How Difficult is Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Different Factors that Contribute to the Difficulty of Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda:

Cost of Gorilla Trekking Permits.

Trekking permits are valid documents that are required of every visitor before they are allowed entry into the mountain gorilla parks. These documents are required by the park officials and rangers and serve as acceptance to entry into the parks and be part of the gorilla trekking experience.

Trekking permits in Rwanda cost USD 1,500 for the Visitors and this payment doesn’t cover transportation or accommodation. And because this fee doesn’t cover anything else, it is a bit difficult for the trekkers to afford or manage other luxury services they desire to have or had planned for, which might leave the trekkers unsatisfied and unhappy with the park.

It should also be noted that gorilla permits are limited making it difficult for some travellers to book their permits on the desired travel dates. You can overcome this by booking your permit through us.

Accessibility of Volcanoes National Park.

Depending on the season of the planned tour or hike, trekking is sometimes restricted and extended because of the poor road networks. Roads inside the park and trekking areas are bad and easily affected by the weather changes making it difficult for trekkers to access the park or even move to where the gorillas are or moving to.

It should be noted that the roads in the park can be so steep, the trails are always sloppy therefore can cause harm to trekkers if they walk on them unsupported therefore, which makes the visitors’s experiences disturbed even when they have all the necessary gear and clothes for safety requirements.

 Rwanda being a mountainous country, there are minor landslides sometimes although, a committed standby road maintenance team is always on standby to clear the roads affected.

Location of Gorilla Family to Visit.

There are over 10 gorilla families in Rwanda, some of which include; Susa family, Karisimbi family, Amahoro family, Umubano family, kwitonda family, Agashya family, bwenge family and Ugyenda family and more…

All these are located in different parks and parts of the park and depending on how far the gorilla family has moved in the park make it hard for visitors to watch or even see these animals because some of them move to higher altitudes in the mountain where trekkers find it difficult to reach.

Age and Physical Fitness of Trekkers.

This is important because trekking require a certain level of physical fitness that is why only trekkers aged 15 years and above are above are allowed to take hikes and carry luggage up the mountains. Visitors trekking for the first time always find it more difficult to complete the experience.

However, there have been gorilla trekking schemes put in place for the disabled visitors who love to trek. They arre carried in Sedan chairs by porters (porters are locals of the community that offer to carry visitors luggage for a fee) to where the gorilla families are, however, this comes at an additional fee.

There is also a provision for the elderly visitors to be allocated to trek gorilla families that are nearer the park headquarters and not in high altitudes. So, depending on the physical fitness and age of the trekker, the activity can prove to be difficult to some people.

Time of Year one Choose to Enjoy the Trekking Experience.

Different visitors visit the park with different reasons and seasons and this makes the trekking experience somehow difficult. It is recommended that the best time to visit Rwanda for gorilla trekking is June to September and December to February as they are dry season months.

In the Volcanoes national park therefore, every activity is enjoyable and the animals are out in lower altitudes of the mountainous landscapes.

Some visitors, such as professional photographers or those who prefer a less crowded trekking experience, opt to visit the park during off-peak seasons for tranquil moments and work-related purposes. During these times, trekking can become more challenging due to slippery hiking tails and mountain gorillas moving to higher mountain altitudes.

Gorilla Trekking Altitudes.

Embarking on a Rwanda gorilla trekking adventure is an exhilarating, once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, the mountain gorillas inhabit extremely high altitudes, sometimes reaching up to 3000 meters above.

This significant elevation can cause hikers with rare conditions to experience sickness and breathlessness, potentially transforming an extraordinary journey into a challenging ordeal for some. The shifting habitats of the gorillas, as they move deeper into the mountains, further complicate the trek due to the varying altitudes. 

Although, there is a special package for people of a kind trekking gorillas on lower altitudes. Despite these difficulties, the trekking experience also offers incredible moments of beauty and awe that visitors can cherish, as detailed below.

Note: A good planning of your Rwanda safari will help you forego all those difficulties.

In conclusion, for those were curious about how difficult is gorilla trekking in Rwanda, you now have a clearer understanding of the challenges involved and how to navigate them. When you book your gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda with us, we guarantee to address all the mentioned difficulties, ensuring they never compromise your dream experience.