Mountain Gorilla Tracking Volcanoes Park: One Hour with Gorillas

Spend One Hour Watching Mountain Gorillas in Their Forest Home

A private 12-hour mountain gorilla tracking tour in Volcanoes National Park puts you on foot in the forest with a professional guide in search of endangered gorillas found only in the Virunga Massif region of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The trek itself takes 7 to 10 hours. Once a gorilla family is located, you spend one hour observing them in their natural habitat. A tracking permit is required and paid separately at $1,500 USD for international visitors or $500 USD for African residents. The tour includes an English or French-speaking guide, air-conditioned vehicle transport and bottled water. Minimum age is 15, and travelers need a high level of physical fitness.

Step-by-step itinerary

Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes Park

• Travel to Volcanoes National Park
• Track mountain gorillas in habitat
• Spend one hour with gorillas

The experience

Mountain gorillas live only in the Virunga Massif, a volcanic region shared by Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is one of the few places on earth where you can track them on foot. The day is a 12-hour commitment that includes both the drive to the park and the trek itself, which runs 7 to 10 hours through forest terrain. Your guide, fluent in English or French, leads the search for a gorilla family. Once located, you get one hour to watch them feed, rest and move through the forest: close enough to observe behavior but at a respectful distance set by park rules.

The trek is physically demanding: you'll be hiking uphill through dense vegetation, often at altitude, which is why the operator requires a high level of fitness and does not recommend the tour for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health or pregnancy. The forest is wet and muddy, the pace depends on where the gorillas are that day, and there's no guarantee which family you'll find or how far you'll need to walk. What you do get is one of the rarest wildlife encounters on the continent: humans and gorillas share 98% of their DNA, and watching them move and interact in their own space is the kind of experience that stays with you.

Your guide handles navigation and safety. The air-conditioned vehicle gets you to and from the park. Bottled water is provided. The tracking permit (required by the park and paid separately) costs $1,500 USD for international visitors or $500 USD for African residents and is arranged at checkout.

What’s included

• Professional tour guide in English or French.
• air-conditioned vehicle with hotel or accommodation pickup.
• bottled water throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:00

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Under 15: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 10 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Physically demandingNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Unique Africa Ventures

Is this one for you?This is a private tour suited to travelers in good physical condition who are prepared for a full day of uphill trekking in forest terrain: the 7 to 10 hour trek is what makes the one-hour gorilla encounter possible, and the demanding pace is what keeps groups small and the experience intimate.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the actual trek to find the gorillas?

The trek itself takes 7 to 10 hours depending on where the gorilla families are located that day and the terrain you cross to reach them.

What happens once you find a gorilla family?

Once located, you spend one hour observing the gorillas in their natural habitat: watching them feed, rest, interact and move through the forest at a distance set by park regulations.

Is the tracking permit included in the tour price?

The tracking permit is not included and is paid separately at checkout: $1,500 USD for international visitors or $500 USD for African residents.

What should I wear and bring for a 12-hour gorilla tracking day?

Wear sturdy hiking boots, long pants and layers for changing weather. The forest is wet and muddy and you'll be trekking uphill. Bring a rain jacket, hat and sun protection. Bottled water is provided by the tour.

Who is this tour not suitable for?

The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers or those with poor cardiovascular health. You need a high level of physical fitness for the 7 to 10 hour trek at altitude through forest terrain.