The gorillas of Volcanoes National Park
In north-western Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park covers 160 km² of rainforest and five of the eight Virunga volcanoes. It is home to the mountain gorilla and the golden monkey, and was the base of primatologist Dian Fossey.
Key facts
Before you go.
- Starting point
- Park headquarters in Kinigi, gathering at 7 a.m.Gorilla Tracking (Visit Rwanda, Rwanda Development Board)
- GPS coordinates
- -1.46750, 29.49250Volcanoes National Park (Wikipedia)
- Duration
- A walk of 30 minutes to over 4 hours, at 2,500–4,000 m; one hour at most with the gorillasGorilla Tracking (Visit Rwanda, Rwanda Development Board)
- Official price
- Permit at 1,500 US dollars per person per day · checked on 1 November 2026Gorilla Tracking (Visit Rwanda, Rwanda Development Board)
Good to know
Three things to remember.
Minimum age: 15.
Gorilla Tracking (Visit Rwanda, Rwanda Development Board)Only 96 permits a day in the country: book ahead, on the Irembo platform or through a licensed operator.
Gorilla Tracking (Visit Rwanda, Rwanda Development Board)Solid shoes, gaiters, gloves and a light rain jacket protect against nettles and showers.
Gorilla Tracking (Visit Rwanda, Rwanda Development Board)
Plan the trip
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Keep exploring
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In south-western Rwanda, on the Burundi border, Nyungwe is most likely the best-preserved montane rainforest in Africa.
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In eastern Rwanda, along the Tanzanian border, Akagera covers 1,122 km² of savannah, mountains and swamp.
Lake Kivu
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Sources · 2 pages consulted, with the exact sentence used
- Volcanoes National Park (Wikipedia)
Volcanoes National Park is a national park in northwestern Rwanda. It covers 160 km2 […] of rainforest and encompasses five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains […] It is home to the mountain gorilla and the golden monkey, and was the base for the primatologist Dian Fossey. (coordinates -1.4675, 29.4925)
- Gorilla Tracking (Visit Rwanda, Rwanda Development Board)
[…] each group coming into contact with tourists for a strict maximum of one hour per day. […] With only 96 permits available each day in Rwanda, it is highly recommended to book in advance […] Visitors gather at the Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi at 7am […] Hikes up to their various locations can last anything from 30 minutes to four or more hours, reaching an altitude of between 2,500m and 4,000m. […] Permits Cost US $1500 per person per day. The minimum age limit to track gorillas is 15 years old. […] Solid walking shoes with gaiters and sturdy clothing to protect against stinging nettles are essential. Gardening or leather gloves are useful and remember to carry a lightweight waterproof jacket in case of rain. […] book in advance, which can be done through the Irembo platform. […] using licensed operators and tour guides.
Opening hours, prices and access conditions change: check them with the official source before you go. Viafro publishes no price without a source and a date.