In 1994 Mountain Gorillas were threatened with extinction, and gorilla trekking in Rwanda was none existent, as the country went through a genocide that claimed approximately one million lives in 100 days. Today, Rwanda has gone through a remarkable recovery and is now the premier destination for Gorilla trekking in the world.
Along its northwestern border with Congo (D.R.C.) is a chain of eight dormant volcanoes locally known as the Virunga mountains. On the slopes of these mountains is the home of over half of the world’s remaining population of Mountain Gorillas.
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park encompasses five of the eight dormant volcanoes, namely Karisimbi, Gahinga, Muhabura, Sabyinyo, and Bisoke. The park gained world recognition when renowned primatologist Diane Fossey biographed her work to protect the gorillas in her book, Gorillas in the mist, later adapted for a movie.
Rwanda has continued in Diane Fossey’s spirit to do excellent gorilla conservation practices contributing to the Mountain Gorilla populations’ remarkable recovery in the last 20 years.
There are currently just over 600 mountain gorillas in the Virunga mountains. Of which ten gorilla families are open for tourists to visit. Each gorilla family has a leader, a dominant male, known as a silverback.
Although there is only one family leader, some of the families have several silverbacks living harmoniously.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda starts early. You have to report at the park headquarters in Kinigi at 7 am. You then get briefed by park rangers about the park and the gorilla families.
You then get assigned to a gorilla family based on the level of the hike you desire; comfortable, moderate, or difficult. Some gorilla families tend to have shorter trekking times, although you shouldn’t depend on it. Sometimes the same families have moved further on the day of the trek leading to longer trekking times.
After a short drive to respective starting points, every trek begins with a 30 to 60 minutes’ walk through farmland to the jungle’s edge, after which the hike into the forest begins. The total hike can last on average between one to three hours, although prepare for a full day.
Overall, the trek itself is relatively challenging. The forest floor is often wet and muddy, even in the dry season. The thick forest cover keeps the moisture leading to high levels of humidity. It’s essential to stay hydrated. That said, anyone with a reasonable level of fitness can do the trek.
Once you find the gorilla family, you have 45 minutes to an hour to watch and observe these magnificent creatures. The hour is just enough for the gorillas not to get irritated from so much human presence. It’s unbelievable how close you get to these giants, and no matter how many times you’ve seen them before, the experience is still astonishing.
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda comes at a high price even when compared to taking a big safari in some of Africa’s prime safari destinations. The main contributing factor is the price of a gorilla trekking permit. At $1,500 per person per day, visiting mountain gorillas in Rwanda is one of the most expensive wildlife tours on the planet.
However, the funds collected from gorilla permits sold are critical to the survival of the endangered mountain gorillas. All the money goes into boosting conservation efforts and the sustainable development of the communities around the park to curb poaching.
Secondary to the gorilla permit cost is the price of accommodation. It’s often costly to establish infrastructure like lodges due to the gorillas’ location’s remoteness and challenging terrain. A decent mid-range lodge can cost $400 or more a night, whereas the Cost is over $2000 a night for an exclusive luxury lodge.
However, you can reduce the cost of gorilla trekking in Rwanda by taking advantage of Kigali’s proximity to the Volcanoes national park (a two-hour drive). Spend the night in cheaper hotels in Kigali and set off early at 5 am, and then return to Kigali in the evening after your trek. See our One-day gorilla trekking safari.
A gorilla trekking permit is a must-have to track gorillas in Rwanda. It costs $1,500 per person per day to visit one gorilla group in the Volcanoes National Park.
You can purchase a gorilla permit either at the Rwanda Development Board (R.D.B) in Kigali or through a local tour operator. The gorilla trekking permit is only valid for a specific day and only transferrable with the R.D.B’s permission.
Rwanda is situated slightly south of the equator with a relatively high altitude that provides a pleasant tropical highland climate with average temperatures of 21°C (70° F). As a result, Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is open all year round, and you are guaranteed to see the mountain gorillas any time of the year.
However, the two dry seasons (June to September and December to February) provide optimal gorilla trekking conditions. There are light cloud cover and occasional light showers during both dry seasons, which often moderate the temperatures. In contrast, the wet seasons are characterized by persistent heavy rainfall, which can add to the challenge of gorilla trekking.
Volcanoes National Park, located in Musanze district, is only a two-hour drive northwest of the capital Kigali. There are daily shuttles from Kigali’s bus park to Musanze. From Musanze, it’s an additional 30 minutes’ drive by either motorbike or minibus taxi to Kinigi, a small town home to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters.
Alternatively, you can hire a local tour operator in Kigali, with a 4×4 safari vehicle and a guide for a more comfortable and pleasant drive.
The most popular itinerary involves three days in Rwanda. The three days include two days of travel to and from Volcanoes National Park and gorilla trekking one day. However, if your time is limited, you can also pull it off in two days, including traveling and gorilla trekking on the same day.
Most people only have 7 to 10 days of vacation time. Therefore when time is limited, it may seem like a daunting task to combine your dream safari with gorilla trekking. However, it’s doable with the right plan.
We recommend you visit Rwanda first. 3 to 4 days is enough for a tour of Kigali and Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Then take an hour’s flight to Nairobi. There are daily flights from Kigali to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. Your trip’s Kenya leg would include a day in Nairobi and 2 or 3 nights in the Masai Mara.
Although, from time to time, rebel activity springs up in the Congo’s Virunga National Park, there is no known threat of rebel activity to tourists visiting the Volcanoes National Park. The last rebel attack was in 1992; since then, the park has been safe and secured by the Rwanda Army.
There are only 80 gorilla permits available every day for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. The gorilla permits run out quickly, especially in the busy summer months. We recommend buying your gorilla permit six months before your time of travel.
The next step is finding suitable lodging. If you have no friends or relatives in Kigali, there are several world-class hotels and B&B’s that you can book for your stay in Kigali. Websites like Booking and Airbnb are a great resource. The airport is only 20 minutes from the Central Business District of Kigali. Here are our top recommendations:
In addition to a hotel in Kigali, we recommend booking a lodge near volcanoes national park, facilitating easy and timely access to the park, and enhancing your gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda. However, if you are on a shoestring budget, plan to stay in Kigali and take a day trip to Volcanoes National Park. Here are our recommendations for lodges near Volcanoes National Park.
You can either use public or private means of transport to get to Volcanoes National Park. For private transportation, contact a local tour operator. It shouldn’t cost more than $100 a day for a vehicle, gas/fuel, and a driver. Alternatively, you can use various forms of public transportation to get there. Contact us for details.
The right gear is paramount to a pleasant experience of gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Having the right shoes or socks can be what makes or breaks your experience. Check out our recommended gear and clothes to carry for gorilla trekking.
Although anybody with a reasonable fitness level can trek gorillas, it’s a more manageable experience when you condition your body to the intensity involved in hiking or trekking. We recommend putting in a few minutes a day on the treadmill or walking or jogging a couple of times a week before your trip.
Gorilla Safari Lodge is a private and secluded upmarket lodge with spectacular views of the Bwindi rainforest and located close to the Gorilla Trekking starting point. The lodge consists of spacious chalets, the main lodge area with a restaurant, and a bar overlooking the Bwindi rainforest and a gift shop. It also has free WIFI available at the main lodge area.
These are chalets, each consisting of a spacious room, a private terrace, and en-suite bathroom. They are beautifully decorated and nicely lit with great views of the Bwindi rainforest. Each room is fitted with large comfortable beds, plush linen, mosquito net wrapping around the bed, lounge furniture, and a fireplace. The bathrooms have flush toilets and showers with hot and cold running water.
Meals are all included; 2 breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners. The restaurant offers 3-course meals of local and international specialties.
Spacious and nicely-decorated rooms
Great location
Spectacular views of Bwindi rainforest
Elaborate meals and variety of choices
Spacious restaurant
Free WIFI
No WIFI in the rooms
| Pax | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Price per person | $2,125 | $1,754 | $1,692 | $1,661 | $1,642 | $1,629 |
Prices are based on double room occupancy. You can upgrade to a single room for $106 per person.
Rushaga Gorilla Camp is a mid-range mountain lodge located in the south-eastern part of the park near one of the four gorilla trekking starting points known as Rushaga. The lodge has excellent panoramic views of the Bwindi forest and is a 5 minutes' walk to the gorilla trekking starting point. It also has a restaurant that offers a full English breakfast, an a la carte lunch menu, and a choice of 3 set meals for dinner. You can also access free WIFI at the main lounge and restaurant area of the lodge.
These are spacious cottages with large comfortable beds and linen, lounge furniture, and a private terrace looking towards the Bwindi rainforest. All rooms have a spacious private bathroom with flush toilets, solar-powered hot showers, a sink, and a dressing countertop and mirror.
Your stay includes two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners. The meals are all made from western or intercontinental cuisine.
Relatively good price
Great location
Spacious rooms
Views of the Bwindi rainforest
Free WIFI
Not nicely decorated
The linen is comfortable but not plush
Limited food items at the restaurant
| Pax | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Price per person | $1,834 | $1,448 | $1,385 | $1,354 | $1,335 | $1,323 |
Prices are based on double room occupancy. You can upgrade to a single room for $146 per person.
Gorilla Valley Lodge is a small, low-budget lodge located in the south-eastern part of the park near one of the four gorilla trekking starting points known as Rushaga. The lodge has a small restaurant that offers a basic continental breakfast and a few options of international cuisine for lunch and dinner.
These are clean and modestly furnished brick and motor rooms consisting of a comfortable bed, linen, towels, and en-suite bathrooms. The bathrooms have solar-powered hot water showers and flush toilets. The rooms also have lighting, power plugs, and mosquito nets over the beds.
Only breakfast and dinner are included in the basic plan. You can order lunch daily at the restaurant.
Affordable and comfortable rooms
Good location
Basic facilities
Small rooms
Limited meal options
Limited views
No internet access
If there are no rooms available at the time of your booking. We will provide a suitable replacement.
| Pax | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Price per person | $1,438 | $1,187 | $1,125 | $1,094 | $1,075 | $1,062 |
Prices are based on double room occupancy. You can upgrade to a single room for $89 per person.
Paraa Safari Lodge is an upmarket lodge with the refinements of a 3-star hotel, located in the center of the park looking over the Nile river. Facilities include spacious rooms, a restaurant, a bar, a pool with a bar, and a gift shop.
Paraa safari lodge boasts the best location in the park and offers the conveniences of being so close to the jetty for your boat safari on the Nile river, and close to the game viewing areas of the park. No lodge offers more conveniences for your 3 Days Murchison Falls Safari than Paraa Safari Lodge.
The rooms are nicely lit, decorated with plush linen, and towels. All rooms have a private bathroom with hot showers and a hairdryer. The rooms have a coffee bar, a reading table, refrigerator, complimentary bottled water, and a private balcony.
Meals are all included; two breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners. The restaurant offers three-course meals of local and international specialties.
Spacious and comfortable rooms
WIFI available in all rooms
Great location for game drives and boat safari
Elaborate meals and variety of choices
The standard rooms have a ceiling fan, but no air-conditioning. You can upgrade to a deluxe room for $35 per person per room.
Note: If there are no rooms available at the time of your booking, we will recommend a suitable replacement.
| Pax | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Price per person | $1,241 | $902 | $825 | $786 | $763 | $748 |
Prices are based on double room occupancy. You can upgrade to a single room for $106 per person.
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Pakuba Safari Lodge is a mid-range lodge, located on the northern side of the park facing the Albert Nile. The facilities include a restaurant, terraced room blocks and a swimming pool.
The lodge is in an excellent location for game drives and with nicely furnished rooms, offering you better value for your money compared to other mid-range accommodations, making Pakuba the ideal lodge for your 3 Days Murchison Falls Safari.
All rooms have a private bathroom with solar-powered hot showers, a reading table, a closet, and a private terrace. The rooms are all air-conditioned.
This plan is inclusive of all meals. The price includes two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners during your stay. The meals are all made from western or intercontinental cuisine.
Reasonably priced.
Excellent location for game drives
Comfortable rooms with air-conditioning
WIFI at the main lobby and at the restaurant
The lodge is a 45 mins drive from the Paraa jetty, where the boat safari begins and ends.
Rooms lack a coffee or tea bar and Hair dryer.
The linen is comfortable but not plush
Note: If there are no rooms available at the time of your booking, we will recommend a suitable replacement.
| Pax | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Price per person | $1,141 | $763 | $685 | $647 | $624 | $608 |
Prices are based on double room occupancy. You can upgrade to a single room for $146 per person.
Red Chilli Rest Camp is a low-budget camp located in the center of the park on the southern side of the Nile, only 500 meters from the ferry crossing point. You stay in brick and motor, African thatched houses locally known as bandas.
The camp also has a restaurant that offers an a la carte breakfast and lunch menu, and a choice of 3 set meals for dinner. The combination of a great location and a right level of comfort makes Red Chilli Rest Camp the ideal budget accommodation for your 3 Days Murchison Falls Safari.
The bandas all include a double bed or two twin beds with linen and a mosquito net. A few bandas have private bathrooms, but most uses shared bathrooms. All the bandas have lighting, power plugs, and a fan. There’s a limited number of Ensuite bandas. The camp has shared toilets and bathroom stalls with hot water available.
The basic plan includes breakfast. You can buy lunch and dinner every day at the restaurant.
It’s inexpensive and safe.
Even though Red Chilli Rest Camp’s location is better than other budget accommodations, it’s not the best for game viewing. It takes about 30 minutes, including crossing the Nile on a ferry to get to the wildlife. The ferry has set crossing times, and these can limit the amount of time you spend viewing the animals. All the other low-budget camps have the same challenge. None is close to the wildlife.
Electricity is only available at set times of the day, except lights are always on. The set times are from 7 am to 9 am, 11 am to 2 pm, and 5 pm to 10 pm. Outside these hours, guests charge appliances such as phones and camera batteries at the restaurant.
No WIFI
Note: If there are no rooms available at the time of your booking, we will recommend a suitable replacement.
| Pax | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Price per person | $918 | $597 | $520 | $481 | $458 | $442 |
Prices are based on double room occupancy. You can upgrade to a single room for $89 per person.