At a glance:

• Best time: June–September, December–February
• Permit cost: USD $1,500 per person, per trek
• Minimum age: 15 years
• Time with gorillas: 1 hour
• Trek duration: 30 minutes–6 hours
• Fitness level: Moderate to challenging
• Recommended stay: 3 nights

Volcanoes National Park sits at high altitude within the Virunga Mountains, creating a cool climate where mist, drizzle and short showers can occur throughout the year. While gorilla trekking is possible year-round, Rwanda experiences distinct dry and wet seasons, each offering different advantages.

Dry season is typically June to September and December to February. During these months, trails are generally drier, firmer and easier to navigate. However, accommodation and permits are often booked out quickly, so we recommend advance planning for more choice on properties and dates.

The wet seasons are March to May (long rains) and October to November (short rains). Although these months the trails can become muddier and more challenging, it is a quieter time to travel with fewer visitors. Other benefits include the photogenic environment with the lush rainforest and possible shorter hikes as there is an abundance of food for the gorilla families and they generally remain at slightly lower elevations.

Permit availability should be the first consideration when planning your journey. Rwanda issues a strictly limited number each day to protect the gorillas and their habitat, and permits for peak season (June to September, and the December holidays) routinely sell out 6 to 12 months in advance. Forth & Wonder secures these on your behalf as part of your itinerary and the earlier you plan your trip dates, the more choice you’ll have.

The standard permit costs USD $1,500 per person. This includes the trekking, one hour with a habituated gorilla family, accompanied by two guides and a team of trackers who head out before dawn to locate the family. Every permit purchased directly contributes to protecting mountain gorillas and supporting surrounding communities. Revenue funds anti-poaching initiatives, habitat protection, veterinary care and community development programs, making gorilla trekking one of Africa’s greatest conservation success stories.

For travellers combining Volcanoes National Park with Akagera National Park or Nyungwe National Park, discounted trekking permits are available during selected low season periods.

For those who want the ultimate version of this experience, an exclusive private trek is also available at USD $15,000, covering an entire group of up to eight. It lets you request a specific gorilla family, skip the group briefing at park headquarters, and have your guide come to your lodge instead, departing on your own schedule.

Travellers must be a minimum of 15 years of age, and permits should be secured well in advance, particularly during peak travel periods.

One of Rwanda’s greatest advantages is how accessible Volcanoes National Park is, with the park a comfortable drive from Kigali International Airport. Depending on flight arrival timing into the country, the first night is often spent in Kigali. Generally, we recommend four to five days for a Rwanda journey to trek for gorillas twice.

The private transfers from Kigali to your lodge in Volcanoes National Park takes approximately 2.5 hours and passes through local villages and has sweeping views of the Virunga volcanoes, several of which rise above 4,000 metres. There is the option of return or one-way helicopter transfers, 25 minutes flight time one-way, providing incredible views of the majestic extinct volcanoes.

Volcanoes National Park is home to some of Africa’s finest luxury lodges, each offering its own interpretation of Rwandan hospitality while providing easy access to the park. Our favourites include:

• Wilderness Bisate Lodge — Rwanda’s most awarded gorilla trekking property, with six domed forest villas set into a reforested amphitheatre at the edge of the park.
• Wilderness Bisate Reserve – The newest and most exclusive addition to the Bisate collection, offering larger villas, exceptional privacy and uninterrupted volcano views for travellers seeking Rwanda’s highest level of luxury. The dedicated wellness centre “The Sanctuary” is a fitting post-trek recovery and a highlight of any stay.
• Singita Kwitonda Lodge — eight suites and a four-bedroom villa on a 178-acre site bordering the park, each with a private plunge pool and views across to the Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura volcanoes.
• Wilderness Sabyinyo Lodge — eight stone cottages tucked into the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes, each with a fireplace, sitting room and private veranda. The lodge is community-owned in partnership with the SACOLA Community Trust.
• One&Only Gorilla’s Nest — sits under eucalyptus trees at the foot of the volcano range, with a spa, fitness centre and all the polish One&Only is known for.

The Forth & Wonder team have experienced all these properties firsthand and can guide you through the right fit for your trip and secure your reservation.

Volcanoes National Park has around a dozen habituated gorilla families available for trekking.

Each morning, you’ll meet at park headquarters in Kinigi, where your guide will run a short briefing and assign you to a family – guides ask about your fitness, hiking experience and age, then match groups to the gorilla families based on terrain and difficulty.

We recommend travellers are in good physical condition, as some treks are demanding, however, the park authorities provide tremendous support and can generally accommodate all travellers. The guides and trackers are part of the team, however, at the start of the trail, you will have the opportunity to accept a porter for your journey.

We recommend that every guest hires a porter. While they will happily carry your daypack, their greatest value is assisting you across steep, muddy and uneven terrain, allowing you to focus on the experience rather than the footing. Employing a porter also provides valuable income to local families and is one of the simplest ways visitors can directly support communities surrounding Volcanoes National Park.

The trail typically begins in cultivated farmland at the base of the volcanoes before climbing into dense, misty montane forest, where the ground can be soft and muddy.

Trek length varies considerably depending on where your gorilla family has settled that morning. Some groups reach their gorillas in 30 minutes, others take several hours. During the dry season, gorilla families are often in the higher elevated regions seeking food. One or two guides accompany each group, with a team of trackers working ahead to locate the family and radio through updates as you go.

Then, almost without warning, your guide confirms you are joining the gorilla family and through the foliage, you are suddenly breathless and metres away from the mountain gorilla.

For the next hour, time seems to slow. Young gorillas wrestle through the undergrowth, mothers gently care for their infants and the imposing silverback calmly surveys his family. It is remarkably peaceful, surprisingly intimate and unlike any wildlife encounter most travellers have ever experienced.

Guides provide simple instructions: stay at least seven metres back, wear the mask provided, no flash photography, and keep your voice low. You’re only permitted the one hour. Sightings are highly reliable, though never guaranteed, as they depend on weather and tracking conditions on the day.

Many travellers expect the trek itself to be the highlight. Instead, it is the quiet moments spent simply observing the gorillas that leave the deepest impression.

At the end of the trek, it’s time to pay gratuities to the guides, trackers and porters, which we provide you guidance before your departure.

A typical trekking day generally follows this schedule:

5:30am – Wake to volcano views from your lodge

6:00am – A warm and hearty breakfast

6:45am – Depart for park headquarters in Kinigi

7:00am – Arrive for coffee, the briefing, and your gorilla family assignment

7:45am – Depart headquarters for the trailhead

8am onward – The trek begins: anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours to reach your family

Mid-morning–early afternoon – Your hour with the gorillas

Early afternoon – Return trek and transfer back to the lodge for lunch or afternoon tea

Afternoon and evening – Muddy boots are cleaned for you, hot showers, multi-course dinners, evening stories by the fire

Gorilla trekking calls for more gear than a typical game drive. You’re on foot in dense forest where the weather can turn quickly regardless of season. In some cases treks can run long, so it pays to be prepared for a full day out.

Most premium lodges provide many useful trekking items such as gaiters, waterproof ponchos, walking sticks and backpacks. We provide a detailed packing guide before departure so you’ll know exactly what to bring. A short list of the main hiking equipment we recommend is:

• Waterproof hiking boots
• Long trousers and a long-sleeved top, ideally quick drying
• Lightweight waterproof jacket
• Gaiters for muddy conditions
• Gardening or trekking gloves, protecting you from branches and stinging nettles
• Daypack for water, snacks, rain gear and your camera.

Australian passport holders can get a visa on arrival at any Rwandan entry point, with no prior application required. A 30-day single-entry visa has a current fee of USD $50. You’ll need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates with a blank page free, plus evidence of onward travel.

Rwanda is widely recognised as one of Africa’s cleanest and safest countries. A few facts worth knowing:

• Currently just over 1,100 mountain gorillas remain in the wild, however, this compares to just 620 in 1989; a remarkable conservation success. Rwanda has approximately 400 mountain gorillas.
• Rwanda has one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, and tourism remains one of its largest and fastest-growing sectors, with gorilla permit revenue directly funding conservation and community programs.
• It has more women in Parliament than any other country in the world (64%).
• The official languages are Kinyarwanda, English and French.
• Demand for gorilla permits during peak season now regularly outstrips supply.

Most guests come to Rwanda for the gorillas, but it’s worth building in time either side to see more of the country.

In the capital, Kigali, a private tour and visit to the memorial for victims of the 1994 genocide offers a sobering but important perspective on the country’s transformation over the past three decades.

Chimpanzee trekking – While gorillas receive most of the attention, chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park provides an entirely different wildlife experience. Unlike gorillas, chimpanzees are energetic, vocal and constantly moving through the rainforest canopy, creating a thrilling contrast. Combining both treks allows travellers to experience two of Africa’s great primates within a single journey. We recommend staying at One&Only Nyungwe House, where expert trackers guide you on a forest trail to encounter chimps in their natural habitat.

Safari – Akagera National Park is one of Africa’s greatest conservation success stories. Following the successful reintroduction of lions and black rhino, it has once again become a genuine Big Five destination. Rolling savannah, lakes, wetlands and woodland create a completely different landscape to Volcanoes National Park, offering exceptional game drives, boat safaris and photographic opportunities. We recommend Wilderness Magashi Peninsula, one of Rwanda’s finest safari lodges, for travellers looking to combine gorilla trekking with an exceptional Big Five safari.

Gorilla trekking deserves its reputation as one of the world’s greatest wildlife encounters. It is emotional, deeply personal and unlike anything else Africa can offer.

While many visitors come solely for the gorillas, combining Volcanoes National Park with chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe and safari in Akagera reveals a far richer side of Rwanda, defined by remarkable conservation, extraordinary biodiversity and warm hospitality.

At Forth & Wonder, every Rwanda itinerary is individually tailored. Whether your journey focuses exclusively on gorillas or forms part of a broader African adventure, we work closely with you to create a seamless luxury experience that reflects your interests, travel style and pace, creating a journey that is every bit as remarkable as the wildlife you’ll encounter.

Start your journey

Encountering mountain gorillas in the Rwandan rainforest is an experience you will always treasure. Talk to one of our Travel Designers today to start planning your once-in-a-lifetime African holiday.
e: curious@forthandwonder.com.au
p: +61 3 9045 9819