Guide to Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda 2026
Exclusive Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda, it is indeed possible to reserve all gorilla permits in Volcanoes National Park for an entire day, allowing for private and exclusive gorilla trekking experiences. Whether you wish to do this as an individual, a group or as a family, Elephant Whispers Safaris can arrange this special booking. Volcanoes National Park is renowned for its stunning mountain gorillas and various primates’ species, including golden monkeys. the park also offers excellent hiking adventures opportunities, making it a popular destination for adventure enthusiast.
Each day, the park has 12 Gorilla families, totalling 96 Gorilla permits available for trekking. Obtaining these permits in Rwanda can be done directly by booking them through Rwanda Development Board or via trusted tour operator such as Elephant Whispers Safaris.
If your area considering blocking all permits in Volcanoes National Park for a whole day to have an exclusive trek, this is entirely feasible with Elephant Whispers Safaris. To secure exclusive access, you can choose to pay deposit of 100%, 70% or 30% to the permit cost upfront.
The cost of each gorilla permit in Volcanoes National Park is $1500 Per person for the Foreign non residents, $500 for foreign residents and $200 for East African Citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan). This fee grants you approximately one hour t encounters the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. If you plan to trek alone, you mist reserve and pay for all permits needed that day’s trek. For instance, a foreign non-resident would need to pay $1500 per permit, and since there are 96 permits available each day, the total cost to block all permits would be $144,000. This arrangement ensures an entirely private and exclusive experience with no other tourists, only your guided and rangers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Exclusive Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Rwanda
1.What is gorilla trekking in Rwanda?
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is an exciting adventure where visitors hike in to the Volcanoes National Park to observe mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that allows you to see these incredible primates up close while supporting conservation efforts.
- What makes a gorilla trekking safari “exclusive”?
An exclusive gorilla safari means you get a more private and personalized experience. Instead of large groups, you trek might be with a small group or even private guides. This allows for a more intimate encounter with the gorillas, less crowding, and a more relaxed experience.
- How do I book an exclusive gorilla trekking safari?
You can book through specialled tour operators like us at Elephant Whispers Safaris. Once you have your planned dates of travel confirmed we will need you to send us an email here so that we check for availability of trekking permits online with the Rwanda Development Board, once we confirm permits are available for your planned dates we will let you know so that we can send you an invoice for you to make payment for the permits so that we can book an exclusive gorilla trekking permits in Volcanoes National Park for a whole day. Once the payment is done and we have received it on our account we will go ahead and purchase your permits immediately and send you a scanned copy of the permits for your records and perusal, this will confirm you are booked for exclusive gorilla trekking for a given whole day in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. It’s best to plan well in advance because permits are limited, and exclusive packages tend to be popular.
- How many people are allowed on a gorilla trek?
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) limits each gorilla family habituation group to a maximum of 8 visitors per day. For exclusive safaris, your package might include a private guide or even a dedicated group, but the permit limit per gorilla family remains the same to protect the animals.
- What is included in an exclusive gorilla safari package?
Typically, these packages include your gorilla permits, private transportation, comfortable accommodations, meals, park fees and sometimes additional activities like golden monkey tracking, birdwatching, or cultural visits. The ideal is to offer a seamless, personalized experience.
- How physically demanding is gorilla trekking?
It can be physically challenging because the hikes involve walking on steep of the Virunga mountains, sometimes muddy trails for 2-4 hours. You should be in good health, wear sturdy shoes, and bring rain gears and water. Guides will help you find the best routes, and porters are often available to assist.
- When is the best time go for Exclusive Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda?
The best time to reserve an Exclusive Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda is during the dry seasons of January, February and June to early September. These months facilities easier travel within the park and provide better visibility of mountain n gorillas, as vegetation is less dense. Conversely, in April, May and November, which are typically wetter months, denser vegetation can obscure sightings. However, trek, during these periods tend to be shorter because primates do not travel far in search of food, as food is more abundant in the forest during the rainy season. Overall, viewing gorillas in Volcanoes National Park is feasible throughout the year, thanks to the well-organized nature of the activity and a high likelihood—around 99% chances of seeing them in their natural habitat.
- What should I bring during Exclusive Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda?
Bring a long-armed sweater since the park gets cold, mosquito repellent, a pair of binoculars, a camera (without flash), 2 pairs of long trousers, a hat, sunglasses, water proof hiking boots and gardening gloves, you should not wear very bright colors since this will charge or scare away the gorillas. It’s also good to carry some snacks and water, although many safaris include meals.
- How to get to Volcanoes National Park?
Getting to Volcanoes National Park is straightforward by road. It is approximately a 2-hour drive from Kigali city and about an hour drive from Cyanika boarder, which connects Uganda and Rwanda. For our all-inclusive packages, we utilize 4×4 vehicles that ensure a comfortable journey to the park. These vehicles are equipped with drinking water onboard, air conditioning, and are driven by professional driver-guides. For entry into the park, you will need to have secured permit for any of the activity of your choice or paid park entrance fees.
- Where to stay in Volcanoes national Park?
There are many lodges and hotels in volcanoes national park ranging from budget to luxury, namely; Amakoro Songa Lodge, Kinigi Guest House, Hotel Muhabura, Virunga Inn and Resort, Mountain Gorillas Nest Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Kataza House, My Hill Eco Lodge, Rrugano Virunga Palace, One and Only Gorillas Nest Lodge, Le Palme Hotel, Tiloreza Volcanoes Eco lodge, Gorillas Volcanoes Hotel, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Garr Hotel, Villa Gorilla, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Garden Place Hotel, Virunga Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Best View Hotel, Faraja Hotel, Gorilla Solution Lodge, Fravan Eco Resort among others.
Why choose to book your Exclusive Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda with Elephant Whispers Safaris?
Elephant Whispers Safaris specialized in creating exceptional gorilla safari experiences Rwanda. Our reputation is reflected in the high ratings and positive reviews we receive on TripAdvisor. We offer a blend of gorilla trekking adventures alongside eco-friendly, high-end safaris hat focus on wildlife conservation, biodiversity, preservation, and supporting local communities. Our offerings include chimpanzee trekking, Big 5 safaris, game viewing, Mountain Hiking, Boat cruises and Cultural encounters, all designed to provide a memorable African Safari experience. We also feature popular destinations across Tanzania and Uganda. Please feel free to contact us to book your exclusive gorilla trek in Rwanda.
