A well-planned gorilla safari holiday guarantees you exceptional experience. Rwanda is by far one of the leading destinations that attract primate enthusiasts worldwide who come to enjoy up close and personal encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. To get the most of this captivating primate adventure, there are some significant factors that you should look at. Here are the top 10 things to consider before booking a gorilla safari in Rwanda in 2024/2025.
Where to visit to see Rwanda gorillas
Volcanoes National Park is the only game park in Rwanda where a section of the massive mountain gorillas reside. The park is situated not far from the heart of Kigali capital. Driving up to Volcanoes NP takes between 2 and 3 hours making this protected area, the most accessible gorilla safari park.
Within Volcanoes National Park there are over 12 habituated gorillas to be explored including Susa A, Hirwa, Umubano, Titus, Susa B –Karisimbi group, Sabyinyo, Agashya gorilla family, Amahoro, and more. Unlike the usual game drives in the savanna parks, trekking with mountain gorillas is done once a day and a maximum of 8 guests are allocated to a single gorilla family.
Volcanoes National Park is one of Africa’s oldest park, created in 1925 and has the land area coverage of 160sq.km. The park is largely comprised of an evergreen vegetation, swamp, heath, bamboo and some patches of grassland.
When to travel to see gorillas
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is an open adventure and can be enjoyed at any time of the year. But the best time to book your Rwanda gorilla safari should be around the dry season. This is regarded as the peak/high season, a period characterized low or no rains making it the most preferred season for trekking mountain gorillas. The peak months for gorilla trekking run from June, July, August, September and December, January to February.
Being an all year-round adventure, it is also possible to book your gorilla safari in Rwanda during the wet or rainy season. The wet/rainy season usually falls around March, April, May and October to November. These are off-months of the year and usually, they come with some discounted offers, especially for the accommodation or even on transportation.
On a gorilla permit, you stand a chance to have discounted offer of USD 1050 per permit if you are visiting at least 2 of Rwanda parks that is Nyungwe National Park/Akagera National Park. Note, a normal gorilla permit in Rwanda is available for reservation at USD 1500 per person.
Choose the best accommodation
Book the best accommodation option for your overnight stay in advance. On a gorilla safari, visitors can choose from budget, midrange and luxury accommodation options for their night stay. Top accommodation options include Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Bisate Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, La Palme Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, and Kinigi Guesthouse, etc.
Book your transportation means in advance
Transportation is one key factor that anyone who is intending to embark on gorilla safari should consider a must-book. Volcanoes National Park is accessible by road and takes you at least 2-3 hours to get there. Preferably, you require a 4×4 safari car in its better mechanical conditions.
Pre-book your gorilla permits
Valid gorilla permits are among the essentials you should have for your gorilla trekking safari. You should consider booking your permit early enough and preferably, do so 6 months or even a year before the actual visit to Volcanoes National Park to trek mountain gorillas. Gorilla permits in Rwanda can easily be booked through the local tour operator that is Mist Rwanda Safaris.
Choose the right gorilla safari package that suits your budget
Before you set off for gorilla vacation, you should have chosen the right gorilla tour package that is within your budget. There are different gorilla safari packages one can choose from including budget, midrange and luxury. Talk to the expert early enough and choose the right package that suits your budget.
Pack right
Pack the right gear for your gorilla safari in Rwanda. Some of the essentials not to miss out of your packing list include long-sleeved shirts, a tin of insect repellents, safari backpack, waterproof hiking boots, safari hat, a valid gorilla permit, first aid kit, waterproof jacket, energy snacks, hiking gloves, and more.
Exercise before visit
You must consider doing some exercise to have your muscles acclimatized to some terrains. The entire gorilla trekking adventure involves trekking through the jungles in search of a family of mountain gorillas. Some level of fitness is needed in order for you to have a complete gorilla trekking adventure in Volcanoes National Park. Note, Volcanoes National Park lies within the Virunga Region, an area that is dominated by Volcano Mountains like Muhabura, Gahinga, Sabyinyo, Bisoke, and Karisimbi. By presence of these features, trekking to see gorillas involves conquering some steep slopes.
Rules and regulations for gorilla trekking
There are multiple rules to be respected on gorilla trekking and include observing a distance of 8-10m from gorillas, no use of flashlight cameras for photography, no littering the gorilla habitat, keep low your voice, no touching gorillas, cover the mouth when coughing and nose when sneezing, etc.
Acceptable age for gorilla trekking
When you think of gorilla safaris in Rwanda, first, you must have idea on acceptable age to trek gorillas. Not anyone visits gorillas but only persons above 15 years. A traveler who falls within this age bracket stands a chance to visit one gorilla family with company of an experienced park guide.