Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is why many people come to Rwanda, and it lives up to the reputation. The park lies in the Virunga mountains near Musanze, about two to two and a half hours by road north-west of Kigali, and is home to twelve fully habituated gorilla families. Each morning, visitors gather at the park headquarters at Kinigi at 7 a.m., are briefed on the rules and assigned a family based on fitness and preference. Groups are limited to eight visitors per family, and just 96 permits are issued each day across the park. The permit costs 1,500 US dollars per person per day for foreign non-residents, with a minimum age of fifteen. Treks can last from about thirty minutes to four hours or more, over steep, muddy ground at altitudes between about 2,500 and 4,000 metres, with the porters you can hire to carry bags. Once you reach the family, you are allowed a strict maximum of one hour with them, usually only a few metres away, and the silverback, mothers and infants go about their lives. It is an emotional, memorable hour. The money funds conservation and the communities around the park.
Booking the permit: permits are sold by the Rwanda Development Board through its booking portal, called Visit Rwanda Bookings, or through a licensed tour operator. They are first come, first served and tied to your passport details, so book as early as you can, especially for June to October and the December holidays. Promotional lower rates announced for 2026 apply to Rwandan, East African and African citizens and residents, not to international visitors, and the permit price for foreign visitors is the same year-round. Day trips from Kigali exist, with a long drive each way, but staying a night near Musanze makes the early start much easier.
Which tour to choose: the Viator listing on this page is a one-day tour from Kigali with more than eighty reviews and a headline price far below the permit, so read the inclusions carefully. In practice, expect to pay for the 1,500 US dollar permit separately or through the operator, and compare the total with a tour that bundles it. Packages that include a lodge night cost more but save hours of driving.
What to bring: waterproof trousers and jacket, sturdy boots, gloves for stinging nettles, a hat and a daypack with water and snacks. Tell the guides if you are unwell, as visitors with colds or other infections may be refused to protect the gorillas. Keep at least seven metres from the animals and never use flash. Fitness matters: the hike can be steep, so ask for a family that suits your ability. Check the current travel advisory before you go, as the park borders the DRC, and note that Rwanda refuses entry to foreign nationals who were in the DRC in the preceding thirty days under Ebola measures.
What to expect
The experience
A guided trek in Volcanoes National Park to a habituated gorilla family, ending with a strictly limited hour in their company.
Best time
The drier months of June to September and December to February make trails easier, but permits are in highest demand then.
How long
A full day: early briefing, a trek of anywhere from half an hour to four hours or more each way, and one hour with the gorillas.
Tips
Book the permit early, wear waterproofs and boots, hire a porter, stay a night near Musanze if you can and keep seven metres from the animals.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Wildlife lovers and bucket-list travellers who can manage a steep hike.
- Families
- Minimum age is fifteen, so only for teenagers; younger children cannot trek.
- Couples
- A once-in-a-lifetime shared experience; add a lodge night near the park.
- Pair with
- Golden monkey tracking and a Mount Bisoke hike in the same park, then Akagera or Nyungwe.
- Time needed
- One full day, or two days with an overnight near Musanze.
Good questions
How much is a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda?+
The permit costs 1,500 US dollars per person per day for foreign visitors, according to the Rwanda Development Board. Lower rates announced for 2026 apply only to Rwandan, East African and African citizens and residents.
How many people go with each gorilla family?+
Groups are limited to eight visitors per family, and about 96 permits are issued each day across the park.
What is the minimum age?+
Visitors must be at least fifteen years old, and you may be asked to show your passport at the park gates.
How long do you spend with the gorillas?+
A strict maximum of one hour per day, after a trek that can take anything from about thirty minutes to four hours or more.
Can I do it as a day trip from Kigali?+
Yes, but it means a long drive each way. Many visitors prefer to spend the night near Musanze to avoid a very early start.
