Gorilla Trekking Tips You Need During Rwanda Safari in 2026-2027

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is one of the exclusive adventures you can take on an African safari. If you get a last minute decision to do gorilla trekking as and African safari, Rwanda is the best choice you have. From Kigali Airport, the drive to Volcanoes National park where gorilla trekking happens is about 3 hours. When you travel to Rwanda, you can even get off an early morning flight and go gorilla trekking then get on a late night flight back home. Request A Qoutation

Booking a Rwanda gorilla trekking permit before travelling is very important because chance of finding gorilla permits availability when on ground are slim. The demand for Rwanda gorilla trekking permits is high almost the entire year because they are few open to the public. At the moment about 12 Rwanda gorilla trekking families are open to the public yet maximum 8 are open to the public per day.

Rwanda development Board is the body that sells and regulates gorilla trekking permits in the country. Even though you can personally find gorilla trekking permits, it is better to use the help of a tour company like Arch Safaris and tours to help with on ground last minute permits search. In case there is no gorilla permit availability at the Rwanda Development Board, there chances of finding those on resale amongst tour operators.

Book accommodation to use during gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda in advance so that you do not panic or when the best options runout. There accommodations to use during gorilla trekking in Rwanda that can offer day room services where you can clean up and prepare for your flight back home.

Reserve transport to use during gorilla trekking in Rwanda in time so that you do not have to waste time especially if you have to disembark from your flight and head for gorilla trekking on the same day. Reserve a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition because of the nature of the terrain in this area.

To experience the best of Rwanda safaris without pressure have some more time on holiday that is for gorilla trekking in Rwanda, we recommend atleast 2 days of gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

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How To book Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permits

Select a gorilla trekking date either confirmed or tentatively and the number of permits you hope to purchase but they should be for 15 year and over

Find gorilla permit availability per your dates of preference. Be flexible with the gorilla trekking dates too in case you find no availability per the date of your choice.

Purchase the gorilla trekking permits as soon as you can because their status changes anytime without warning. No Rwanda gorilla permit is reserved without payment which you can do fully or partially that is 30% and 70 %. To find last minute gorilla trekking permits, it is best to purchase them in full.

To produce the gorilla trekking permits, you need to avail some personal details including nationality, full names, date of birth and more.

What month is best to Do Gorilla Trekking safari in Rwanda at the last minute

The low season months are best to find last minute gorilla permits all factors kept constant because fewer tourists are expected in Rwanda during this season. In Rwanda, the low tourism season in Rwanda is March, April, May and November.

The peak tourism season in Rwanda is June, July, August, September, December and January but the demand for gorilla permits is overwhelmingly high. Chances of finding gorilla permits availability at the last minute are next to impossible. When you finally find the gorilla permits, it is best to reserve it in the shortest time possible.

In general, the dry season is best to do gorilla trekking in Rwanda when the precipitation in Volcanoes National Park is less. Volcanoes forest is an expanse moist forest which receives rains without warning. Sometimes the rains fall causing rivers and streams to flood leaving the ground soggy and boggy and making exploring the forest quite challenging to  

The dry season is better to do gorilla trekking safaris with more sunlight sipping through the dense leaves to brighten the environment better in order to get better view of the mountain gorillas. Most of the time, the mountain gorillas keep closer to the ground in the dry season as they have to find food to support them throughout the day and night.

How difficult is gorilla trekking in Rwanda

 Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is quite steep because of the nature of the topography of Volcanoes National Park with five of the six Virunga volcanoes that is Mountain Gahinga, Muhavura, Bisoke, Karisimbi and Sabyinyo. In general, the topography of Rwanda which is referred to as the land of a thousand hills is hilly.

Walking through the dense Volcanoes forest in Rwanda while searching for the mountain gorillas is quite challenging necessitating having some level of fitness. The mountain gorillas at times spend time up on the slopes of these highlands or deep in the valleys.

Because Volcanoes forest is a dense rain forest, the creepers and vines drape down the tree stems or the ridges and to get through the ranger guide has to trim this to create a path to help you get to the gorillas.

In case you hire a porter before starting the gorilla search, he or she may give you a hand to cross over the river or even give you a push when tired. The porter helps carry your gorilla trekking gears so that this weight doesn’t drag you behind.

What time do you locate the mountain gorillas in Rwanda

Time of locating the Rwanda mountain gorillas may vary from 30 minutes to over hours depending on the factors prevailing in the forest. Mountain gorillas are free animals that traverse the thick rain forest of Volcanoes with nothing to put a stop to their movements.

 The mountain gorillas may change their location in case food becomes insufficient to satisfy the rest of the family, incase of family feud, death of a family member and more. Each day a team of trackers wakes early to trace where the gorilla family may have nested and estimate possible direction they may take for the day hung out.   

When leading the trekkers, the ranger guide also follows the trail leading where the gorilla family allocated to you was last seen the previous day. The mountain gorillas rarely move far from the previous location but when you follow the clues they leave behind, you can locate these primates.

To maintain the desire of doing gorilla trekking which may take time to find these primates, have some level of patience or alternatively you can keep busy spotting other primates in the forest, birds , stunning features  and more.  

As you approach the mountain gorillas, you may notice their presence from the murmurs they make as though alerting others of your presence.  The ranger guide at this point will ask you to wear a clean mask, before pull through to where the gorilla family may be.

When with the mountain gorillas, do not forget to keep a distance of about 8 meters from then as a rule. Sometimes out of curiosity, the mountain gorillas may reach out to touch your gadgets so do not leave them unattended.

Watch the gorillas as they interact through grooming, combing each other’s hairs, discipline, play, the silverback may show off sometimes but do not get scared. Take photos or film to keep unforgettable memories to turn too after gorilla trekking. Only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas as a rule.

Gorilla trekking is open to the public but conserving the sovereignty of this primates takes of these primates takes center stage. Note that the presence of humans interrupts the daily life of the mountain gorillas so it is minimized by taking only one hour with these primates to allow them do their activities.

How Sure Can I be To see The Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda during Gorilla Trekking

Seeing the mountain gorillas of Rwanda is a sure deal but with 99% chances. After paying a hefty price for the Rwanda gorilla permit which is quite hefty one would like to get value for money and be assured to see the mountain gorillas. The mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National park are first habituated for a period till proved ready to meet humans.

The gorilla families in Volcanoes forest stay in a location for at least sometime till food appear to be insufficient for the entire gorilla family. Even when the gorilla family has to move it is usually close to the previous location.

The bulky size of the mountain gorillas with the silverbacks being about 140 kg and the females about half this weight makes it difficult to cover a long distance. Even when moving, mountain gorillas have nap time so you may trace them during this time.

As part of the adventure, tourists are requested to assist in tracing the mountain gorillas using clues they leave behind including freshly eaten celery, fresh dung, foot prints and more.

Gorilla trekking is a unique adventure no pressure is applied when searching for these gentle primates but stay focused to the goal of locating these primates while abiding with the rules of gorilla trekking.

Can Mountain Gorillas Rage During Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda

Mountain gorillas by nature are not aggressive but can charge when provoked. By character, the mountain gorillas are serene may walk away into the deep forest when they feel threatened and more.

It is best to adhere to the rules of gorilla trekking when with these primates in order not to push buttons of their anger.

Some odd behavior that mountain gorillas may show include chest thumping, pulling grass, throwing fruits, hooting and more. It is not all the time that you notice such behavior that you run away but stay still and wait for the advise from the ranger guide on what to do next.

Sometimes you may have to act in a way to convince the gorilla family that you have no bad intensions for them. You may try to chew some foliage, show submission and more signs to show your loyalty to the mountain gorillas.

No matter how adorable the mountain gorillas may look, do not try to touch their babies neither the adults. Mountain gorillas are very protective with their infants and can go to the extreme to defend them from strangers.

How To Describe gorilla trekking In Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is in quite steep environment because the mountain gorillas live on the slopes or deep in the valley sometimes.

You need to bear some level of fitness when searching for the mountain gorillas because of the nature of the terrain in this area. Volcanoes National Park has five of the six Virunga Volcanoes that influence the topography of this area.

The trails in Volcanoes forest are wet most of the time from the untimely rains that fall so expect it to rain and level the ground boggy. More sunlight penetrates into the forest leaving the ground wet most of the time mixed with decomposing matter.

You need to wear the right gorilla trekking gears to pass through the jungle and complete the trek. When you finally find the mountain gorillas, you may to forget the challenges encountered along the way and enjoy the presence of these primates.

Alternative Rwanda safari activities to combine with gorilla trekking

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park Rwanda is amazing as you get to spend time with some of the endangered primates in the world the chimpanzees in their kingdom. No human interference but they have control over their activities.

Game safaris in Akagera national Park Rwanda may get you to meet some of the big five that is Rhinos, lion, elephants, cape buffaloes, water bucks, bush bucks, zebras, giraffes and more. The scenery of Akagera National Park is amazing with several features especially highlands to see.

Canopy Walk over Nyungwe forest on the suspension bridge giving you a better view of the green dense canopy and stunning highlands shaded by forest cover.

 Rwandese cultural experience where you get to learn about the habits of the Rwandese people, may arrange a home stay experience, a visit to the Ethnological Museum in Rwanda where ancient tools are preserved and more.