Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Trekking

Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Trekking: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Wildlife Adventure

Tracking Rwanda’s mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park is a rare and thrilling wildlife experience that ranks among Africa’s top travel highlights. Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Trekking offers a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife adventure where the sheer joy of seeing a wild mountain gorilla in its natural habitat is hard to put into words. These magnificent creatures, particularly the silverbacks, weigh up to three times as much as the average human. Their bulk is accentuated by their thick, shaggy fur. Despite their impressive size and strength, gorillas are remarkably peaceful animals—so much so that tracking them is far less dangerous than one might expect, especially compared to other primates like vervet monkeys or baboons.

Meet Rwanda’s Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park

Rwanda is home to around 10 habituated mountain gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park, all of which are open to tourists for tracking. The families include Susa, Sabyinyo, Karisimbi, Umubano, Amahoro, Kwitonda, Hirwa, Bwenge, Agashya and Ugyenda. With only 8 visitors allowed per group each day, booking your permit well in advance is essential. The cost for a gorilla trekking permit is $1,500 per person.

The Gorilla Families You Can Visit in Volcanoes National Park

Susa Group – 28 Gorillas

Susa was once the largest group, with over 40 gorillas but now consists of 28 members, including three silverbacks. Originally studied by Dian Fossey, this group lives on the slopes of Mount Karisimbi. Susa is famous for its rare occurrence of twin gorillas, which were born twice to different females in the group. The last set of twins, born in 2004, has survived and are now 3 years old—making them the first twins to thrive in the wild. The trek to see this group takes 3-4 hours.

Sabyinyo Group – 9 Gorillas

This group has 9 members, including one silverback, two females and two juveniles. Sabyinyo’s story begins with the death of the leading silverback of the “Group Thirteen” in 1992 and it eventually formed as a new group. The name “Sabyinyo” is derived from the nearby mountain where the group was first spotted. This group is famous for its dominant silverback, who is one of the largest in the world. The trek to reach the group takes about 1-1.5 hours.

Amahoro Group – 17 Gorillas

The Amahoro group is known for its peaceful nature, as its silverback is one of the most relaxed and approachable in Volcanoes National Park. This group consists of 17 individuals, including one silverback, two blackbacks and several females and young gorillas. Amahoro, which means “peace” in Kinyarwanda, was opened for tourism in 2000. The hike to see this group also takes 1-1.5 hours.

Group 13 – 26 Gorillas

Contrary to its name, Group 13 has 26 members, including one silverback and multiple females and juveniles. The group’s history is rich with stories of leadership struggles, including the death of its original silverback, Murith, in 1992. Today, the group is led by Agashya, whose leadership helped grow the group to 21 individuals in just three years. The hike to reach Group 13 takes about 35-45 minutes.

Umubano Group – 11 Gorillas

Originally part of the Amahoro group, Umubano split off after the death of its silverback. The new leader, Charles, formed his own group, which now includes 9 members. Umubano is known for its high-energy silverback, who exudes both strength and happiness. The trek to this group is around 1-1.5 hours.

Hirwa Group – 12 Gorillas

Hirwa is a newer group formed by one silverback and members from other habituated groups. The group currently includes 12 individuals and is known for its peaceful nature. The trek to reach the Hirwa group is typically 1-1.5 hours.

Kwitonda Group – 17 Gorillas

The Kwitonda group originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo, consists of 17 gorillas, including 3 silverbacks, 4 females, 3 blackbacks and 3 juveniles. This group was first observed in 2005 with 16 members and has since been a popular attraction for tourists. The group’s leader, a particularly shy silverback, leads his family in the lush slopes of the Volcanoes National Park.

Bwenge Group – 11 Gorillas

The Bwenge family has 11 members, led by the silverback Bwenge. Over the years, the group has experienced some sadness with the loss of 6 infants but it has been uplifted by the birth of two new babies. This group was featured in the famous movie Gorillas in the Mist. Reaching them requires a challenging hike up steep, slippery slopes but the effort is more than worth it to witness their beauty up close.

Ugenda Group – 11 Gorillas

Also known as the nomadic family, the Ugenda group is constantly on the move. With 11 members, including 2 silverbacks, this group’s location is never fixed, requiring patience and determination to track down. As a result, trekking to see the Ugenda gorillas can be a more adventurous and unpredictable experience.

What to Expect on a Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Adventure

Visiting the Rwanda Mountain Gorillas offers an unforgettable connection with nature. Unlike most wild animals, these gorillas exhibit a calm curiosity toward humans. You may find one of them breaking from its bamboo snack to lock eyes with you, as if searching for a deep connection. Some even approach tourists or interact with the guides, curious about cameras or the odd sight of a raised tripod.

This close encounter is part of what makes gorilla trekking so magical, although it is important to note that gorillas can expose humans to dangerous diseases. For this reason, guides enforce strict safety protocols, ensuring tourists maintain a safe distance of at least 5 meters.

The trek to see the gorillas can be physically demanding, involving steep climbs, dense vegetation and sometimes slippery trails. However, for anyone reasonably fit, this adventure is accessible and one that is often considered life-changing by those who undertake it.

Why Book Your Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour with Trek Africa Gorillas?

At Trek Africa Gorillas, we organize exceptional gorilla trekking experiences in Rwanda and Uganda. As a highly-rated operator on TripAdvisor, we pride ourselves on offering eco-friendly safaris that combine adventure, wildlife viewing and cultural encounters. In addition to gorilla trekking, our tours include chimpanzee trekking, Big 5 safaris, mountain hiking, boat cruises and more across Africa’s most renowned destinations like Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana and Namibia.

Choose Trek Africa Gorillas for a safe, memorable and sustainable experience in one of the world’s most remarkable destinations. Contact us today for more information about Rwanda’s Mountain Gorillas.