The Rwanda gorilla trekking permit costs $1,500 USD per person — this fee is set and collected by Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the Rwandan government body that manages Volcanoes National Park.
Rwanda SafariTours is a private tour operator. We charge $200 per person to take you there — private 4×4 from Kigali, an expert local gorilla trekking guide, and full trek logistics handled for you.
Gorilla trekking Rwanda has two costs: the RDB permit (a government conservation fee) and our tour service. We are transparent about both.
Set by Rwanda Development Board. Non-negotiable. Goes to gorilla conservation.
What we charge to take you there — logistics, guide, transport from Kigali.
Gorilla trekking permits for peak season (Jun–Sep) sell out fast. Only 80 gorilla trekking slots per day in all of Rwanda.
RDB allows only 8 tourists per habituated gorilla family per day — a uniquely intimate wildlife encounter.
Minimum age for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is 15. Strictly enforced by RDB at Kinigi park headquarters.
RDB trackers locate gorilla families daily. You will almost certainly see mountain gorillas on your trek.
Gorilla trekking duration depends on where the gorilla family is that day. Moderate fitness recommended.
Mountain gorilla population grew from 620 in 2008 to 1,000+ today. Your permit fee funds this conservation.
Rwanda gorilla trekking takes place in Volcanoes National Park in the Virunga mountains of northwest Rwanda. The park is home to 12 habituated mountain gorilla families, 10 of which are open to gorilla trekking tourists. Every morning at Kinigi headquarters, groups of up to 8 visitors are assigned to a gorilla family and set off with an RDB ranger into the volcanic forest.
The gorilla trekking experience lasts 2–8 hours depending on how far the gorilla family has moved. Once you locate the gorillas, you spend exactly 1 hour in their presence — watching silverbacks, mothers and playful gorilla babies going about their day at close range. This is the most exclusive gorilla trekking experience in Africa.
Rwanda gorilla trekking permits cost $1,500 — Uganda gorilla permits cost $700. Rwanda is more expensive but offers shorter gorilla treks on average, a higher-end tourism infrastructure, and Volcanoes National Park is only 2.5 hours from Kigali airport. Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest requires internal flights or long drives. For travellers on a tighter budget, Uganda is an option — but Rwanda's mountain gorilla experience is generally considered the more premium.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is possible year-round. The best gorilla trekking seasons are the two dry seasons: June–September and December–February. Trails are drier and gorilla trekking is less muddy. The rainy seasons (March–May and October–November) have fewer tourists — permits are easier to book and prices for accommodation are lower — but gorilla trekking trails can be slippery and the rain can be heavy.
Your gorilla trekking day starts with a 6:00am pickup from your Kigali hotel by our private 4×4. We drive 2.5 hours north to Kinigi, Volcanoes National Park where all gorilla trekkers receive a briefing from RDB rangers. Groups of 8 are assigned to specific gorilla families based on fitness level and preferences — some gorilla families trek easier terrain, others involve a steep volcano climb.
The gorilla trek itself ranges from 45 minutes to 4 hours of walking in the bamboo and volcanic forest, guided by an RDB ranger and trackers. When you reach the gorilla family, you have exactly 1 hour with the mountain gorillas — staying at least 7 metres from the gorillas and keeping voices low. After the gorilla hour, you trek back, receive your gorilla trekking certificate, and our driver returns you to Kigali by evening.
In addition to standard gorilla trekking, Rwanda also offers the gorilla habituation experience — spending 4 full hours (vs 1 hour) with a gorilla family still being habituated to human presence. The gorilla habituation permit is also $1,500 from RDB, and Rwanda SafariTours charges $200 for transport and guide service. Gorilla habituation is limited to 4 visitors per day — the most intimate gorilla encounter in Africa.
For gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda: wear long trousers and long sleeves (to protect from stinging nettles and insects), bring waterproof hiking boots, a rain jacket, sun cream and at least 2 litres of water. A garden glove for one hand is useful for grabbing vegetation on steep sections. Camera without flash (flash is not allowed near gorillas). Porter hire at the trailhead costs around $15 and is highly recommended for steep gorilla trekking routes.
We handle the RDB permit, the guide, the 4×4, and the whole day. You just show up and meet the gorillas.
Tell us your gorilla trekking dates, group size and Kigali hotel. We check RDB gorilla permit availability immediately.
We block your gorilla trekking dates with RDB and send you a detailed itinerary with total cost ($1,500 permit + $200 service).
A deposit confirms your gorilla trekking booking. We pay RDB for your permit and send official confirmation within 24 hours.
Our driver collects you from Kigali at 6am. We drive to Volcanoes National Park. Your local guide stays with you all day.
Trek into the volcanic forest with your RDB ranger. Spend 1 hour with a wild gorilla family. Receive your certificate.
The Rwanda gorilla trekking permit costs $1,500 USD per person. This fee is set and collected by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) — it is a government fee, not a tour operator fee. On top of the $1,500 RDB gorilla permit, Rwanda SafariTours charges $200 per person for our service: private 4x4 transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park, an experienced local gorilla trekking guide, full pre-trek logistics and park briefing support. Your total gorilla trekking cost with us starts from $1,700 per person.
Rwanda SafariTours charges $200 per person for our gorilla trekking service. This covers: private 4x4 Land Cruiser pickup from your Kigali hotel, transfer to Volcanoes National Park (approx. 2.5 hours), an experienced local gorilla trekking guide, park briefing assistance at Kinigi headquarters, and return transfer to Kigali. The $1,500 RDB gorilla permit is separate — paid directly to Rwanda Development Board. We handle all permit bookings on your behalf.
No — Rwanda SafariTours is a private tour operator, not Rwanda Development Board (RDB). RDB is the Rwandan government body that issues gorilla trekking permits and manages Volcanoes National Park. We are a private company that books RDB gorilla permits on your behalf and provides transport, local guides and logistics so your gorilla trek runs smoothly from Kigali pickup to park return.
Contact us via WhatsApp (+250 787 619 387) or our booking form with your preferred gorilla trekking dates and group size. We check RDB permit availability, reserve your gorilla trekking slot, collect a deposit, pay RDB on your behalf, and send you official booking confirmation. We then arrange your Kigali pickup and Volcanoes National Park logistics. The whole process is handled for you.
Book your Rwanda gorilla trek 3-6 months ahead for peak season (June-September and December-February). Gorilla trekking permits for peak months sell out fast — only 80 trekking slots exist across all of Rwanda per day. For shoulder and low season (March-May, October-November) 4-8 weeks advance booking is usually sufficient, but earlier is always safer. WhatsApp us to check current gorilla permit availability.
Volcanoes National Park Rwanda has 12 habituated gorilla families, of which 10 are open to gorilla trekking tourists. Each gorilla group may be visited by a maximum of 8 tourists per day — giving Rwanda a daily gorilla trekking capacity of 80 visitors. The other families are used for gorilla habituation experience (4 hours, max 4 visitors) and gorilla research.
Absolutely — gorilla trekking in Rwanda is consistently ranked among the world's top 10 wildlife experiences. Standing 7 metres from a silverback mountain gorilla in the wild is something most travellers describe as life-changing. The mountain gorilla population has recovered from 620 (2008) to over 1,000 today — partly because permit revenue funds direct conservation. Every gorilla trekking permit you buy protects the gorillas.
The $1,500 RDB gorilla trekking permit includes: entry to Volcanoes National Park, assignment to a specific habituated gorilla family, an RDB-certified ranger guide, 1 hour in the presence of the gorilla family, and a gorilla trekking certificate. Not included: transport to the park, accommodation, porter hire (~$15, optional), walking stick rental. Rwanda SafariTours' $200 service fee covers private transport from Kigali and a local expert gorilla trekking guide.
Gorilla habituation experience Rwanda allows you to spend 4 hours (vs 1 hour for standard gorilla trekking) with a gorilla family still being habituated to human presence. Maximum 4 visitors only vs 8 for standard gorilla trekking. It is the most intimate gorilla experience available in Africa. The habituation permit also costs $1,500 from RDB. Rwanda SafariTours charges $200 for transport and guide service for habituation as well.
Only 80 gorilla trekking permits per day in all of Rwanda. Peak season slots go months in advance — WhatsApp us now to check availability for your dates.
Choose the package that fits your schedule — all include the official $1,500 RDB gorilla permit