Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safaris: Best Gorilla Tours & Safaris in Rwanda

Frequently, visitors planning to have gorilla tours in Rwanda and go for the ultimate Rwanda gorilla trekking adventures are curious about where they are done! Is Rwanda known for gorillas? Yes, there are gorillas in Rwanda, and gorilla tours in Rwanda can only be done in:

Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Located in the far northwest of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is home to over 14 fully habituated gorilla families. And a few others are solely habituated for scientific research. The majority of gorilla families in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park are remarkable; they consist of at least one silverback, several females, and young offspring.

Gorilla groups in Rwanda Volcanoes National Park include:

1. Susa
2. Igisha
3. Karisimbi
4. Sabyinyo
5. Amahoro
6. Agashya
7. Kwitonda
8. Umubano
9. Hirwa
10. Benge
11. Uganda
12. Muhoza

Note that gorilla family groups have many silverback gorillas; however, a dominant silverback heads the group! During your Rwanda gorilla tour in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, all the treks start at 7 am at Kinigi (park headquarters). You’ll be assigned a gorilla family to trek with according to your level of fitness! On your safari in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, expect to spot some of the 200 colorful bird species recorded here. Also, on a lucky day, golden monkeys can be encountered.

Rules and Regulations of Trekking with Rwanda Gorillas

These gorilla trekking rules help secure your life during your adventure. Furthermore, these guidelines help to protect the health of these endangered primates as well as humans who visit them. Here are the rules to follow during your gorilla tour Rwanda:

Guidelines Before Departing into the Jungle

• The age limit for trekking gorillas in Rwanda is 15 years. This is so because young people are prone to childhood diseases such as mumps and measles. These are so deadly to gorillas. This applies to Uganda and Virunga National Park, Congo.
• Strictly, only 8 people are allowed to visit a gorilla family per day. This helps to minimize stress for these shy giants.
• Please don’t take part in a gorilla trek if you have the flu, a cold, or any other infectious disease. These massive primates can easily catch human communicable diseases!
• You must wash your hands before embarking on the gorilla trek. This should also be applied in Congo’s Virunga National Park as well as in Uganda’s Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks.

Rules to Follow While With Gorillas:

• You should maintain maximum silence while on the gorilla trek. But this shouldn’t limit you from inquiring about the ranger.
• On your gorilla trek, littering in the park is not allowed. This is against ecotourism principles.
• You should always keep a 7-meter distance from these great apes.
• It’s illegal to touch gorillas. They can misunderstand your touch. Remember, there are wild animals, however habituated they are!
• More so, smoking, eating, and drinking around these amazing giants are illegal! This applies in Ugandan parks and the Congo in Virunga National Park.
• You’re advised to remain in a group on your gorilla trek expeditions (primate safaris).
• If you want to sneeze in the presence of gorillas, you should turn away or cover your face. Infectious diseases like cough and flu are lethal to these great giants.
• Always follow the instructions of the ranger while on the gorilla trek. It applies even in Congo Virunga National Park as well as Uganda Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi National Park.
• On a gorilla trek, you’re only limited to one magical hour of encountering these great apes.
• Using flash cameras for photography is strictly not allowed. It stresses these shy giants.
• If you feel like easing yourself on a gorilla trek, you should go off track.  After, cover the waste 30 cm deep in the soil.

Packing List for A Gorilla Trip in Rwanda

If intending to have a gorilla tour in Rwanda, you’re advised to be well set for a memorable experience. Below is a packing list for Rwanda’s gorilla holiday safari:

• A camera: This is a must-have as you plan to track with gorillas in Rwanda. It helps you take amazing photos for remembrance.
• Rain jacket: Safeguards you in case rain gets you on a gorilla trek or gorilla tour in Rwanda.
• Solid hiking boots: This helps you on a gorilla trek as you hike through the hilly, fairly challenging slopes.
• Insect repellents: During your gorilla safaris in Rwanda, these protect you from any possibility of biting insects, such as mosquitoes.
• Gaiters: On your gorilla tour in Rwanda,  these protect you in case of safari ants along the trail.
• Long trousers and long-sleeved shirts help protect your skin from stinging nettles as well as biting insects.
• Gardening gloves: Help to safeguard your hands as you hold tree branches as well as other vegetation during the hike.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat: These protect you from sunshine, especially in dry months.
• A daypack: On your primate safaris in Rwanda, this helps you keep all your essentials, like a camera, toiletries, and packed lunch, safe. It’s ideal even on your Rwanda wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park.
• Packed lunch and normally energy-giving snacks are ideal on a Rwanda gorilla trek.
• Enough drinking water: This is so vital during this fairly strenuous adventure.

Note that the above rules cut across gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi National Park and in Congo’s Virunga National Park.

Hotels (Gorilla Safari Lodges) in Rwanda

During your gorilla tour in Rwanda, there are a range of Rwanda safari accommodation classes for you to choose from!

And among these are luxury, mid-range, and budget options.

Popular Luxury Lodges to Use

• Bisate Lodge Volcanoes
• Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
• Virunga Lodge
• Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

Best Mid-Range Lodges to Use

• Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
• La Palme Hotel
• Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
• Garden Place Hotel

Recommended Budget Lodges to Use

• Villa Gorilla
• Hotel Muhabura
• Kinigi Guesthouse

Other Amazing Types of Safaris in Rwanda

For a charming gorilla Rwanda tour, you’re advised to undertake other thrilling safari experiences! This allows you to fully explore Rwanda and Africa. Among these are:

• Wildlife Safaris in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park. Undertaking game-viewing safaris in Rwanda on top of your gorilla tours allows you to explore Rwanda’s rich wildlife. On your Rwanda wildlife safaris, expect to encounter the Big Five and other classic games of Africa, which are known to be spotted on Tanzania or Kenya safaris. On your wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park, you’ll look out for lions, leopards, buffalos, elephants, rhinos, hippos, and several antelope species, etc. In Akagera National Park, game drives are typically how you spot the majority of game animals during your wildlife safaris and tours.

• Bird-watching safaris in Rwanda. For those who are passionate about birds, consider incorporating birdwatching into your mountain gorilla vacation in Rwanda. In East Africa, the land of a thousand hills is one of the best sites to spot the Albertine Rift endemic birds. Nyungwe Forest National Park offers the best experience for birdwatching. Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest boasts over 322 bird species, counting about 29 Albertine endemics like Rwenzori Turaco and Handsome Francolin. Apart from Nyungwe Forest National Park, other amazing sites for birding tours in Rwanda and Africa include Akagera National Park as well as Volcanoes National Park. Water birds as well as other wildlife can be found around Lake Kivu shoes or white sand beaches.

• Chimpanzee Tours in Rwanda: Nyungwe Forest National Park. Chimpanzee tours in Nyungwe Forest are among the notable adventures worth undertaking on top of your Rwanda vacation. It gives you a captivating encounter with chimpanzees in their wonderful environment. Chimpanzees are man’s closest cousins, sharing over 98–99% of DNA similar to that of man! During the chimpanzee trek, you’ll meet amazing wildlife like the rare L’Hoest’s Monkeys. Note that, after Uganda’s Kibale National Park, Nyungwe Forest is another ideal site for primate safaris in East Africa. Kibale National Park offers the best chimpanzee tours in East Africa as well as Africa.

More thrilling tours in Rwanda to undertake on top of Your Gorilla tour

• Cultural experiences in Rwanda, Africa, for example, visiting Iby’iwachu cultural village for sensational traditional dances.
• Visit the genocide memorial sites such as Gisozi, Nyamata, Murambi, Ntarama, and Bisesero. A local private guide will explain to you the touching history of Rwanda’s genocide! Also, this private guide makes sure that you are safe on your tour.
• Visiting the grave of the renowned Dian Fossey. You can also decide to visit her Karisoke Research Center.
• Taking a Kigali city tour.
• Relaxation on the white-sand beaches of Lake Kivu. This lake (Lake Kivu), with its white sand beaches, is Rwanda’s biggest lake.
• Mountain hiking safaris in Rwanda, Africa: for example, hiking Mount Karisimbi as well as Bisoke.

How much is a gorilla safari in Rwanda?

How much does it cost to do gorilla trekking in Rwanda? Please be aware that there is no set price for a gorilla safari in Rwanda because it depends on a number of factors. But a Rwanda gorilla permit costs 1500 USD for foreign non-residents and 500 USD for foreign residents, and an all-inclusive 1-day gorilla safari costs about 2300 USD on average.

Below are the factors that determine the cost of a gorilla safari in Rwanda:

• Accommodation Class Your Wish to Use. The type of lodging you choose to use greatly affects the cost of gorilla trekking tours in Rwanda. Using luxury accommodation raises your safari cost more than it would be when you decide to go budget.

• Safari Vehicle You Wish to Use on Your Safari. Furthermore, this also affects your gorilla vacation cost. For example, using a safari van is relatively cheaper than using a 4×4 safari land cruiser. This is because these two have different fuel consumption rates.

• Number of Days You’re to Spend on Your Gorilla Holiday. Generally, the more days on your gorilla, the higher the safari cost. This is so because it raises safari expenses, for instance, accommodation and transport costs.

• Other Safari Activities to Undertake During Your Tour. Each activity you add to your gorilla tour in Rwanda raises your safari cost. Therefore, the more safari activities you undertake on your gorilla holiday, the higher the gorilla safari price. A few activities minimize your safari cost.
• Number of People on A Vacation. Generally, the cost of a gorilla vacation increases with the number of people undertaking a safari. This is because each person on a vacation calls for additional expenses, such as accommodation. But, on the other hand, traveling as a group is cheaper. It allows sharing of expenses like accommodation and transport costs.

Top Rwanda Gorilla Safari Companies: Tour Operators

Although there are many safari companies in Rwanda, getting a trustworthy gorilla tour operator isn’t easy! Thus, choosing an ideal tour operator offers you the best experience as you visit Rwanda.

You’re advised to check the company’s reviews on Tripadvisor!

Best Rwanda Gorilla Tour Packages

Note that, since Rwanda is just adjacent to Uganda, Rwanda-Uruguay tours are possible! Undertaking a Uganda and Rwanda safari is a thrilling experience worth undertaking.

Note that you can top up a gorilla tour in Rwanda on your Kenya or Tanzania safaris! Remember, there are no gorillas in Kenya or Tanzania!

Here are some of the best gorilla tours in Rwanda for you:

1-Day Gorilla Tour Rwanda Safari

2-Day Gorilla Tour Rwanda Safari in Volcanoes Park

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trek Safari & Golden Monkey Tracking

4-Day Rwanda Safari

5-Day Rwanda Wildlife Safari

6-Day Safari in Rwanda

8-Day Safari Rwanda Vacation Tour

8-Day Safari in Rwanda

9-Day Rwanda Tour

11-Day Comprehensive Uganda Rwanda Vacation

1-2 Days Best Uganda-Rwanda Trip

13-Day Uganda-Rwanda Safari

If you’re interested in encountering the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat in Africa, Rwanda is the best place to be. Rwanda gorilla tours (primate safaris) are done in the misty Volcanoes National Park, which holds the highest population of gorillas in the Virunga ranges.

For a rewarding gorilla tour in Rwanda, you should undertake a wildlife tour, visit Dian Fossey tombs and also make a Kigali city tour. Among others, don’t miss visiting Rwanda genocide memorial centers! Remember, you can top up this remarkable adventure on your safari tours in Kenya or Tanzania.

Book with us now an affordable Rwanda gorilla trekking tour  for a remarkable African gorilla trekking experience!