Everything you need to plan your gorilla trek in Rwanda — in one guide.
A comprehensive guide written by the Rwandan operators who lead these treks every week. Costs, permits, best time to visit, the 12 gorilla families, what to pack, and a Rwanda-vs-Uganda comparison.
10 chapters of answers — written by people who actually live here.
The Real Cost
A complete breakdown of permit fees, lodge tiers, and what a Rwanda gorilla trip actually costs in 2026.
Best Time to Visit
Month-by-month conditions, peak vs shoulder seasons, and exactly when to book.
The 12 Gorilla Families
Detailed profiles of every habituated family in Volcanoes National Park.
A Day on the Trek
Hour-by-hour of what trek day actually looks like, from your 5:30am breakfast to the certificate ceremony.
Rwanda vs Uganda
An honest comparison of permits, lodges, terrain, and which destination suits your trip.
What to Pack
The complete kit list, refined over hundreds of treks.
The official Rwanda gorilla permit costs $1,500 per person. As a licensed tour operator, we assist you in securing these government-issued permits. Here's what that actually buys you.
- One hour with a habituated gorilla family — limited to 8 visitors per day per family
- A team of trackers, rangers, and a guide who's been working with these gorillas for years
- A meaningful share of revenue goes to ranger salaries, anti-poaching, and surrounding communities
"My husband and I just returned from our full day of gorilla trekking. We were so impressed with how quickly Gorille Africain Tours got back to us. From the beginning, the communication was excellent and timely."
— Katie N
"We wanted to see the mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe but we only had a week. GAT was able to create a tour that exceeded our expectations!"
— Couch C / Sharon
"Gorille put a perfect 10 day tour of Tanzania, Zanzibar and Mafia Island together for us. Our guide Albert was amazing, competent, knowledgeable and fun to be with."
— Dale C
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