Come Visit the Gorillas
Visiting Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda is one of the world’s great wildlife experiences. This unique opportunity to see gorillas in their natural habitat is unforgettable, some even say life changing. Encounters with gorillas as they go about their daily lives are carefully managed, with expert trackers and guides leading small groups of tourists up forest covered slopes to spend a precious and awe-inspiring hour in the company of these gentle creatures.
At the latest count, there are over 1,000 mountain gorillas in the wild, with over 600 in the Virunga Volcanic range. Through the concerted efforts of government, communities, and NGOs, the mountain gorillas are the only population of great apes in the world that is increasing.
Tracking gorillas in Rwanda is safe and accessible. There are 23 groups of gorillas living in and around the Volcanoes National Park, of which 12 are fully habituated for visits, with the other groups habituated solely for scientific research. Each group consists of at least one silverback along with several females and youngsters.
A visit starts with a briefing at the park Headquarters that will introduce you to the group you will be visiting and prepare you for the experience and how to behave around the gorillas. You will then head to the park boundary to begin tracking. You will climb to your assigned group, and the length and terrain of the hike will depend on the location of the gorilla group you are visiting. Hiking boots or sturdy walking shoes, waterproof clothing, long sleeves, and gloves are highly recommended for the thick vegetation and stinging nettles.
To see real-time daily gorilla tracking experiences from other visitors to Volcanoes National Park, be sure to keep following our Gorilla Gram accounts on Instagram to see the latest photos and videos from each group.
Book Your Gorilla Tracking Experience
Gorilla Tracking experiences can be booked through local and international tour operators as part of a package itinerary for visiting Rwanda, which will include the permits and logistics required for visiting the gorillas. A gorilla permit can also be booked directly online, and accommodation around Volcanoes National Park can be found.
Permits
Gorilla permits cost US $1,500 per person per day. The minimum age limit to track gorillas is 15 years old. Special offers are currently available for Rwandan and East African Community citizens and residents.
More information on permits and online bookings can be found here as well as other activities possible during your visit.
Prior to booking your gorilla tracking experience, we encourage you to visit the International Gorilla Conservation Project’s Gorilla Friendly Pledge, which you can take to show your commitment to respecting the mountain gorilla families and their habitat during your visit by maintaining physical distance, wearing a facemask at all times, and ensuring no waste is left inside the park.
Revenue from gorilla permits is used to support community and conservation projects, including the expansion of the forest and gorilla habitat. More information on the protection of Mountain gorillas can be found here.
When you come visit be sure to share your own experience using Gorilla Gram which lets you play an active role in conservation by tagging photos and videos of the gorillas you see to become an important part of our knowledge hub for monitoring populations and behaviour.
