Few wildlife experiences compare to coming face to face with a mountain gorilla family in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park. Spread across the mist-covered Virunga massif, the park is home to a population of mountain gorillas and a handful of habituated families that visitors can trek.
A gorilla permit is required for every trekker and is the single most important part of your planning. Permits are limited and issued for a specific date, so they are best secured early through your tour operator. Your permit includes park entry, the guided trek and one hour with your assigned gorilla family.
The trek begins early in the morning at the park headquarters near Kinigi. After a briefing, you are split into small groups and each group is assigned a gorilla family. Depending on where the family slept the previous night, the walk can be as short as thirty minutes or last several hours, sometimes up steep, muddy and forested slopes.
Wear sturdy hiking boots, long trousers, a rain jacket and gardening gloves, and carry drinking water on the trail. A porter can be hired at the start of the trek to help carry your bag and steady you on steep sections. Photography is allowed, but flash is not, and you should keep a respectful distance from the gorillas at all times.
The one hour you spend with the family passes quickly. Observing the silverback, the mothers and their playful infants in their natural forest home is an experience that stays with you long after you return to Kigali. Most travellers combine the trek with chimpanzee tracking, game drives and cultural visits across the country.
At Global Line Safaris, our team handles your permit, lodging, transfers and itinerary so all you need to think about is enjoying the experience. Contact us with your preferred dates and we will help you plan a safe, comfortable and unforgettable gorilla adventure.
