Get Salty on a Gorilla Trekking Safari!

The Virunga Mountains, part of a chain of dormant volcanoes which sits at the borders of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are home to almost 1000 gorilla’s- more than half of the worlds population. The others live in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda has 7 gorilla groups, so this is where we decided to go.

Best time of year to visit:

The trekking season in Rwanda is as follows-

High season: Mid May- October, December- Mid-March

Low season: Mid-March to Mid- May, October- November

There are also wet seasons and dry seasons to consider. The high seasons correlates with the dry season, and the wet season correlates with the low season. Viewing the gorillas is considered easier in the dry season, as the families tend to stay lower on the mountain and the terrain is easier to navigate when it is dry. Conversely, the rains bring out a much more lush, vibrant green landscape. On the plus side, their will be more availability at the lodges during the wet/low season!

Permits for Gorilla Trekking:

The most popular times to gorilla trek are during the drier, non-rainy months of December, February, and June-September. However, securing permits at this time can be challenging, since no more than 96 permits are issued each day. In Rwanda, this will set you back a cool $1500. Uganda is much less expensive- at about $700 per person. You also have to hire a guiding company to navigate and track where the gorilla families are loitering that day. Viewing time is limited to 1 hour. Uganda also offers a four-hour gorilla habituation experience with researchers. This is a super exciting opportunity- as I felt that 1 hour was just not enough time with these gentle giants. It is my understanding that although you spend more time with the gorilla family with the uganda Habituation Experience, you are not as close to them as you would be with the families that are already tamed to close human interaction. Uganda also offers the 1 hour tour, as well.

Gear you need for the hike:

Depending on what time of year you go (gorillas move down the mountain when it rains), you could be hiking all day long to find the family. Or you may see them in the first 30 minutes of your hike. You should be prepared to walk up steep slopes and through thick brush. Most hikes can take from 1-6 hours, climbing to altitudes of 7500 feet! Therefore, bring hiking boots, inexpensive gardening gloves (to brush away vines and use trees for support), and wear long pants. (Try and blend in with the environment and avoid wearing brightly colored clothing.) A waterproof jacket may come in handy in case it rains. Most hotels provide gators to shield your legs from debris and bugs. We went during the dry season and our boots STILL were a mess!

TIP-Tuck your pants into your boots to avoid any unsavory bugs from getting into your shoes.

Porters are available at the trailheads for $10 if you would like help carrying your day pack or assistance hiking through the wooded areas. But even if you don’t want this service- you may consider it just to help the local economy!

Lastly, bring a great camera for those close up shots of the gorillas. Flash is not allowed to minimize disturbing the family. Snacks and water will be helpful if the hike islander then expected.

TIP-Single use plastics are not allowed in Rwanda. Make sure you have a waterproof camera case in case it rains.

The tribal ceremony (occurring behind me) prior to departure for the hike

What to expect on the gorilla trek at Volcanoes National Park

Once you arrive at the entrance to the park, local Kinyarwanda people perform a ceremonial song and dance while you walk around, shop from local artisans, and prepare for the trek.

You will be assigned to a group of 8 trekkers per gorilla family, based on your preference for length of trek. (Short, medium, or long.)

Trekking begins at 8am, with your guides leading you through farms, fields and forest to reach your gorilla family. Treks can take anywhere between 1-6 hours, depending on where your family is located that day.

The Virunga Mountains can be quite hilly and wet- so be sure you have your gloves on and your smiles ever-present to successfully make your way through the rainforest.

Under current Covid restrictions, you may be required to wear a mask once you approach the gorilla family.

Once you reach your family, you are allowed 1 hour to observe the group. You must maintain at least a 10 meter distance to stay safe and minimize disturbance. We were lucky to observe the Kwitonda Family at their finest.(There are approximately 7 Gorilla families to observe in Volcanoes National Park.)

Enjoy the experience! It is unforgettable to observe these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat.

Uganda or Rwanda? You decide…

Pro’s and Cons of Rwanda:

Pro- easier to reach Virunga National Park. It is a 2 hour drive from Kigali.

Con- more expensive to trek at $1500 /permit

-There are only 7 habituated groups in Rwanda

Pro’s and Cons of Uganda:

Pro-Less expensive oper permit at $700 each

-12 habituated groups to see here

Con- The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is difficult to reach. A bush plane must be booked to fly into the area. At the time of booking, there was only 1 flight per day.

In the end, we opted for Rwanda simply to save on time. We would have had to add on 2 extra days to our trip to accommodate the bush plane flight into The Bwindi National Park.