Volcanoes National Park is the best place to go for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park is found in the northwestern region of Rwanda, close to the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Volcanoes National Park spans a total land area of 160 square kilometers within the Virunga massif, which includes Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and Virunga National Park.
Volcanoes National Park is situated on elevations that range from 2,400 meters to 4,507 meters above sea level. These elevations support a variety of vegetation types, comprising tropical rainforests, thickets, swamps, marshes, meadows, alpine forests, and open grasslands. The vegetation at volcanoes is home to 90 species of mammals and at least 170 bird species.
Mammals at Volcanoes National Park include the famous mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, bushbucks, buffalos, elephants, and duikers among others. The bird species include crowned hornbill, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batis, African Olive pigeon, and sunbirds among others.
Volcanoes National Park is the only place in Rwanda where you can find the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. With at least 380 individual mountain gorillas, Volcanoes has at least 10 habituated gorilla families that can be explored throughout the year. Hikers will learn about their unique behaviors firsthand once they encounter them.
Volcanoes National Park experiences a tropical highland climate which is characterized by relatively mild temperatures throughout the year. Average annual temperatures range from about 10o C to 20o C (50o F to 68o F), with significant amounts of rainfall, especially during the wet seasons. The wet seasons occur in the months of February to May and September to December, and the dry seasons usually occur from June to August.
How gorilla trekking is done in Volcanoes National Park
At Volcanoes National Park, gorilla trekking tours start with a briefing session conducted by the park warden at the park headquarters. This is to ensure that the visitors understand the hiking rules and how to behave around the mountain gorillas. The visitors are divided into groups of up to 8 individual members, with each group assigned a specific habituated gorilla family to trek. At around 8 am, the hiking adventure begins led by an experienced ranger guide and armed rangers. The duration of the gorilla trekking adventure varies from 2 hours to up to over 8 hours before locating the gorilla family.
Hikers will have to pass through challenging terrain consisting of dense vegetation, steep slopes, and sometimes muddy slippery paths. After locating the gorilla family, visitors are allowed only an hour to view the gorillas and take pictures. Afterward, the visitors will hike back to the park headquarters to accomplish their gorilla trekking adventure. Each successful visitor will be awarded a gorilla trekking certificate that shows their successful completion of the adventure.
The minimum age for a visitor to engage in gorilla trekking tours in Volcanoes National Park is 15 years and the maximum is 85 years. This also depends on your health and physical fitness.
Cost of a gorilla permit in Rwanda
To engage in a gorilla trekking adventure in Volcanoes National Park, you must have a gorilla permit. A gorilla permit is a pass that is required to allow you to participate in a gorilla trekking tour in Volcanoes National Park. These have limited availability, especially during peak seasons, therefore you need to acquire one a few months before the gorilla trekking tour. The Rwanda Development Board is responsible for issuing gorilla permits to Volcanoes National Park and in a day it avails about 96 permits.
Each permit per person costs USD 1,500 for foreign non-residents, USD 500 for African citizens or residents, and USD 300 for East African Community citizens. Gorilla permits can only be purchased through a registered tour operator who buys them from the Rwanda Development Board. The latter has the advantage of organizing a seamless tour package that includes meals, accommodation, transportation, and several tourist activities. In Rwanda, last-minute bookings are not allowed for gorilla permits therefore you are strictly recommended to book earlier.
Other attractions and activities to do in Volcanoes National Park
Besides gorilla trekking tours, Volcanoes offers several tourism activities to cater to a variety of interests. There are golden monkeys that tourists can track in their natural habitat and these two require a trekking permit which is purchased the same way as that of gorillas. Golden monkeys are a rare species of monkeys that are only available in very few areas in the world and Volcanoes National Park is part of them.
The forest itself can be used for guided nature walks to allow a visitor to explore the exquisite landscapes, diverse flora, and fauna in the jungles. Visitors can encounter the different species of birds, trees, plants, and butterflies on this incredible nature walk.
A visitor can also engage in cultural encounters with the Batwa pygmy tribe to ensure that they gain insight into their traditions and lifestyles. The Iby’Iwacu cultural village located close to the gate of the park is a perfect way to explore in detail the Kinyarwanda culture.
The volcano hiking expeditions also present another great opportunity for visitors to conquer the majestic peaks of the Virunga Mountains. For adventure enthusiasts, taking a hike to the challenging peaks of the Virunga ranges is a magical way to finalize your gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda.
Best time to visit Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking tours
Visitors can go to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking tours throughout the year however, the best time to visit the site is during the dry season which is also the peak season. The dry season is ideal because Volcanoes National Park experiences warmer atmospheric conditions with less rainfall patterns compared to the wet season. This makes it comfortable for hikers, and the relatively low rainfall implies that gorilla trails are less muddy to allow for easy movement and navigation. The vegetation cover during dry seasons is also relatively less dense, thus offering better opportunities for encountering mountain gorillas and other wild animals.
Accessing Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking tours
Volcanoes National Park is located at least 104 kilometers from Kigali city center and the road trip takes 2-3 hours depending on the traffic conditions. For visitors desiring a much quicker transportation option, a scheduled helicopter flight from Kigali International Airport to the nearby Ruhengeri Airport is recommended. This takes about 30-40 minutes to reach Ruhengeri, where you will meet your tour guide who will transport you to Volcanoes National Park headquarters using a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle.
Packing list for a gorilla trekking tour in Volcanoes National Park
- Strong hiking boots
- Lightweight clothing made of dull-colored material
- Rain gear such as a rain jacket or poncho
- Wide-brimmed hat/cap to protect against direct sunlight on the face
- Waterproof backpack to carry portable essential items
- Refillable water bottle to ensure you are hydrated at all times
- Snacks to ensure you do not go hungry
- Suntan lotion
- Insect repellent to protect against insect bites, especially the mosquitoes
- Binoculars
- Medication in case of known illness
- First-aid kit for any minor injuries
- Camera to capture remarkable moments
