Gorilla Safaris Rwanda, Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda & Safari Tours

Rwanda gorilla tours provide remarkable gorilla trekking in Rwanda to watch the famous mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.

This country, which is also called the land of a thousand hills, is famous for protecting huge primates! Thus, many travelers to East Africa often participate in this unforgettable experience.

Tracking gorillas in Rwanda, East Africa, will allow you to meet the world’s largest primates in their beautiful, misty environment.

Rwanda gorilla safari trips in the country occur in the Volcanoes National Park, which is Rwanda’s gorilla sanctuary. This beautiful park protects the highest number of endangered mountain gorillas in the Virunga Mountains, which is about 604.

Kindly note that the Virunga ranges comprise different national parks, for example, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda’s Mgahinga Park. Virunga National Park is the major destination for mountain gorilla tours in the Congo.

Contrasting to other safari destinations in East Africa, for example, the Congo Democratic Republic and Ugandan parks, a Rwanda gorilla safari is great for even last-minute travelers. All the gorilla treks during Rwanda safaris occur for about 30 minutes to 8 hours.

Usually, travelers walking to find the giant primates also opt for a visit to the Dian Fossey tomb. Dian Fossey was a legendary primatologist who researched and contributed greatly to gorilla conservation.

Is Rwanda known for gorillas? Does Rwanda have gorillas?

Yes, this country is famous for these primates, which are the major activity in the country.

There are other amazing Rwanda safari tours that you can have alongside your gorilla vacation. Among these are wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park, the Kigali city tour, cultural experiences, and visiting the genocide memorial centers.

Additionally, you can also accompany this thrilling adventure as you explore Rwanda with wildlife safaris in Kenya or Tanzania. Kenya and Tanzania are famous for wonderful game-viewing safaris in Africa.

Gorilla expeditions in the country are safe and you can have it all year round. However, the dry months of June to August and December to February are the best for this experience.

Read below to find out more about these primate safaris.

Where Can You See Gorillas in Rwanda?

Gorilla tours in this land of a thousand hills occur only in Volcanoes National Park and below are the details of this experience in the park.

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is found in the northwest of Rwanda, and it is home to 12 habituated gorilla families, while others are habituated for scientific research.

Many of these Gorilla families in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park have at least one silverback, many females and youngsters.

Below are the different gorilla groups in Volcanoes National Park.

Susa
Karisimbi
Igisha
Amahoro
Sabyinyo
Agashya
Kwitonda
Hirwa
Umubano
Bwenge
Muhoza
Ugyenda

Even though these gorilla family groups have many silverback gorillas, there is always a dominant silverback that leads them all.

On your Rwanda Gorilla Tour in Volcanoes National Park, your treks will begin at 7 a.m. at the Kinigi Park headquarters.

Your ranger guide will lead you to a gorilla family to trek the primates, depending on your fitness level.

While you explore the primates in Volcanoes National Park, you will also experience the sight of more than 200 colorful bird species and sometimes meet Golden Monkeys.

What kind of gorillas are in Rwanda?

Rwanda has only mountain gorillas. These gorilla species live only in two destinations, one of which is Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a beautiful gorilla sanctuary in Africa, holding about 50% of the total 1,063 on Earth!

The remaining population of these primates is in the Virunga Mountains, which cover Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda’s Mgahinga NP. During your Congo safari, Virunga National Park is the ultimate destination for this activity.

In East Africa, the Eastern Lowland Gorillas are only in Kahuzi Biega National Park of the Congo Democratic Republic.

If you wish to meet these lowland gorillas in the Congo, Prime Safaris & Tours Ltd. can organize your amazing vacation to this destination.

Eastern Lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park in Congo are a bit bigger than their cousins, even though they have less coarse hair.

Can You Visit the Gorillas in Rwanda?

Yes, you can visit these primates all year round. These primates in Volcanoes National Park are always available for gorilla tracking during your trips.

How long is a trek to see the gorillas in Rwanda?

Usually, gorilla tours in the country take about 30 minutes to 8 hours. This depends, however, on the movement of the great apes.

This is the best time for the gorilla tour in Virunga National Park in Congo and the gorilla tracking destinations in Uganda.

Lucky travelers can meet these gentle giants in Volcanoes National Park on a 30-minute trek. However, meeting one of the gorilla families within such a short time is also possible in Congo Virunga National Park, Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Mgahinga NP.

When you meet these giant apes, you will only spend one hour watching them go about their daily lives.

Rules and Regulations to Follow During Your Gorilla Tour in Rwanda

The guidelines below help to keep you and the primates safe, especially your health and that of the endangered primates.

Below are the rules and regulations to follow:

Guidelines Before Going into the Jungle

Only those who are 15 and older can participate in walking to find these giant primates. This is because diseases like the mumps and measles are more likely to infect such children. On the other hand, it is hard to control the children around the Mountain Gorillas. This rule also applies to trekkers in Uganda and Virunga National Park in Congo.
Only a group of 8 people are allowed to visit a Gorilla group each day to minimize stress on the apes.
If you suspect that you have an airborne disease like a cough, cold, or flu, you should not participate in the Gorilla Trek, as they can also easily catch such diseases.
Travelers usually wash their hands before going for a Gorilla trek to get rid of any germs in their hands. This is an important guideline to also be applied in Virunga National Park in Congo and Uganda’s Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks.

Rules to Follow During the Trek and While with Primates:

Maintain silence when you finally meet the primates after your Gorilla trek. However, you can still ask your ranger if you have any questions.
Littering during the gorilla trek and when you meet the primates is not allowed, as it destroys the ecosystem.
Keep a 7–10-meter distance from the great apes to keep safe.
You are not allowed to touch the primates, as they may mistake the intention of your touch. Note that, although habituated, these primates are still wild animals.
Additionally, eating, smoking, and drinking near these giants is illegal, as they may want some of your food. This important rule also applies to the national parks in Uganda and Virunga National Park in the Congo.
You are advised to be in a group on your gorilla trek expeditions and primate safaris.
If you feel like sneezing around the apes, turn away or cover your face because infectious diseases like cough and flu are dangerous to the great giants.
The instructions of your ranger during your gorilla trek are important. This applies also to Virunga National Park in the Congo and Uganda’s Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks.
On your gorilla trek, you only have one (1) hour with the great apes.
Using your flash cameras for photography is not allowed, as it most often stresses these giants.
If you feel like easing yourself during your Gorilla trek, get off the track and bury the waste, including the toilet paper used 30cm deep, in the soil.

Packing List for a Gorilla Trip in Rwanda—What to Pack for a Gorilla Trip in Rwanda

The right packing list on your Rwanda Gorilla tour will give you some of the most memorable experiences.

Below, we look at the best packing list for your holiday.

A camera
Insect repellents
Enough drinking water
Gardening gloves
Gaiters
Long trousers and long-sleeved shirts
Rain jacket: This is helpful in case it rains while on your Gorilla trek.
Solid hiking boots: This is helpful during your Gorilla trek as you climb the quite challenging slopes of the Virunga region.
Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat will protect you from dangerous sunrays, especially in the dry season.
A day backpack: This helps you keep your important things like the camera, toiletries, and safely packed lunch safe. This is important even for your wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park.
Packed lunch and energy-giving snacks are also great for your excursions, especially on your Gorilla trek.

Kindly note that the above rules also apply to Uganda’s Bwindi NP and Congo Virunga National Park.

What to Wear on a Gorilla Tour in Rwanda?

Travelers are advised to wear eco-friendly clothes, as seen below.

Clothes that are Khaki, Brown, and Grey are recommended.

Also, note that

a) Bright colors, for example, red, and clothes with animal prints usually irritate the apes; therefore, you should avoid them.

b) Black clothes may apply for trekking because of the dirt but they usually absorb a lot of heat, especially during the dry months.

c) Waterproof hiking shoes are important for challenging hilly mountains and muddy terrain along the trail.

d) Additionally, it is important to wear long socks or gaiters. to tuck in your pants so that you avoid safari ants, branches, and thorns, among others, from hurting you.

Hotels (Safari Lodges) in Rwanda to Use During Your Gorilla Safari

During your tour as you explore Rwanda, there is a wide range of accommodation classes that you can choose from.

For example, you can enjoy luxury, mid-range, and budget options of safaris.

Popular Luxury Lodges

Bisate Lodge Volcanoes
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Virunga Lodge
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

Top Mid-Range Lodges

Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
La Palme Hotel
Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Garden Place Hotel

Recommended Budget Lodges

Villa Gorilla
Hotel Muhabura
Kinigi Guesthouse

Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Best Time to Go | What is the Best Time of Year to See the Gorillas in Rwanda?

What is the best time of year to go to Rwanda to see gorillas? Gorilla tours when you visit Rwanda are possible all year. However, the best time for trekking the primates in the country is during the dry months.

These dry months are from December to February and June to August. This is also the peak season for tourism due to the small amount of rainfall expected in Volcanoes National Park.

Therefore, treks are easier because the trails are drier, mud-free, and easy to hike.

Alternatively, going on a tour during the wet months is also great. The wet months have so much food in the jungle for the gentle giants, making them stay in the lower altitudes and not the higher altitudes to look for food.

Therefore, the treks in the wet season take a shorter time, although these treks are muddy and it may rain. Carry a rain jacket or Poncho as you explore Rwanda in this season.

Are Rwanda Gorilla Tours Safe? Are Gorilla Tours in Rwanda Safe?

Since the Rwanda genocide of 1994, the Rwandan government has promoted peace and caused the country to be the safest country to visit in Africa. Thus, all tours to visit Rwanda primates are safe, and many travelers have experienced this in the past years.

Below, we look at how Rwanda primate safaris and Rwanda gorilla safaris are safe.

Armed Park Rangers will always guide you during your gorilla trek to ensure your safety in the jungle.
Rangers also patrol the park to keep it safe from poachers who may hurt the trekkers or animals.
Rwanda safaris are also only done on habituated gorilla groups that are used to human presence, thus making their aggression minimal.

How Hard is Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda? | How Difficult is Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda?

Rwanda gorilla trekking safaris are a bit challenging because of the location of the park in the steep Virunga region. However, the more physically fit travelers will have fewer strenuous challenges.

This thrilling experience occurs in the thick and misty rainforest through the challenging terrain, slippery trails, valleys, etc.

Upon meeting the Mountain Gorillas, however, you will forget all the challenging walks and enjoy the Rwanda Gorilla trekking safaris that are worth undertaking.

To make your Gorilla Rwanda safaris:

There are porters to help you with your gorilla trek, as they will help carry all your belongings.
Likewise, you can ask to be allocated one of the Gorilla family groups which is closer to making the long treks shorter.
Also, to prepare for your trek, you can do physical exercise for the trip to make exploring Rwanda easier.

Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Much Are Gorilla Trekking Permits in Rwanda? How Much Does It Cost to See the Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda?

How much does it cost to trek with Gorillas in Rwanda? Gorilla trekking tours in the country cost 1500 USD, paid only for the permit for Gorilla treks.

2. How Much Does It Cost to Visit Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda for Rwandans?

Rwandese pay USD 200 for a gorilla trek.

3. How many gorilla permits are on sale in Rwanda every day?

Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park has 12 habituated gorilla families. Thus, there are about 96 permits available for travelers every day as they explore Rwanda.

4. Is there a discount on gorilla permits in Rwanda?

There are no discounts on permits for gorilla trekking safaris as you explore Rwanda. This is also the case with the Congo Virunga National Park and the Uganda Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks.

5. Where to Buy Gorilla Permits in Rwanda? | How to Book a Gorilla Permit in Rwanda?

Many visitors going on tours to visit Rwanda’s primates can book their permits through a trustworthy tour operator.

Alternatively, you can personally book a permit from the Rwanda Development Board to see these primates.

Please be aware that the Rwanda Development Board occasionally issues a limited number of permits, so it is crucial to reserve them in advance.

How much is a 1-day gorilla trek in Rwanda?

The cost of a 1-day gorilla safari in the country begins at about 1700 USD per person. This is inclusive of the gorilla permit, an English-speaking private guide, transport, and accommodation.

Unlike in Uganda, it is possible to do a 1-day gorilla trek as you explore Rwanda due to the small size of the country, which is a 2-hour drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park. This allows travelers to save money on transport and accommodation.

Is Rwanda gorilla trekking worth it? Is gorilla trekking in Rwanda worth it?

Gorilla Rwanda safaris are a special event, bringing you a personal experience with the great primates. Therefore, doing a Rwanda gorilla safari is worth the money.

Visiting the primates helps with gorilla conservation, as much of the money used to buy the permits is used to protect their natural habitat. This is because the humble giants cannot survive in captivity.
Likewise, a large percentage of the money collected for conservation fees is used to pay the salaries of park rangers who monitor the safety of endangered mountain gorillas and other wildlife in their natural habitat.
Additionally, a 10% fee is used to support local communities around the park. For example, schools health centers, and roads are built to promote infrastructural development in these local communities.
In case the primates or other wildlife destroy the crops of farmers neighboring the park, the park management usually refunds them.
Meeting the humble giants in their misty habitat is also among the most celebrated safaris in Africa to encounter on your trips.

Uganda Gorilla Trekking vs Rwanda: Is Uganda or Rwanda Better for Gorilla Trekking?

Is it better to see gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda? Usually, tourists planning to have a Gorilla safari adventure during their safaris in Africa can have various factors as to whether to go trekking with the primates in Rwanda or Uganda.

Below are the different factors to consider for your tours:

The destination for gorilla tours in Rwanda, Africa, is easily accessible since it is just a 2- to 3-hour drive from Kigali Airport. This is not the case with Uganda, as you will have to drive for about 8 hours from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for your gorilla trek.
Last-minute travelers can also have Gorilla Rwanda tour safaris in Africa easily because of the nearness of Volcanoes NP to and from Kigali Airport.
A Uganda Gorilla permit costs USD 700, while the Rwandan permit costs USD 1500. Thus, Gorilla tours in Uganda will allow you to save USD 800 during your vacation.
Gorilla safaris in Volcanoes National Park are a bit more challenging the those in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Thus, meeting these primates in Bwindi Impenetrable NP is easy, even for those who do not have a normal level of fitness due to the lower altitude of the park.
Because Uganda has more Gorilla families, there are more permits sold every day than in Rwanda. Uganda thus sells 160 permits daily, but Rwanda sells 96 permits daily.
Uganda is also the only destination where you can do the Gorilla habituation experience in East Africa and the whole world. Thus, travelers who would like to experience Gorilla habituation can only choose Uganda for this adventure.

Note that it is also possible to have a Rwanda-Uruguay safari to trek these in both countries of East Africa for a more memorable experience.

Other Amazing Safaris in Rwanda to Accompany on Your Gorilla Tour

You can have other exquisite safari experiences accompany your exquisite gorilla tour to allow you to enjoy other activities in the country.

Below are some of these activities.

Wildlife Safaris in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park

Doing game-viewing safaris will enable you to explore Rwanda’s rich wildlife. During your wildlife safaris, you will also get to view Africa’s big five and other big game of Africa, which you can also spot in Tanzania or Kenya safaris.

During your wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park, you will watch various animals, for example, lions, buffalos, leopards, elephants, hippos, rhinos, and many Antelope species, etc.

On your wildlife safaris and tours in Akagera National Park, you will view most of the game animals on safari game drives.

Bird – Watching Safaris in Rwanda

Birding enthusiasts should also prepare to have an adventure of a lifetime as they combine bird watching with a Mountain Gorilla adventure during your vacation.

This land of a thousand hills in East Africa is also the best place to watch the Albertine Rift endemic birds.

Nyungwe Forest National Park also provides the best birdwatching experience. Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park has more than 322 bird species, including the 29 Albertine endemics, for example, the Rwenzori Turaco and the Handsome Francolin.

Other than Nyungwe Forest National Park, you can also have amazing birding tours in Akagera National Park and Volcanoes NP. Water birds and other wildlife can also be found around the shores of Lake Kivu or its white-sand beaches.

Chimpanzee Tours in Rwanda Nyungwe Forest National Park

Chimpanzee tours in Nyunwge Forest are among the most famous safari activities to do on your vacation.

You will have an amazing encounter with the Chimpanzees in their home. Chimpanzees are the closest relatives to humans, sharing a DNA similarity of 98–99%.

On the amazing Chimp Trek, you will get to meet other amazing primates, for example, the rare L’Hoest’s Monkeys and Colobus Monkeys.

Kindly note that apart from Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park, Uganda’s Kibale National Park also offers the best primate safaris in East Africa. Kibale National Park provides the best Chimpanzee tours in East Africa and Africa at large.

Other Adventure Tours in Rwanda to Undertake on Top of Your Gorilla Tour

Cultural experiences: This will lead you to visit the Iby’iwachu cultural village for lively traditional dances.
Visit the genocide memorial sites: for example, the Gisozi, Ntarama, Nyamata, Murambi, and Bisesero. A local private guide will enlighten you about the amazing history of the 1994 genocide. Likewise, your private guide will also make sure that you are safe during your adventure.
Visiting the grave of the famous Dian Fossey will also allow you to visit her former Karisoke Research Center, where she studied primates and thus made them famous.
Doing a Kigali city tour through your tour operator.
Relaxation on the white-sand beaches of Lake Kivu: The white-sand beaches of Lake Kivu are Rwanda’s biggest lake and one of the best places to relax.
Mountain hiking safaris: for example, hiking the Virunga Mountains, for example, Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke.

How Much Does a Gorilla Safari in Rwanda Cost?

How much does it cost to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda? There is no fixed price for your gorilla safari in the country, but there are various factors that will help you determine the cost of your gorilla safari in the country, as seen below.

Number of Days Spent on Your Holiday

More days spent on your tour will make your safari cost more. This is because, with each day, you spend more on accommodation, transportation, meals, and park entrance fees.

The Choice of Accommodation Class

Various factors determine Gorilla trekking tours and accommodation is one of them. Luxury accommodation is more expensive than budget accommodation.

Other Safari Activities to Do During Your Tour

Adding other activities to your tour will also raise your safari cost. Thus, more safari activities to do on your holiday will make you spend more on your gorilla safari.

Safari Vehicle You Wish to Use During Your Safari

Additionally, the safari vehicle you use will determine your Gorilla vacation cost. For instance, a safari van is quite cheaper than a 4×4 safari land cruiser because of the difference in fuel consumption.

Number of People on a Vacation

Although a large group of people causes a safari Gorilla vacation to be more expensive, traveling in a group will make you share costs with group members, especially for transport and accommodation.

What to Expect When You Visit Gorillas in Rwanda?

There is a lot to expect during your Gorilla tours and safaris in Africa.

Upon meeting these gentle giants in their beautiful, misty environment, you will spend one (1) hour. You will watch these endangered Mountain Gorillas feeding, grooming, roaming around, grooming, and watching the young ones play in the jungle, etc.

Best Rwanda Gorilla Tours | Best Gorilla Holiday Safaris in Rwanda

There are various packages to give you the best experiences, and since the country is near Uganda, Rwanda-Uruguay tours are possible through one tour operator. Doing a Uganda-Rwanda safari is an amazing experience to undertake.

You can top up a tour for a Rwanda-Uruguay adventure with a wildlife tour in Kenya or Tanzania safari. Kenya and Tanzania are some of the best places to experience wildlife safaris.

Below are some of the best tours to experience:

3-Day Rwanda Tour

This is an amazing and memorable safari holiday to the land of a thousand hills, as it will allow you to explore Rwanda Kigali city and the beautiful historical sites of the country, for example, the genocide memorial sites.

4-Day Rwanda-Uruguay Tour

This is also an amazing tour for short-time travelers who wish to explore Rwanda and Uganda. This package allows you to visit Golden Monkeys in Rwanda, have a Kigali city tour, and go on a Gorilla tour in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Other Amazing Safari Packages in Rwanda

9-day Rwanda-Uruguay tour: In this package, you get to go for a Kigali City tour, do chimpanzee tracking, have a boat cruise on Lake Kivu, have the Musanze cave experience, enjoy Golden monkey tracking, and visit Uganda’s primates for Gorilla trekking safaris.

12-day wildlife safari Tour: This package will lead you to Gorillas, Game viewing, Chimpanzees, a hiking experience, and a community visit, among others.

14-day wildlife tour: gorilla and chimp adventures, game viewing, and cultural experiences.

15-day wildlife safaris: gorilla and chimpanzee tracking, game viewing, Mount Bisoke hike, and community visits.

e) 16-day wildlife safaris: gorilla, chimpanzee, and golden monkey tracking; game viewing; a Mount Bisoke hike; and cultural experiences.

In conclusion, travelers interested in encountering the endangered Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat in Africa can visit Rwanda as an ultimate destination.

Gorilla tours and primate safaris in the country are mostly done in the misty Volcanoes National Park, which protects the highest population of primates in the Virunga ranges.

To have an amazing gorilla tour in the country, you can add a wildlife tour, visit Dian Fossey’s tomb, or have a Kigali city tour to add to this adventure. You may also visit one of the genocide memorial centers.

Also, adding an adventure in either Kenya or Tanzania will make the experience worth undertaking.

Inquire and book with us your affordable gorilla tour in this land of a thousand hills today for an amazing experience. Email your inquiry, and we will be more than happy to respond and help plan your Rwanda safari.