Guide To Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari Africa 2023

We provide you with the most up-to-date information about gorilla trekking in Rwanda, including what primates to see, gorilla tours, travel agencies, gorilla trekking costs, when to visit, and safari lodges where to stay.

 

Synopsis of Gorilla Trek Africa

Mountain gorillas (Gorilla Berengei Berengei) can only be found in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. These primates may be found in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Parc Nationale Des Volcans. As of 2024, there are 10 habituated mountain gorilla groups, resulting in about 80 gorilla permits for tourists to Rwanda accessible every day. These endangered apes can be trekked by groups of 8 persons. A gorilla permit costs US $ 1500 per person for each trip, and a portion of your donation goes toward the conservation of these mountain gorillas.

 

The Price of a Gorilla Expedition in Rwanda

A one-day gorilla trip costs between $ 1700 and $ 1850.

Rwanda gorilla trekking for two days $ 1900 to $ 2000

Rwanda gorilla monitoring for three days is $ 2100 to $ 3000.

Most Rwanda gorilla tour operators or gorilla trekking businesses will offer a range of rates, including both budget and premium alternatives. The difference in how much to charge is determined by the company’s accommodation, car, season, and operating costs. Local businesses will undoubtedly charge less than foreign travel agents.

 

What to Expect From Gorillas in Rwanda

Here are a few highlights from your visit to Rwanda. You must get up early in the morning, which means you must find lodging near the park’s entrance. At 7 a.m., your African gorilla guide will lecture you on safety considerations and etiquette. The Rwanda Development Board provides around 80 gorilla tracking guides who are fully trained and speak English and French.

You and the other members of the group walk to the forest and begin the journey, which may be strenuous depending on your physical condition. Remember, they are called mountain gorillas, so some hiking is required. Gorilla Trekking Rwanda safaris can last anything from 30 minutes to many hours. The English-speaking forest guides are fantastic and will bring you to a special ‘habituated’ mountain gorilla population that has become accustomed to human presence.

An adult silverback male gorilla may weigh up to 200kg, or three times the weight of an average man, however, the fear usually fades once you see the group. Typically, the gorilla troop will be dispersed throughout a limited area of dense jungle. They will continue their relationships and even feed without regard for their human guests, however they will be watching you with curiosity. Occasionally, a lively kid may brazenly approach you with inquisitiveness, at times getting so near that you must walk away.

(You are not permitted to come closer than 7 meters to the gorillas in order to protect them from infectious human diseases.) Musanze (1,700m above sea level) has a chilly climate. Please bring warm clothing.

 

The Price of a Gorilla Permit in Rwanda in 2025.

ORDINARY PERMIT: USD $1500 per person for all Rwanda hiking guests.

A unique gorilla safari adventure costs $15,000 USD.

The three-day behind-the-scenes gorilla expedition costs US$ 30,000 for three people.

Professional photography and videography of mountain gorillas cost US$ 5000 for three straight days.

You will pay US $ 12,000 if you have a huge workforce of 8 people.

 

Getting to Volcanoes National Park Rwanda from Kigali

Time by car: 2 hours and 18 minutes without traffic.

Distance: 109 kilometers

 

Rwanda Gorilla Tracking Groups, Where to View Rwandan Gorillas

In Rwanda, gorilla tracking is only permitted within Volcanoes National Park (Parc National des Volcans), a portion of the larger Virunga Mountains. In the Virunga complex, around 480 mountain gorillas dwell at altitudes ranging from 2,300 to 4,500 meters in the southern section of Virunga National Park (in the DRC), as well as Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and some in Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park.

Rwanda gorillas are classified into two groups: those for study or research, which are solely accessible to academics and researchers, and those for conservation. Among these are Beetsme’s and Pablo’s Shida’s, which have the most gorillas.

There are also 10 habituated gorilla families set up for tourist purposes, which hikers can visit. Every day, only 8 persons are permitted to visit each of the gorilla groups for a maximum of one hour. The Ugenda, Umubano, Susa group, Karinsimbi, Sabinyo, Hirwa, Amahoro, Bwengye, Group 13 (Agasha group), and Kwitonda are among these gorilla groups. “All of these are mountain gorillas,” Eckhart and Lanjouw explain (2008). Biology, Conservation, and Coexistence of Mountain Gorillas.” The Press of Johns Hopkins University

 

Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Groups

Susa Gorilla Expedition (Susa A Family)

Dian Fossey conducted study on this gorilla population.

It got its name from the River Susa, which runs through the gorillas’ native region. The family is the most difficult to trek since it usually remains in the higher mountain ranges, but the RDB’s Tourism and Conservation trackers will know where the group is the day before for following trackers. Tourists have sometimes been prevented from monitoring the group due to its remote location.

With a family size of 28 gorillas and three Silverbacks, this group is really outstanding. This was the largest gorilla group before it split into two. The group consisted of 42 members, and visitors would notice several gorillas distributed over the region. This trio is well-known for its lively newborn twins, Byishimo and Impano. It also contains Poppy, one of Rwanda’s oldest habituated gorillas, who was born in 1976. Poppy is supposed to be one of the gorillas in Dian Fossey’s first gorilla troop, where she did her studies.

Normally, a mother abandons one of her twins since it is practically impossible for her to care for both children. When we watched the mother, Nyabitondore, care for her twins, Impano and Byishimo, we wondered if she would go insane from the enormity of the undertaking. Nonetheless, the twins may now be seen playing with other gorillas.

 

Gorilla Trek with the Karisimbi Family (Susa-B)

This family split from the original Susa (Susa-A) family and is now known as Susa-B or the Karisimbi Group. It has 15 individuals and is usually found on the slopes of Mount Karisimbi Volcano (4507 meters), Rwanda’s highest peak. The Karisimbi Group is better suited to serious hikers.

They appear to have made their home on the upper mountain slopes of the Karisimbi caldera. As a result, viewing this group may need a full-day walk. The gang goes to higher altitudes at times, making tracking difficult. But, RDB tourists and conservation guides will be informed of the gorilla group’s position the day before. Because of its remote location, tracking the gorilla family might be difficult at times.

 

Safari with the Sabyinyo Gorilla Group

Sabyinyo is easily accessible, and it is commanded by a powerful silverback named Guhonda. This is the largest silverback of all gorilla groups due to its huge physical appearance. Actually, Guhonda has kept his strongest rival, Ryango, as the sole silverback in his bunch. Sabyinyo has fewer members than other gorilla families, yet it is as amazing.

this group received its call from Sabyinyo volcano and it literally signifies an “old man’s teeth”. The Sabyinyo group is one of the closest to the park’s border, with 8 animals including one Silverback (the largest in the park), three Adult females, a young female, two Juveniles, and a Baby gorilla.

 

Gorilla Tours in Amahoro

Amahoro, which means “quiet bunch,” is one of the most tranquil gorilla populations. There are seventeen people in this group: a Silverback, two Blackbacks, five Adult females, two Sub-adult males, two Juveniles, and five Infants. Yet, the calm comes at a reasonable cost. Ubumwe, the silverback of this group, is calm, easygoing, and placid; he has unfortunately lost several group members to the Umubano group commanded by Charles.

To visit the Amahoro, you must navigate a relatively difficult ascent, but the effort is well worth it when you eventually discover this spectacular group.

 

Group Umubano Gorilla Safari

The Umubano family, which means “neighborliness,” consists of eleven members: a Silverback, a Sub-adult male, three Adult females, and six Infants. Umubano was once part of the Amahoro group but split after Ubumwe, the then-dominant silverback was defeated by Charles, the current Umubano leader.

Charles, like Ubumwe, developed into an adult silverback who couldn’t tolerate taking orders, so he began to fight and finally confronted Ubumwe. This battle lasted several weeks, if not months. Charles was eventually able to abduct a handful of ladies from Ubumwe, establishing a tribe known as the Umubano. Since then, he has earned Ubumwe’s respect and appreciation. Interactions between these two silverbacks have occurred on several occasions, but no fights have occurred after that major battle.

 

Agasha group

Agasha Gorilla Trek had 13 members when it was first habituated. The group now has roughly 25 individuals, including a Silverback, twelve adult females, two subadult females, three juveniles, and seven babies. formerly this group was commanded by Nyakarima who was overwhelmed by Agashya whose name means “the news”.

In reality, Agashya made news by first examining and gauging Nyakarima’s skills before challenging him to a terrible fight that cost him his whole gang. This astounded Nyakarima and was an exceptional event in gorilla history. Then Agashya moved up the volcano to protect his people and make sure Nyakarima didn’t locate them.

Agashya is also noted for leading his entire group to the summit of the volcano at the first hint of danger. This exact event occurred once when several visitors went to see Group 13. Agashya imagined that he was about to be attacked by a silverback opponent. As a result, he led his troop to the volcano. When we got near to the group, they moved away till we couldn’t go anymore. As a result, this is yet another difficult group to observe.

 

The Gorilla Adventure of the Kwitonda Family

This group comprises 18 individuals, led by Kwitonda the silverback, whose name means “modest one,” and includes two silverbacks and a blackback. It moved from the DRC and usually stays far away, making trekking difficult. This, along with Susa B, is one of the most difficult groupings to locate.

 

Hirwa Group Hiking (which translates to “Lucky One”)

Trackers saw the formation of this group on June 17, 2006, when members of two distinct families, Group 13 and Sabyinyo, united to create a smaller group at the time. Thankfully, more gorillas joined this group, and the Hirwa group now includes nine members: one silverback, three adult females, two subadult females, and three babies.

Hirwa, although being the newest gorilla group, demonstrates the strength and well-protects of its members.

 

Trek to the Bwenge Gorillas in the Mist

This family consists of 11 Silverbacks. It is most visible on the slopes of Karisoke Volcano. Bwenge is the silverback who heads the group, which was formed in 2007 when he left his original group and was joined by females from other gorilla groups. The group has been through some difficult times, including the deaths of six infants.

Now, this group is growing in strength, thanks to two successful births in the last several years and a strong silverback leader. This trip to see the group is difficult, with an almost 3-hour elevation. The paths can be muddy and steep at times. It seems this is the gang that starred in the renowned movie ‘Gorillas in the Mist’.

 

The Gorilla Adventure of the Ugenda Family

This group resides in the Karisimbi district of Rwanda. It is made up of 11 gorillas, including two silverbacks. It got this mane, which symbolizes “being on the move,” since the family was often traveling from one area to another. Because it is always moving, tracking it is typically difficult and requires extensive movement to discover them.

 

Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Lodges

There are several alternatives ranging from inexpensive to mid-range to luxury. The nature of your gorilla safari will be determined by your lodging. Usually, businesses will provide quotes for all three alternatives. Sabinyo Silver Back Lodge, Virunga Lodge, Mountain Gorilla Lodge, and many others are among the well-known safari resorts.

 

What Happens Following Rwanda Gorilla Tours?

Nyungwe Forest National Park, Lake Kivu, and Akagera National Park are among the Rwanda safari locations.

Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of Africa’s oldest forests, with 12 primate species, 300 bird species, and roughly 7 animal species. The main attraction here is monkey tracking, as well as birdwatching, a canopy walkway, and hiking paths.

Akagera National Park will provide you with a real wildlife experience, allowing you to observe elephants, lions, buffalo, topis, zebras, antelope, monkeys, bushbucks, impalas, and much more. There are around 500 bird species here.

Gishwati Mukura National Park is one of Rwanda’s newest parks.

It becomes Rwanda’s third park, famed for its primates and birdlife.

You may combine your gorilla trekking in Rwanda with an African safari in Tanzania. See the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara, and many more attractions.

 

Conservation of Gorillas and Events

There are several mountain gorilla-related activities, the most well-known of which is the Kwita Izina ceremony of naming gorillas for Rwanda safaris, a yearly event to which various celebrities are invited. Scheduling your gorilla trip during this time period will provide you with the opportunity to participate in this event. Rwanda has a number of gorilla conservationists. From the Dian Fossey Foundation to the International Gorilla Conservation Project, there is something for everyone.