Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda means a guided walk in Volcanoes National Park, in the north of the country near Musanze, to find a habituated gorilla group. Rangers lead the way, and you spend a set hour with the group once you reach it. It is a scheduled visit with a permit for a specific day, not something you arrange on the spot.
This guide is independent. It is not run by Visit Rwanda or the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and it does not issue or sell permits. Permits are booked only through official channels, and the prices below are the ones published for 2026. A gorilla family can move, so a sighting is the aim of the day, not a promise.
Permit prices in 2026
Permits are priced per person and per day. The regular rate applies to international visitors.
| Visitor group | Price per person and day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| International visitors | $1,500 | Regular rate, minimum age 15 |
| Rwandans and East African Community citizens | $200 (promotion) | Not available from June to October 2026 |
| Foreign residents of Rwanda, African nationals, foreign residents of Africa | $500 (promotion) | Not available from June to October 2026; residency status of at least 4 months |
| International visitors, low season | $1,050 with the 30 percent discount | November to May, combination with Akagera and/or Nyungwe required |
The low-season discount needs either 2 nights in Akagera and/or Nyungwe with the accommodation receipt and a paid activity, or 1 consecutive night in each of both parks. Only one discounted permit is available per 3 days and 2 nights. The application takes about a day to process, and cash is not accepted at the park. Check the current conditions in the booking portal.
Our picks: gorilla trekking tours
Check the permit line on each card: two tours leave it out, one includes it.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided gorilla trekking with permit and park entry
The gorilla permit, park entry, lunch, soft drinks, an English-speaking guide and vehicle transport are included. Tips and personal expenses are extra.
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Two-day gorilla trekking trip with private transport
Private transport, an English-speaking driver-guide, accommodation, the stated meals, water and help coordinating the trek. The gorilla permit is not included.
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Gorilla tracking day trip from Kigali
Pickup in Kigali, safari transport, a guide, lunch with a soft drink and water. The gorilla permit is not included, but the provider offers help getting one.
Check availability →Gorilla trekking and Rwanda tours
Guided trips that include Volcanoes National Park, plus other wildlife trips, with live prices and availability.
How to book a permit
Only official channels issue gorilla permits.
The RDB booking portal
The Rwanda Development Board links its own online booking portal, visitrwandabookings.rdb.rw, for gorilla and primate permits, trekking and other tourism services. This is the direct official channel.
Through a tour operator
If you book through an operator, the RDB recommends licensed operators and guides. Ask which permit date is covered and whether the permit is part of the price or sold separately.
Book the date first
The permit fixes your trekking day. Book flights, transfers and lodging around it. Do not assume a permit can be had at short notice.
The trekking day
You meet at the Kinigi park headquarters at 07:00. Rangers brief the group, and visitors are assigned to a gorilla group based on fitness. Kinigi lies about 13 km from Musanze, which sits at 1,850 m.
Then you walk to the group. The walk to reach a family ranges from 30 minutes to 4 hours or more, at an altitude of roughly 2,500 to 4,000 m. That figure covers the way in only, not the return. When you reach the gorillas, you stay for 1 hour.
Musanze is the usual base. Buses run from Kigali Nyabugogo to Musanze for RWF 3,821 according to the April 2026 fare list. The 07:00 meeting makes a night close to the park a practical choice. See where to stay.
Rules with the gorillas
The rules protect the animals, which are vulnerable to human illness.
Group size and time
A group has at most 8 visitors, and the visit lasts 1 hour.
Face mask
The RDB asks visitors to wear a face mask during the gorilla visit. This applies to the gorilla visit even though a general mask rule no longer applies in the country.
Distance
The booking portal gives 7 m as the minimum distance. A conservation group reported in 2022 that the RDB had raised it to 10 m. Follow the distance your ranger gives in the briefing.
Photos, food, smoking
No flash photography. No eating, drinking or smoking near the gorillas.
Illness
A visitor with a contagious illness can be refused entry to a trek. Tell the rangers at the start if you feel unwell.
Minimum age
You must be 15 or older to trek with the gorillas.
What to bring
The RDB recommends sturdy hiking boots, long clothing, gloves and rain protection. The forest is wet and steep, and paths can be muddy. Porters are available to carry your bag. Ask at Kinigi or through your operator about the arrangement.
Fitness is taken into account when groups are assigned, but this does not guarantee an easy route. If you have a health condition, tell your operator before you book.
Safety and entry in autumn 2026
Government notices that apply near the park.
German advice
The German Federal Foreign Office (status 18 October 2026) advises against unnecessary travel to the border regions with the DR Congo and names the area near Volcanoes among them.
US advice
The US State Department (4 June 2026) rates Rwanda Level 3 and the zone within 10 km of the DR Congo border Level 4. Volcanoes National Park is expressly excluded from that zone.
Entry after a stay in the DR Congo
The Rwanda Biomedical Centre (22 May 2026) refuses entry to foreign travelers who have been in or transited through the DR Congo within the last 30 days.
Visa and travel tips →Combine the trek with other activities in the park. See Volcanoes National Park for golden monkeys and hikes, or things to do in Rwanda. The best time to visit page covers the rainy seasons.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda: frequently asked questions
How much is a gorilla permit in Rwanda?
The regular rate for international visitors is $1,500 per person and day in 2026. Lower promotional rates for Rwandans, East African citizens, foreign residents and African nationals exist but are not available from June to October 2026.
How long does a gorilla trek take?
You meet at Kinigi at 07:00. The walk to the gorillas takes from 30 minutes to 4 hours or more, and you spend 1 hour with the group. The return walk is not included in those figures, so plan for most of the day.
What is the minimum age?
The minimum age is 15 years. Golden monkey tracking in the same park has a lower minimum age of 12, and the page on Volcanoes National Park has the details.
How close can I get to the gorillas?
The booking portal states 7 m, and a 2022 conservation report mentions an increase to 10 m. Your ranger tells you the distance on the day. A face mask is required, and you may not use flash or eat, drink or smoke near the animals.
Is a sighting guaranteed?
No. The guides track the group, but wild animals move. Permits have no guaranteed outcome, so refund terms are worth checking when you book.
Is there a discount for low season?
From November to May a 30 percent discount can apply if you also spend nights in Akagera and/or Nyungwe. That brings the international permit to $1,050 under the stated conditions. Only one discounted permit is available per 3 days and 2 nights.