Volcanoes National Park and the Gorillas

Volcanoes National Park, a chain of misty, forest-cloaked volcanoes in the far north of Rwanda, is one of the most famous places on earth to see the endangered mountain gorilla, and the land where the researcher Dian Fossey did her celebrated work. The unforgettable experience of gorilla trekking involves hiking, often steeply, through the bamboo and rainforest with expert guides and trackers to find a habituated family, then spending a strictly limited, magical hour in their presence, observing these gentle giants at close range.

What you actually see

• The mountain gorillas - the magical hour with a gorilla family.
• The volcano trek - the guided hike up through bamboo and forest.
• The golden monkeys - the trekking to see the endemic golden monkeys.
• The Dian Fossey legacy - the hike to her research grave site.

When to go

The drier seasons, June to September and December to February, are best for trekking, when the steep forest trails are less muddy; even then it can rain. Gorilla permits are strictly limited daily and expensive, and must be booked well in advance.

Honest expectations

Rwanda's gorilla permits are among the most expensive in the world, strictly limited and booked far ahead, and the trek can be a strenuous, muddy, sometimes hours-long climb, needing reasonable fitness. Sightings, though, are all but guaranteed with the habituated families. The high permit price directly funds conservation and has helped bring the mountain gorilla back from the brink. The hour with them is life-changing.

Nearby

Lake Kivu, the town of Musanze and, across the borders, the Ugandan and Congolese gorillas are within reach.