10 daysGorillas & the Great Migration
Rwanda's Volcanoes & Kenya's Maasai Mara
- Gorilla trekking permit included
- Best Jul–Oct
From$9,800approx. ≈ £7,350approx. ≈ CA$13,450approx. ≈ A$14,900approx. ≈ €8,450per person sharing
Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park
Mountain gorillas in the Virunga volcanoes
Volcanoes National Park protects Rwanda's share of the Virunga Mountains, home to habituated mountain gorilla families and golden monkeys. Trek through bamboo and montane forest for an hour you'll never forget.
Along Rwanda's northwestern border with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, five volcanoes, Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo, rise above a patchwork of terraced farms. Their slopes, cloaked in bamboo, montane forest and giant lobelias, form Volcanoes National Park, part of the cross-border Virunga Massif that shelters a large share of the world's remaining mountain gorillas.
The gorilla trek
Your day begins early at the park headquarters in Kinigi, where guides brief small groups and assign each one to a habituated gorilla family. Each family receives a maximum of eight visitors a day, and you spend up to an hour with them once they're found.
Treks range from under an hour to several hours over steep, muddy terrain, depending on where the gorillas are feeding. Porters from surrounding communities can carry your bag and help you on difficult sections, and hiring one is a simple way to support local livelihoods. The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15.
Beyond the gorillas
Golden monkey treks lead to playful troops of this endangered primate in the bamboo zone. A hike to the former Karisoke Research Center, where Dian Fossey studied the gorillas, climbs through beautiful forest to her grave, and a full-day climb of Mount Bisoke rewards fit hikers with a crater lake and sweeping views. Around the park, cultural experiences, local cooperatives and the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo add depth to your stay.
A conservation success
Mountain gorillas were once on the brink of extinction, but decades of protection, veterinary care and tourism revenue have helped their numbers grow, and in 2018 their status improved from critically endangered to endangered. Permit fees fund conservation, and a share of park revenue goes to neighboring communities.
How we plan your trek
We help secure permits well in advance, choose a lodge close to the park so you start fresh, and advise on fitness and gear. Our Gorillas & the Great Migration journey combines Rwanda with the Maasai Mara.
Highlights
An hour with mountain gorillas
Watch a gorilla family feed, play and rest, guided by trackers who know each individual.
Golden monkeys
Track lively troops of golden monkeys through the bamboo forest on the park's lower slopes.
Dian Fossey's grave
Hike through the forest to the site of the Karisoke Research Center and the primatologist's final resting place.
Mount Bisoke crater lake
Climb Mount Bisoke to a crater lake with views across the Virunga range.
Twin lakes
Relax on the shores of Lakes Burera and Ruhondo, with boat trips and views of the volcanoes.
Community experiences
Meet artisans, farmers and dancers in the communities around the park, where tourism supports local livelihoods.
Best time to visit
Best months
- ✓ Jan
- ✓ Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- ✓ Jun
- ✓ Jul
- ✓ Aug
- ✓ Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- ✓ Dec
Gorilla treks run year-round. The drier months, from about June to September and December to February, bring easier trails and a better chance of clear views of the volcanoes. They're also the busiest months, so permits can sell out early.
The rainy seasons, typically March to May and October to November, mean muddier, more slippery treks, but the forest is at its most lush and permits can be easier to secure. At altitude, early mornings are cool and rain can fall in any month, so waterproofs are essential.
Getting there
The park lies in northwestern Rwanda, near the town of Musanze. From Kigali International Airport (KGL), the drive typically takes two to three hours on good, winding roads through the hills, and helicopter transfers offer a faster, more scenic alternative.
Most travelers arrive the day before their trek and stay at a lodge near the park headquarters in Kinigi, where the morning briefing begins early. Allow time on the drive to stop at hilltop viewpoints and roadside markets along the way.
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10 days
Helpful travel guides
Traveling Responsibly in Africa: A Practical Guide
Travel done well supports wildlife, conservation and local livelihoods. This practical guide covers choosing lodges and guides, ethical wildlife encounters, respectful community visits, shopping, plastic, flights and tipping.
The Safari Packing List We Actually Recommend
Pack less than you think, in a soft bag, with layers for cold mornings. Our practical safari packing list covers clothing, gorilla trekking gear, binoculars and cameras, documents, and the things to leave at home.
When to Visit East Africa: A Month-by-Month Guide
There's no single best month for an East African safari. Here's how the dry and rainy seasons, the Great Migration, gorilla trekking and Zanzibar's beach weather typically play out through the year, and how to choose.
Your Volcanoes National Park, designed around you
Tell us how you like to travel and we’ll shape an itinerary — the pace, the places, the stays — around you. No payment to start planning.