Experiences

Gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking is the quintessential wildlife experience in Rwanda, and a once-in-a-lifetime event for any wildlife enthusiast. A profoundly affecting encounter that brings you face to face with one of our species’ closest relatives, the trek through Volcanoes National Park is nothing short of life-changing.
Gorilla foraging in Volcanoes National Park

SAFARI

Best places to see gorillas Africa

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park: What to expect 

 

Gorilla trekking is the quintessential wildlife experience in Rwanda, and a once-in-a-lifetime event for any wildlife enthusiast. A profoundly affecting encounter that brings you face to face with one of our species’ closest relatives, the trek through Volcanoes National Park is nothing short of life-changing. 

Baby gorilla and silverback in Volcanoes National Park
GORILLA TREKKING

The impact of each gorilla trek is indisputable, with gorilla tourism contributing to the conservation of mountain gorillas, primarily through reforestation initiatives. The result is the slow but steady increase of the species’ population across the Virungas, and the creation of countless jobs in the process. So, know that your visit contributes not just to the wildlife, and habitat restoration, but to local communities, too. 

 

The experience is something people spend their entire lives dreaming about, so it’s no surprise the protocol of it all often goes unconsidered until right before the trip. But if you’re curious as to what a gorilla trek really entails – what to expect and how to prepare – we’ve put together this blog to help you wrap your head around the experience. 

WILDERNESS RWANDA

Where to stay

Luxury gorilla trekking packages are available at all Wilderness Rwanda camps. From the elite Bisate Reserve to the intimate safari experience at Sabyinyo. Wilderness can help you find tthe perfect location from where to go gorilla trekking.
Wilderness Bisate Rwanda Camp Aerial View
Bisate

Voted Africa’s #1 safari lodge, Bisate marries a life-list mountain gorilla adventure with sublime luxury in the rainforest.

Explore Camp
Wilderness Sabinyo Rwanda Landscape Hero
Sabyinyo

Sabyinyo is a luxurious community-owned lodge offering unforgettable mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.

Explore Camp
Bisate Reserve

A sanctuary for those with a distinct palate for adventure. Africa's most thrilling primate experience served up in style.

Explore Camp

Securing your gorilla trekking permit

First things first – the permit. In Rwanda, each person must hold an individual permit to do a gorilla trek. As of 2025, these permits cost USD1,500 per person. Besides being able to trek through the rainforest with expert guides and spend an hour with a family of remarkable mountain gorillas, the cost of your permit goes directly towards protecting this endangered species and their habitat.

 

Some guests book multiple permits so they can enjoy a trek every day of their stay, as each encounter is unique. This also allows you the opportunity to visit multiple gorilla families, as each one bears its own fascinating history and social dynamics. 

 

 

 

Purchasing a Gorilla trekking permit

Frequently asked questions

Trekking safety

Permits

When is the best time to go?

Impact

Wilderness Rwanda Packing Suggestions gaitors
Packing essentials and suggestions for gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking gear

We have a comprehensive blog on the kind of gear you’ll need on your gorilla trek, which you can read here, but if you are staying at one of our Wilderness Bisate camps, or at Wilderness Sabyinyo, we will provide you with key trekking gear such as gaiters, gloves, a poncho and walking stick, before you head out on your adventure. 

What to pack

Before you trek 

Once you arrive at Volcanoes National Park headquarters, your permit details will be cross-checked against a copy of your passport, which your Wilderness driver-guide will facilitate. Then it’s time for your briefing session – an essential component of the journey. You’re about to hike through a rainforest and meet endangered animals, so keep your ears open, ask questions, and absorb every bit of information you can – for your own safety, and that of the gorillas. 

 

 

 

 

 

During the briefing session, you’ll meet your dedicated ranger, an expert in the environment, the gorillas, and safety measures. You’ll also meet two scouts who will take the journey with you – one to walk ahead and one to follow the group from behind. Each group is also assigned trackers ahead of time, who will be sent out into the rainforest long before you arrive to search for the gorilla groups and predict where they might move off to. Each trekking group is assigned a specific gorilla family to observe – this is based on how far they are from your starting point at the park boundary, the difficulty of the trek to find them, and the age and fitness level of you and your group, which you will communicate to your guide on arrival.

 

The park employs porters who you can hire beforehand to help carry your things. While you may not need the help, the service the porters offer is their primary source of income, so it makes a difference knowing you are contributing to their livelihoods. This is precisely the positive, trickle-down effect (for wildlife and people) that gorilla trekking tourism was created for. Even more moving is the fact that many of the park’s porters were once gorilla poachers themselves, who have learnt the value of conservation and protecting these endangered animals, and are now making a living helping save rather than harm them. 

Private gorilla trekking with Wilderness

To elevate your trekking experience, we offer private gorilla trekking permits for guests of Wilderness Bisate Reserve. With a private trek, you will get to choose your park guide, who will lead you on an exclusive and personalised journey that starts right from the lodge. Your dedicated guide will give you a safety briefing over your coffee and breakfast, before you head off directly to the starting point of the trek, rather than the park’s headquarters.

 

These private treks also eliminate the possibility of being joined by other guests, and give you the option to choose the gorilla family you want to see. These permits are naturally more costly, at USD15,000 per group for a maximum of eight people. 

Bisate Reserve

Trekking through the rainforest

Guided nature trails exploring the Rwanda rainforest

Of course, spending time with the gorillas is the experience you’re after, but the journey through the wild rainforest – a beautiful World Heritage Site – is memorable, too. The entire Volcanoes National Park is part of the larger Virunga Massif, which includes eight major volcanoes, five of which shape the park’s topography – the peaks of Bisoke, Sabyinyo, Gahinga, Karisimbi and Muhabura. The volcanic soil underfoot is rich and fertile, with contributes to the lush greenery you’ll be surrounded by, including dense thickets of bamboo and montane trees, canopies overhead and a wealth of biodiversity.

There are no discernible pathways through the rainforest, so you’ll be following your guide as he clears a way forward through the thick vegetation. You may have to pull yourself up steep slopes, too, so be prepared to get a little dirty, grab onto branches and tree roots, and haul yourself up the mountainous landscape. The porters are very helpful on this front, providing support and pre-empting your needs along the way. Don’t be scared to ask your guide for as many breaks as you need. They’re used to it! We’ll also provide plenty of snacks and hydration. 

 

Throughout the trek, the trackers who went out ahead of your group will be in constant communication with your guide via radio. They will let them know where your assigned gorilla group is located and where they might be headed next, so you can follow in their path. 

Get close to discovering gorillas in the mist in Rwanda

Meeting the gorillas

Now for the fun part – finding the gorillas. Once your guide successfully locates your assigned gorilla group, it’s very important that you listen to the provided instructions. The guide will know the best way to approach the gorillas without causing a stir or frightening them. 

 

Your time with the gorilla group – a precious hour – will either feel like a lifetime or a split second, or both. These wild animals are so closely related to us, they share the same arrangement of organs and bones. Their eyes, emotions, and social dynamics resemble ours. The way they interact with their infants is instantly recognisable. All of this you’ll discover when you lay your eyes upon these endangered beings in their natural habitat. With just over 1,000 mountain gorillas left on the planet, you’ll want to put the camera down to truly soak up the indescribable experience. This also brings us back to the matter of multiple permits; getting to do more than one trek means you can save the picture-taking for one day, and be totally immersed on another. 

 

 

 

Keeping gorillas and humans safe 

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has issued clear guidelines for great ape viewing that are adhered to by Volcanoes National Park. These gorilla-viewing protocols were designed to keep you, and the gorillas you’ll be spending time with, safe. By respecting the IUCN’s protocols, we can limit any stresses on the gorillas, impact on their behaviours, and the potential for the transmission of diseases from human to gorilla. Mountain gorilla tourism is critical to ensure the sustainability of the endangered species, so let’s do everything we can do protect these iconic creatures and their habitats. 

Gorilla-viewing protocols

  • Maximum viewing duration of any group is one hour per day.
  • Maximum number of guests per gorilla trek is eight people.
  • No food or drink to be consumed while in the presence of gorillas.
  • While gorilla sightings and encounters are very reliable, viewing is dependent on variables such as weather and trekking conditions.
  • While you are with the gorillas, please keep your voice low. Do not make rapid movements that may alarm them.
  • Should you need to cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and turn away from the gorillas.
  • If a gorilla should charge or vocalise at you, do not be alarmed, stand still, look away from the gorilla and follow your guide’s instructions.
  • The minimum age for gorilla viewing is 15 years – this is for safety reasons and to prevent possible disease transmission as children under this age are more prone to infection.
  • Again, to minimise possible transmission of human diseases, visitors are asked to maintain a distance of 7 metres (22 feet) from the gorillas.
  • Guests who display cold, flu or other respiratory tract symptoms will not be allowed to join a gorilla trek.
  • No flash photography is allowed when taking photos of the gorillas. Please keep your flash turned off.
  • Smoking is strictly prohibited.
  • Leave nothing behind but your footprints.

What other activities are available at Volcanoes National Park? 

The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

 

Located just outside of Volcanoes National Park, the Ellen DeGeneres Campus is an educational and research centre dedicated to continuing the legacy of Dian Fossey, as part of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. Dian Fossey was a pioneering primatologist and anti-poaching activist whose work with Rwanda’s mountain gorillas spurred global conservation efforts, transforming the world’s understanding of these endangered primates. 

 

The campus is open to the public daily, offering visitors an eye-opening look into decades of the Dian Fossey Fund’s mountain gorilla research and conservation work. The campus is also home to nature trails, art exhibits that tell a moving story of Dian Fossey’s legendary life and work, and a 360-degree theatre that features footage of mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. This facility is a great place to immerse yourself in the world of Rwanda’s wildlife conservation and learn about Dian Fossey’s vital research and legacy. 

 

The Dian Fossey Hike 

 

Anyone with an appreciation for gorillas may find themselves drawn to Dian Fossey’s burial site, where she was laid to rest beside one of her favourite gorillas, Digit, as well as many other gorillas who were lost to poaching. Fossey’s grave is located inside Volcanoes National Park at the original site of the Karisoke Research Centre, which she founded back in 1967. Nearby are the ruins of Fossey’s small house, where she was mysteriously murdered in 1985. 

 

Volcanoes National Park offers guided hiking to Fossey’s grave starting at the park’s headquarters, taking visitors through the rainforests of Bisoke and Karisimbi, during which they will learn more about Fossey’s remarkable work and the habitat of mountain gorillas. This can be an emotional and rewarding journey for anyone who admires Fossey’s dedication to gorilla conservation and wants to pay tribute to her legacy. It’s also another way to appreciate the area’s remarkable biodiversity and wildlife. 

 

This hike requires a permit of USD75 per person, which can be acquired through the Volcanoes National Park website or via our dedicated Travel Designers. This fee includes your guide for the duration of the hike, which spans between 5-7 hours and reaches an elevation of over 3,000 meters (9,000 feet). This hike is only available for those 15 years and older.

 

Other park activities include hikes up Mount Bisoke, which takes in its spectacular crater lake, Mount Karisimbi and the Musanze Caves. 

 

Golden monkey trekking

 

Another endangered wildlife species that is fascinating to witness in their natural habitat, golden monkeys are endemic to the Virungas, and the only other primates found in this mountain range. Golden monkey trekking permits in Volcanoes National Park cost USD100 per person and are available for adults and children 12 years and older. Permits are also easier to acquire for golden monkey trekking than for gorilla trekking, as you can purchase permits right at the park headquarters when you arrive, subject to availability. 

 

 

 

Gorilla trekking safari with Wilderness Rwanda

Ready for adventure

Talk to a Travel Designer

Book your luxury gorilla trekking safari package

Go gorilla trekking

Let’s plan your next journey

Ready?

When we say we’re there every step of the way, we mean it, literally. From planning the perfect circuit, to private inter-camp transfers on Wilderness Air, and easing you through Customs. We’re with you on the ground, at your side, 24-7, from start to finish. Ready to take the road less travelled? Contact our Travel Designers to plan an unforgettable journey.