Are you planning a gorilla trekking safari to Rwanda? You need to gather much information concerning gorilla trekking before embarking on a gorilla trekking safari. Gorilla Trekking is a process that involves trekking through lush forests and vegetation in search of mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. Seeing the gorillas in their natural environments is one of the most thrilling safari highlights that creates unforgettable memories for travellers on a Rwanda safari.

Many travellers have different Frequent questions to ask about Gorilla trekking in Rwanda and in this blog, we bring you the frequently asked questions about gorilla trekking including the gorilla permit prices, the best time for gorilla trekking and other related gorilla trekking activities in Rwanda which include the following.

Where is Gorilla trekking done in Rwanda?

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done in the Volcanoes National Park. Volcanoes National Park is one of the four National parks where mountain gorillas can be seen including Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Virunga National Park. Virunga National Park is located in the northwestern part of Rwanda and covers an area of about 160sqkm and is home to about 326 mountain gorillas and other wildlife species including the rare golden monkeys, L’Hoest Monkeys, red colobus monkeys and other animal species as well as different bird species. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is one of the major highlights of safari activities in Rwanda and therefore creates a memorable adventure to cherish forever.

Is Gorilla trekking safe in Rwanda?

Yes, gorilla trekking in Rwanda is safe for tourists on a gorilla trekking safari and other travellers such as researchers. After the gorilla briefing, tourists are assigned habituated gorilla families safe for gorilla trekking as well as armed park rangers who have been trained on how to execute gorilla trekking activities. Further, on finding the gorillas, tourists are advised to keep a 10-meter distance away from the gorillas which makes the whole experience safe and remarkable. This makes the experience safe and a memorable adventure for tourists thus leading to high tourist inflows to see the gorillas in their natural habitats.

Does Rwanda have Habituated Gorilla Families?

Yes, Rwanda has a total population of about 326 mountain gorillas including the 10 Habituated gorilla families that make the gorilla trekking experience a safe adventure including Sabyinyo, Susa, Karisimbi, Umubano, Amahoro, Kwitonda, Hirwa, Bwenge, Agashya and Ugenda. Some other gorilla individuals are not habituated for conservation and research purposes. This reduces the risk of diseases during human interaction on gorilla trekking.

How is gorilla trekking done?

Gorilla trekking is an activity that involves trekking through lush forests and vegetation in search of mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. Gorilla trekking is done in groups of 8 pax accompanied by 2 rangers for security. Tourists go through a briefing that includes the rules and guidelines to follow when observing the gorillas in their natural habitats, later, they are divided into groups of 8 pax and assigned different gorilla families. After the briefing, the actual gorilla trekking process begins as you may have a variety of viewing opportunities including the different primate species, volcanic landscape of the Virunga massifs and vegetation types. Once you find the gorillas, rangers allow you to spend a maximum of 1 hour with the gorillas as you watch them feed on leaves, rest, and play with young ones keeping a safe distance of 10 meters while wearing a face mask. After this experience, you shall return to the starting point as you conclude your gorilla trekking experience.

When is the best time to track Mountain Gorillas?

Gorilla trekking is an all-year-round activity that can be done at any time of the year. However, gorilla trekking can best be done during the Dry season which runs from December to February and June to August. During this time, the vegetation is low making it easy to spot a variety of wildlife species including gorillas in their natural habitat, drier trekking trails and slopes that make it easy to navigate through the park. Gorilla trekking can also be done during the dry season though it might be affected by much rain and bad roads. Travellers planning a gorilla trekking safari, are advised to select the perfect season when to see the gorillas in Rwanda.

How long does the gorilla trekking experience take?

The gorilla trekking experience involves a series of activities such as briefing, trekking through the forests, encountering gorillas and back to the starting point. Gorilla trekking activity usually starts very early at 8 am with a briefing from the park rangers and tourists are assigned different gorilla families that are in different locations. The whole gorilla trekking experience takes about 5 to 6 hours including 1 full hour of observing the gorillas in their natural habitats depending on the nature and location of the specific gorilla family you have been assigned to.

What is the Age Limit for Mountain Gorilla trekking?

The age limit for mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda is 15 years which is the same as that of Uganda. The Rwanda Development Board is strict on the age for gorilla trekking to avoid bad incidents which may arise during the gorilla trekking experience. This is because children below the age of 15 may not control fear, and noise or even mimic the gorillas of which they don’t know what they are communicating. Parents planning a gorilla trekking safari with children should note the required age for gorilla trekking, however, children are provided a special activity to do when the parents are running the gorilla trekking experience.

How Much is a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda?

Seeing the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats requires a gorilla trekking permit which is issued by the Rwanda Development Board. A gorilla trekking permit is a document that allows tourists to see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. A gorilla trekking permit costs USD 1500 for foreign Non-residents, USD 500 for Foreign Residents and USD 200 for East African citizens.