An encounter with the rare mountain gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is widely considered a premier, life-changing wildlife experience, offering an intimate, one-hour, face-to-face interaction with these critically endangered creatures in their natural habitat. Located in the Virunga Mountains, this experience not only provides profound, transformative moments for visitors but also serves as a pillar of community empowerment and successful, high-value, low-impact eco-tourism, with mountain gorilla numbers having increased to over 1,000. 

The Magical Encounter

• The Experience: Treks begin early at the Kinigi park headquarters, often starting with a traditional Rwandan dance performance and a briefing by rangers about gorilla behaviour and safety regulations.
• The Journey: Visitors hike through dense, mist-covered bamboo forests and steep volcanic slopes to locate one of the habituated gorilla families, with the trek lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.
• The Interaction: Once the gorillas are found, tourists spend one hour with them, watching them feed, play, and interact. The experience is deeply emotional, with trackers and guides providing insights into the lives of these gentle giants.
• Key Rules: To ensure the protection of the gorillas and minimal disturbance, only eight visitors are allowed per family per day, and a strict 7-meter distance is enforced. 

Changing Lives and Communities
Gorilla tourism in Volcanoes National Park acts as a catalyst for socio-economic change in surrounding communities: 

• Revenue Sharing: 10% of the revenue generated from gorilla trekking permits is reinvested into local community projects, such as building schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.
• Employment: Many local residents are employed as park rangers, guides, and trackers.
• Empowering Former Poachers: Porters at the park are often former poachers who have transitioned to conservation, earning a steady income while protecting the very animals they once hunted.
• Community-Based Tourism: Initiatives like the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village allow locals to showcase their culture, creating additional, sustainable income streams that reduce reliance on forest resources. 

Conservation Success Story

• Dian Fossey’s Legacy: The park’s conservation efforts are deeply tied to the work of primatologist Dian Fossey, whose Karisoke Research Center is located there.
• Sustainable Growth: The population of mountain gorillas has increased from near extinction, thanks to strict eco-tourism policies and dedicated protection efforts.
• Kwita Izina: An annual, national baby gorilla naming ceremony, Kwita Izina, is held to raise awareness and pride in the conservation of these primates. 

Practical Information for Visitors

• Permit Cost: A gorilla permit costs $1,500 USD per person.
• Best Time to Visit: The best time for Gorilla trekking is during the dry seasons: June to September and December to February.
• Other Activities: Beyond trekking, visitors can track endangered golden monkeys, hike to the Dian Fossey tomb, or explore the scenic twin lakes, Burera and Ruhondo.
• Location: The park is easily accessible, located just a 2-hour drive from Kigali. 

If you would like to travel to Rwanda specifically and experience life-changing experiences in the Gorilla communities, reach out to us;