Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Frequently Asked Questions

Rwanda is a luxury gorilla tour destination in Africa to trek mountain gorillas. There are frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Rwanda gorilla trekking that are commonly searched for by intending travelers. Rwanda is one of the three countries in Africa along with Uganda and Congo that are habitats to the world’s only mountain gorillas. The habituated gorilla families in Rwanda are found in Volcanoes National Park northwest of the country. The park is part of a series of volcanoes that traverse three countries including Uganda and Rwanda.

Gorilla trekking tours in Rwanda are becoming increasingly popular and many travelers would want to know the relevant information before they decide to visit the country. Here is a guide to the frequently asked questions about gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

• Is it safe to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda?

Since gorilla trekking involves moving within the forests that are dense many people frequently ask whether it is safe to go into the jungle. The answer is yes, gorilla trekking is safe.

The joint security force of the military, tourism police, and armed rangers guarantee travelers’ safety during their gorilla trekking safaris. Safety during gorilla trekking is a concern for all security forces in the countries.

Client safety is guaranteed by ensuring that the parks have armed park rangers. A total of 8 trekkers are allocated one gorilla family to trek and they go along with two armed rangers to ensure that tourists are not harmed by any wild animals. Armed rangers keep clients safe during the entire gorilla trek and ensure that travelers are safe from any harm. Ahead of the clients is an armed ranger as well as another one behind.

Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Frequently Asked Questions

• What do you wear when gorilla trekking in Rwanda?

In case you are wondering how you will keep safe from insects, bites, and cuts here is what you need to wear for gorilla trekking in Rwanda;

Long-sleeved shirts and trousers: Since you are going to walk in the jungle where insects can give nasty bites, wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers is recommendable. Wear shirts, long enough to cover your hands to the wrist and trousers long enough to be tucked into your stocking.

Hiking shoes: Since you are going to take challenging hiking to an altitude that is over 2,400 meters above sea level, you will require sturdy hiking shoes. Ensure to have comfortable shoes such that hiking is made easy and you don’t get bruises.

Rain jacket: Whether it’s in the rainy season or the dry season, you need to pack and wear (if necessary) a rain jacket during gorilla trekking. The area where the park is located receives a lot of rain and it rains during a gorilla trekking experience.

Hand gloves/gardening gloves: Since you will have your body covered, your hands will need protection too. You will need to wear hand gloves to protect your hands from thorns as you hike.

How difficult is gorilla trekking in Rwanda?

Though Volcanoes National Park rises to an altitude of about 2,500 m above sea level, gorilla trekking isn’t as difficult as it is depicted. Gorilla trekking isn’t very hard as there are trails that are set through the forests to help the trekkers. The group is guided by skilled trackers who help you go through the forest.

Being disabled or having mobility problems does not mean you cannot go gorilla trekking in Rwanda. You can hire porters and a sedan chair that can be used to carry you to where the gorillas can be found. When you reach the gorillas, you are put down to take pictures and then returned to the trek start point.

• What is the best time to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda?

It is a year-round activity but the best time to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda is during the short and long dry seasons. The short dry season is from the time of mid-December to early February. The long dry season is from June to September. Both the short and long dry seasons are the best times for gorilla trekking.

June – September: The period between June to September is the longest dry season in Rwanda and the best time to trek gorillas.  During this time hiking is easier as the trails are not so muddy and slippery. There are also few chances of rain pouring during this season of the year but since it is a tropical jungle anything can happen and it can rain.

December – February: This is the short dry season and also the best time to visit Rwanda for gorilla trekking.  During the dry season, it offers the easiest hiking or walking conditions in the forest. The malaria risk is also low during this time.

• What is the cost of a Rwanda gorilla trekking permit?

The cost of a Rwanda gorilla trekking permit is USD 1500 each. Each Rwanda gorilla trekking permit is valid for a single gorilla trekking experience. The cost is general for foreign nonresidents, residents as well as Rwandese.

2020 Rwanda discounted permits for all Rwandan nationals as well as East African citizens will pay US$ 200 for a gorilla permit and foreign nationals will pay US$ 500 for each permit. This means US$ 1300 less for East African citizens and US$ 1000 less for foreign residents, which makes it very affordable for those who had always wanted to trek the gorillas but had financial constraints.

• Is Gorilla trekking worth the money?

Gorilla conservation is such a costly investment with the need to pay for conservationists, rangers, doctors, and anyone who contributes to the wellbeing of the gorillas. The survival of mountain gorillas is much dependent on conservation efforts which makes it expensive.

The cost of keeping the mountain gorillas is high and this makes the total cost of each permit expensive. However, the fact that a part of the gorilla trekking permit cost goes towards conservation makes it all worth it.

With all this relevant information, you can start planning your Rwanda gorilla tour with several affordable itinerary packages. Our popular itinerary to the park is the 3-Day Volcanoes Rwanda gorilla safari. For cheaper trips, we can also plan other African safari tours including Uganda gorilla safaris, Kenya safaris tours, or Tanzania wildlife safaris.

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