- Destinations
- Rwanda
- Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park
Go Gorilla Trekking & More
Home to the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas, the Virunga Volcanoes are shared between the DRC, Uganda and Rwanda but it is in the forests of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park that you find the easiest, safest and most reliable gorilla trekking.
A Volcanoes gorilla safari is both rewarding and accessible. Expert trackers go ahead of you to locate the gorillas while local guides share their wealth of information with you as you hike through the forest. The success rate of finding a habituated gorilla family is 95%, and you spend a precious, privileged hour in their company, observing familiar patterns of behaviour as family members socialise, play and argue with one other.
It’s relatively easy to go gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park too. You fly into the capital Kigali and since the park is only about 100 kilometres (60 miles) away, you can either transfer there directly or spend a pleasant night in Africa’s cleanest – and by all accounts – safest capital city before travelling to the park for your gorilla safari the following day.
There are several lodges set around the Volcanoes National Park, obviously focused on gorilla safaris but also designed to deliver a more holistic experience in the rainforest. They offer guided walks through the forest to search for other primates and small mammals as well as birds and butterflies. You can visit local communities to experience the human perspective of the environment, or explore under your own steam by mountain bike or on a hiking trail.
Back at your lodge there is plenty of comfort after a day in the rainforest. Our top Volcanoes gorilla lodges include a post-trek massage as part of the service and your suite comes with a deep bath and fireplace. There are honeymoon-perfect suites as well as larger family units, and you’ll sit down to hearty home-cooked meals to the sounds of Rwandan traditional song and dance.
And a Volcanoes gorilla safari works well with other African safari and beach destinations. Kigali connects to the continent’s major travel hubs such as Nairobi and Johannesburg so you can combine your gorilla trek with, for example, a big game safari in Tanzania or a beach holiday in Kenya or Zanzibar. Browse our recommended Itinerary Ideas or simply contact us with your requirements and we’ll recommend an itinerary or will tailor-make one for you.