A Day with Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park

The unforgettable opportunity of spending a day with mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park is second to none, with some travelers even describing it as “life-changing”. Few wildlife experiences are as rewarding as seeing these creatures go about their daily routines on the bamboo-filled mountain slopes to spend one hour just a few meters from them. Book Now

There are presently about 12 habituated Gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park, and these comprise one or more silverbacks alongside several females, juveniles, and infants. Each of these Groups is somewhat fluid in composition, although might stick to a certain preferred location. Mountain Gorilla Groups are monitored and protected by Park Rangers from time to time, with each strictly trekked by 8 visitors each day and contact with visitors limited to only one hour per visit. Therefore on each day, a maximum of 8 Gorilla Permits are issued to each Gorilla Group thus providing an intimate and uninterrupted encounter with the Giant Apes. With this, a total of 96 gorilla permits are issued each day in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and therefore recommended to book your Rwanda Gorilla Safari in advance.

A Typical Day with Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.

A typical day with mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park starts with a gathering at Kinigi Park Headquarters by 7:00 am for registration and briefing on the guidelines to be followed while trekking and watching/photographing the Giant Apes. Afterward, visitors are allocated a habituated gorilla group on this day, and this is done according to age, fitness levels, and personal preference.

The 12 habituated Gorilla Groups trekked in Volcanoes National Park are Muhoza, Sabyinyo, Agashya, Umubano, Kwitonda, Amahoro, Igisha, Bwenge, Karisimbi, Hirwa, and Susa. Guided treks (led by experienced Rwanda Development Board Rangers) to the home ranges of these Gorilla Groups take between half an hour to five hours or more and involve going through high altitudes of 2500 to 4000 meters above sea level. With such an altitude, hiring porters is recommended to provide support in carrying backpacks and camera equipment hence making gorilla trekking less challenging. Get introduced to the incredible ecology of the forest as well as changing landscape while trekking to the endangered Giant Apes. The experienced guides keep in constant communication with the team of trackers who follow the gorillas since daybreak, and direct guides to the mountain Gorillas.

After several hours of walking through the jungles searching for the mountain Gorillas, visitors make contact with these incredible Giant Apes, followed by total silence to observe them going about their daily routines in their natural habitats. Follow the guidelines issued during the briefing such as not looking into the eyes of the mountain Gorillas, not using flash cameras, maintaining a distance of 7 meters while observing and photographing the Giant Apes, not making noise, not drinking, smoking or eating while with the mountain Gorillas. Try as much as possible to stick to the allocated one hour provided during briefing because more time means stressing the Giant Apes.

Day Itinerary with Mountain Gorillas from Kigali.

When is the best time to see the mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park?

The months of June to September and December to February are often considered the best time to see the mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park because during these times, rainfall levels are reduced thus making forest trails less challenging. The months of March to May and October to November are marked by heavy rains making trekking challenging but are marked by smaller crowds.

What to wear/carry for your day with mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park

For your day with mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, wear a long-sleeved shirt, safari pants in khaki color, sturdy hiking boots with enough ankle support, gaiters, gardening gloves, and an insect repellant. Make sure to carry a backpack, a good camera with enough batteries and memory space, a pair of binoculars, a hat, sunglasses, and a lightweight rain jacket.