourage gorilla tourism. This event is amazing because it celebrates her personality, love of the mountain gorillas, study, and history.

How Much Gorilla Permits Cost in Rwanda

You can spend an hour with the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park by purchasing a gorilla permit in Rwanda, which costs $1500 per person per trek for foreign nonresidents, $500 per person for foreign residents, and $200 for East African citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and South Sudan).

There are 96 gorilla permits available daily for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park because Rwanda is home to 12 gorilla families. Gorilla permits in Rwanda can be obtained directly from the Rwanda Development Board or via a reputable Rwandan tour operator, such as Monumental Expeditions and Safaris.

What is the minimum age requirement to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda?

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda has a minimum age requirement of 15 years old, and the upper age limit is contingent upon physical levels. Elderly gorilla trekking is now possible, particularly in Uganda’s Bwindi forest, thanks to the availability of sedan chair carriers. These chairs are used to transport people who feel unfit and unable to walk into the forest during their trek; potters will carry you to and from the forest. The cost of renting a sedan chair ranges from $400 to $500, and it can be done in advance or on the day of the trek.

When is the ideal time to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda?

Rwandan gorilla trekking Volcanoes National Park is open all year round, but the drier months of January, February, June, and early September are the best times to go gorilla trekking in Africa. This makes it easier to get to the park and allows for a clear view of the gorillas because the vegetation cover isn’t too high.

What Should I Bring to Rwanda for a Gorilla Trek?

You will need a pair of comfortable, durable walking shoes or boots for gorilla tracking in Rwanda. In general, when it rains, the forest is extremely muddy. Some of the uphill portions can be extremely steep and taxing. Wearing lightweight long pants and a long-sleeved cotton shirt is also advised to protect you from biting ants, stinging nettles, and weeds. Recommended Packing List for Gorilla Trekking

A flashlight or torch, insect repellent, and extra batteries
Water bottle, wet wipes, cameras, lenses, etc.
Comfortable socks and footwear for trekking and walking
Gloves for gardening to track gorillas
Walking shoes, sandals, or strops
Sunscreen and a hat
A raincoat
Sweater or fleece
Swimwear Binoculars for seeing birds or games

Why reserve your Rwandan gorilla trek with Monumental Expeditions and Safaris?

You can schedule your gorilla trekking in Rwanda with Monumental Expeditions and Safaris. Get advice on the booking procedure by getting in touch with us. We may also arrange for you to have gorilla permits included in any of our several gorilla trekking safari packages, which vary from low-cost to high-end alternatives. Please feel free to peruse our trip advisor evaluations, which are written by a community of pleased customers. You can be sure that your Rwanda safari vacation will be unforgettable when you work with us. We are committed to provide top-notch client service and satisfaction. If you have any queries about safari, our staff of knowledgeable tour coordinators is always happy to assist. We promise that your gorilla tour in Rwanda will be fantastic.