Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is the most popular tourism product in Rwanda. This activity involves hiking through mountainous areas and forests in search of a creature that resembles/behaves like humans. Mountain gorillas are special among the gorilla sub-species because of their endangered status. Only 1000 individuals still roam earth and there are none in zoos. An encounter with them is concerned to be one of the best 5 wildlife experiences. All gorilla trekking activities in Rwanda are organized at the Volcanoes National park. It is one of the four national game parks in Rwanda, but stands out because of the mountain gorillas. The park has 30% of the overall population of mountain gorillas remaining on earth. 20% are found in Virunga National Park of Congo while the rest (50%) live in Uganda. In all, about 320 individual gorillas roam the park with 10 families habituated.
Gorillas thrive in the Volcanoes National Park because of the remarkable biodiversity. The vegetation cover consists of mainly bamboo forests, montane forests, swamps and grassland. The landscape is dominated by 5 volcanoes – Bisoke, gahinga, Muhabura, sabyinyo and Karisimbi. It is not only mountain gorillas that enjoy the beauty of the park but also other animal species like African forest elephants, duikers, bush bucks, giant forest hog, blue monkeys, golden monkeys, Angola colobus and birds.
With such remarkable biodiversity, one can also take part in mountain hiking, golden monkey trekking, visiting the Dian Fossey tomb, nature walks and birding. Gorilla trekking remains number one and the other activities are considered complementary though some see it as separate attractions in their own right. It is recommended that travelers set aside at least 3 days to enjoy both gorilla trekking and other activities.
The Cost of Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
What is the cost of gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park? Like any other tourism activity, gorilla trekking has a price. A visitor must first acquire a gorilla permit and this goes for $1500 per 
person. The gorilla permit is acquired from the Rwanda Development Board or through a local tour operator. You might want to read about current Rwanda gorilla permit discounts. Apart from gorilla permits, there are other costs to consider. They include the cost of accommodation, transport, meals and personal expenses. In all, a 1 day gorilla tour in Rwanda can cost $1800 per person for budget accommodation. The 2 days Rwanda gorilla tour would cost $2150 per person for budget accommodation. A 3 days gorilla safari in Rwanda costs about $2350 per person for budget lodges. Mid-range and Luxury travelers must ready to pay more.
Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park – what is the experience like?
After buying permits and booking your accommodation, the next thing is to show up at the park offices. On the day of tracking, travelers are required to be at the Volcanoes National Park headquarters early in 
the morning (at 7:00am) for briefing. During the briefing session, the Rangers and Warden will share information about the park, the gorilla groups, gorilla conservation activities and how to conduct oneself while with the primates. After the briefing, your gorilla permits and passports will be verified. After that you will be given a walking stick and allocated a gorilla group based on your overall fitness. Only 8 people can track a gorilla group in a day. The Rangers will take you to different starting points depending on the gorilla group you are allocated. If you have any heavy luggage, you can hire a porter to help out. Porter services go for between 10 to 15 US Dollars.
The beginning part of the hike is easy because you go through established trails which pass through villages or deforested areas. After a while, the hike become more and more difficult as you enter thick forest. The Rangers may have to use machetes to clear the way for the group. As you hike through the thick bushes, the Rangers will share more stories about the gorilla group and the different species of trees/wildlife in the park. The search for the gorillas in the Volcanoes national park takes between 1 to 4 hours.
Gorillas live in groups of between 8 to 30 individuals led by a dormant silverback. You will usually find them feeding on shoots and leaves. On sensing the presence of intruders in their midst, the group may get alerted as the silverback comes to check what is going on. If the silverback senses no danger, he will simply continue feeding or resting with his family. Other group members will follow the silverback’s lead and go about their business like you don’t exist. While with the gorillas, follow instructions from the Rangers. Only start taking photos when you are allowed two. Do not touch a gorilla even when they come close to you. Keep a distance of at least 7 meters from the nearest gorilla. Do not surround the gorillas or make loud noises out of excitement. You are allowed only 
1 hour with the gorillas. Take the time to observe the family.
Gorilla families are very peaceful compared to chimpanzees. The silverback leads by charisma and example. He rarely gets violent but will be watching all your movements even though he appears busy on other things. After one hour of interaction with the gorillas, the Rangers will lead you back to the park headquarters where you will find your drivers waiting to take you back to the hotel.
How to prepare for Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
In order to have the best possible experience while tracking the gorillas, prepare yourself physically and mentally to complete the activity regardless of how long things go. Remember to carry water and packed food because you will get thirsty or hungry. Wear clothes that cover the body well and remember to travel with proper hiking boots. A gorilla tracking packing list must include a raincoat regardless of season.
It is important to always follow the gorilla trekking rules whenever in the park. Persons under the age of 15 are not allowed to take part in gorilla trekking. This is because younger people may not follow instructions while with the 
primates. Young people may not have the mental toughness to complete the trek. They may want to go back if they get hungry, thirsty or tired. They are also prone to flue and cough compared to older travelers and yet gorillas are susceptible to these contagious diseases. A person with any contagious disease like flu, cold, cough and covid-19 cannot be allowing to do gorilla trekking. Gorillas have a similar DNA with humans and could catch our diseases. Do not use flash while photographing gorillas to avoid irritating them.
What can you do apart from Gorilla Trekking?
There are several interesting activities to engage in other than gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park. The park has other wildlife species to encounter and breath-taking physical features. These extra activities can be combined with gorilla trekking for a more complete tour of the park. The activities are: –
Golden monkey trekking: This is the most popular tourism activity in the Volcanoes national park after gorilla trekking. Golden monkey trekking is organized in the bamboo forests at the base of the Volcanoes National park. Tourists love hiking along these slopes to observe these fascinating monkeys while they feed and play. Golden monkey are subspecies of the blue Monkey. They have evolved to have golden coats around their back and cheeks making them look good. Golden monkey permits costs $100 per person hence a much cheaper activity compared to gorilla trekking.
Dian Fossey Tomb Hike: Dian Fossey is considered to be one of the greatest primatologists of all 
time. She was the first to study mountain gorillas extensively hence making the park very famous. Dian Fossey’s name is also synonymous with gorilla conservation. She fought hard to stop poaching and pet trade within the wider Virunga ranges and it is because of her that mountain gorillas now thrive. Unfortunately, Fossey was murdered by people believed to have been poachers. Tourists often visit her tomb located between Mount Karisimbi and Bisoke to pay homage. A Dian Fossey tomb hike includes visiting her former Karisoke Research Centre.
Tour to the Musanze Caves: The musanze caves are a collection of ancient and mysterious cave believed to have been formed around the time the East African Rift Valley came to be. The complex cave system has 31 entry points with a tunnel system that is 20 kilometers long. The inside is pitch dark and one has to have special torches to get inside. In the past, the caves played an important role for the Batwa pygmies and other tribes living in the area. The caves were excellent for storing food and hiding during war.
Mountain Hiking: The Volcanoes national park is home to five volcanoes (Karisimbi, Gahinga, Bisoke, Sabyinyo and Muhabura). The most popular mountains are Karisimbi and Bisoke. They are found within 
Rwanda unlike the others that are shared with Uganda. Both offer magnificent views of the park and great Virunga Ranges stretching up to Congo. Bisoke is a one-day hike while Karisimbi is a two-day hike.
Bird Watching: There are over 200 species of birds recorded in the Volcanoes national park. A birding expedition in the park will reward tourists with sightings of the handsome fracolin, Grauer’s rush warbler, red-faced woodland warbler, handsome francolin, strange weaver and Rwenzori double collared crimson wing. The most unique thing about birding in the Volcanoes National Park is that 13 species are endemic to Albertine rift where the park is located.
Iby’iwacu cultural village encounter: What is a safari in the Volcanoes National Park without stopping at the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village? Now known as the Gorilla Guardians Village, the Centre brings together all the tribes in Rwanda for an amazing cultural showdown. On a typical tour of the village, tourist can sit back, relax and watch traditional dance performances. After watching the performers, one can also checkout some local food, visit the local medicine-man, cook local food or take local beer.
Activities outside the Volcanoes National Park
Visit the Genocide memorial center: This activity is usually included in almost all tour packages. It is one of the activities included during a Kigali city tour before proceeding to the Volcanoes National 
Park for gorilla trekking. This center was built to remember those who lost their lives during the 1994 genocide. About 1 million Tutsi and moderate Hutu were murdered mercilessly by extremists supported by the government at the time. After the killings, the people realized just what they had done to each other. The center serves as a reminder of the horrors of the genocide. By visiting it, the younger generation get to learn about what caused it and ensure that it never happens again. What you will see there is enough for you to know how far Rwanda has come.
Chimpanzee and small Primates tracking in Nyungwe forest national park: Rwanda is thought by many to be the best country for gorilla trekking. Apart from the gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park, a safari can be arranged to take you for chimpanzee and small primates tracking in Nyungwe forest. The small primates include Vevert monkeys, olive baboons, black/white colobus, grey cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, Angola Colobuses, golden monkeys and more. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest is the most popular activity. Like gorillas, chimpanzees are also close relatives of humans. Though gorillas may be seen as wiser, chimps are very intelligent and dramatic primates. An 
interaction with them is always special.
Picnic at Lake Kivu: There is so much to do in Lake Kivu. Apart from swimming, one can simply relax, watch birds, marvel at the beautiful scenery or take a canoe to visit the nearby islands. The lake is one of the best places to go to after visiting the famous national parks in Rwanda. A boat cruise along the water body can take you towards the Congo where you can observe the local fishermen and peasants going about with their lives.
Game viewing in Akagera: Akagera national park is located in the eastern part of the country. It lies on the border between Rwanda and Tanzania. Akagera is Rwanda’s only Savannah national park. It is home to lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, elands, antelopes, zebras, rhinos, warthogs and many more. Game drives in Akagera may not be as popular as gorilla tracking in the Volcanoes National Park but it is still exciting and rewarding. It is offers something different from all the other national parks in the country because it is the only place where you can see all of Africa’s big 5.
Accommodation During Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
In order to stand out from Uganda and Congo, the government of Rwanda has marketed gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National park to the luxury traveler. In order to support that goal, several luxury lodges have been built. The government and individual investors have not forgotten the budget and mid-range travelers because most of the lodges in the park still fall under those two categories. Some of the luxury 
safari lodges built near the park include Virunga lodge, Sabyinyo silverback lodge, Bisate lodge, Five Volcanoes lodge, Mountain Gorillas’ Nest Lodge, Kwitonda lodge and Bishope House. These lodges charge between $300 to $3000 per night. Among these luxurious facilities, the most affordable appears to be Five Volcanoes lodge.
The budget and mid-range lodges in the park include Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge, Da Vince Gorilla Lodge, Mountain gorilla view Lodge, La Palme Hotel, Hotel Muhabura and Virunga hotel. They charge between $80 to $200 per night. Regardless of which accommodation type you choose, expect them to be self-contained. Expect your own bathroom, shower and bed. The mid-range hotels are in our experience good enough for comfortable tour of the park.
